With food allergies and sensitivities consistently on the rise, it’s important to consider all dietary needs and restrictions when hiring a catering service for the employees in your office. The most food allergy reactions come from milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. There are also people who choose to be vegetarian or vegan based on culture, religion, or health concerns. With that being said, the odds of people suffering from food allergies or choosing an alternate diet are high. Executive One Catering offers the following advice on satisfying dietary needs when choosing corporate catering.
Regardless of the dietary choices being made in your office, there are a few important dietary needs and restrictions to pay attention to when hiring corporate caterers:
- Lactose-free
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Gather dietary information before ordering. In order to learn each individual’s preferences, we suggest gathering information from the start. Upon filling out the onboarding packet that includes name, address, phone number, emergency contact, etc., you can also add a section that asks about dietary needs or restrictions. Keeping this information stored in a master employee list for easy access when hiring a catering service so you can order office lunch proactively.
Differentiate between preferences and serious restrictions. There’s a difference between dietary needs, dietary restrictions, and diet fads. Of course, you want to make sure everyone gets to eat what they want to eat, but picky eaters should be a lower priority on your list. People with real dietary restrictions know what they can and cannot eat. Ask those people to suggest dishes that they’re cleared to eat that everyone else may enjoy if you’re struggling to choose the right option for the whole team.
Go buffet-style. When opting for a buffet-style catered office lunch, all your employees can choose their portion size and the food they want to consume. This not only eliminates a few of the dietary restriction problems, but it also allows for some variety. However, make sure you’re providing good options for those who need them the most.
Fun fact: Different types of cuisine, such as Asian and Indian food, suit certain dietary preferences better than others do.
It’s crucial that as an employer that you learn how to meet the various needs of people with diet specifications. By following the suggestions above and other ideas like implementing special menus or special ordering, you can provide variety to the people who help make your business run.
We also suggest choosing a reputable catering service that can meet all the requirements you bring to the table. Executive One Catering keeps all dietary needs, restrictions, and preferences in mind when handling all aspects of corporate catering.