Packed meeting agendas leave meeting planners searching for ways to make-up time. In North America, this often translates into working lunches for group dining. I have previously discussed the reasons that companies in other parts of the world reject this option and provided alternatives to the working lunch that I have seen in Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

However, when working lunches are the only option, it's always good to:

• Have a separate dining area (e.g. an adjoining lounge, on a patio or separated from the meeting space by an airwall so that set-up doesn't disturb the meeting).
• Reflect the theme of the meeting through decor, service option and menu selections.
• Select menu and service options to make sure the experience is not mundane.
• Budget for an extra set of clean tablecloths to ensure sanitary dining during lunch.
• Thoroughly clean and sanitize the tables if the area for breakout exercises is doubling for dining.
• Schedule an exercise in pairs or trios in the main meeting area.
• Serve lunchtime presenters a bit earlier than the group. They need a break too.
• Never go straight from the meeting to dining. Select a meeting venue close to washrooms. Break for 10 minute break, specifically for hand washing before lunch service begins.
• Provide hand sanitizer.
• Resume presentations when everyone has started main course.
• Break for dessert.

Creative Service Options

• Family-style service.
• Bento boxes.
• Food trucks.
• Catered tailgate parties.
• Ice bars (real or simulated).
• Beach umbrella tables.
• Campfire with wiener roast.
• Banquet facilities with fireplace
• Gourmet picnic lunch baskets served on blankets (see image to the right)
  or at picnic tables inside or outside meeting room.

Interactive Menu Suggestions

Beverages

• Mocktails.
• Soda Fountain.
• Lemonade Stand.
• Mobile cappuccino and espresso bar.

Starters

• Salad bar.
• Sausage Rolls
• Jamaican cocktail patties.
• Chicken, Beef, and Shrimp Skewers.
• Satay. (Put peanut sauce on the side and label it to protect participants with allergies.)

Main Course

• Fajitas
• Tacos
• Roti
• Chili
• Fondue
• Sloppy Joes
• Steamboat lunch
• Danish open face sandwiches
• Interactive savory crepe stations
• Pizza.
  Taking a break. Have pizza makers entertain the crowd by flipping pizzas and preparing customized pizzas. Go back into your meeting and, when the pizzas are ready, have a short lunch break.
• Gourmet Burger and slider bar.
  With the option to "have it your way", people love burgers . Kick it up a notch. Have chefs prepare burgers and sliders at barbecues. Serve veggie, chicken and ostrich burgers. Set up an interactive station for condiments and salad.
• Make your own Sandwich bar.
  Sandwiches are a staple of the working lunch but turn them from boring to an interactive experience by using a set-up similar to a salad bar and providing a variety of wraps and breads and interesting toppings.

Desserts

To save time, skip dessert at lunch and make the afternoon break a truly interactive experience.

• Ice Cream fondue (Pictured to the right)
• Fruit Skewers
• Fresh Fruit Stand
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Truffle rolling station
• Make Your Own Sundae bar
• Baked Alaska
• Crepe Suzette
• Cherries Jubilee
• Chocolate Fondue
• Chocolate Fountain
• Interactive fruit and dessert crepe stations
• Chocolate bar featuring everything chocolate including pastry, cake, pudding, chocolate mouse, truffles, ice cream.

Photo Credits: Executive Oasis International, 2ndpennypolished, Squid!, farlane, annamatic3000

For more food and beverage tips, check out Food for Thought by fellow Cvent blogger, Patti Shock.