Eat Smart North Carolina: Guidelines for Healthy Foods and Beverages at Meetings, Gatherings and Events is a free guide from Eat Smart, Move More NC. The North Carolina Division of Public Health and NC State Extension wrote the guidelines. The current version dates from 2018. It is for anyone who chooses the food and drinks for a meeting, training, faith supper, fundraiser or reception.
The five guidelines
- Offer healthy food at breakfasts, lunches, dinners, potlucks and receptions.
- At mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks, offer only healthy food, such as fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts with no added sugar, or offer a physical activity break.
- Find caterers, restaurants and stores that sell healthier food, and share their names with others.
- Keep food safe to eat.
- Lead by example, for example by adopting a healthy foods policy for the group.
Practical tips from the guide
- Always offer water. Other good drinks are skim or 1% milk, soy milk with no added sugar, coffee and unsweetened tea.
- Keep lunch entrées to 700 calories or less and dinner entrées to 800 calories or less per person.
- Choose baked, broiled, grilled or steamed foods over fried foods, and tomato-based sauces over cream or cheese sauces.
- Serve salad dressing on the side, include at least one vegetable and fresh fruit, and keep desserts small.
- Offer at least one vegetarian option with meals.
The guide also has sample menus, tips for working with caterers and a sample policy that groups can adapt. See more tools in the nutrition resources, the worksite wellness resources and the full wellness resources list.