As meeting planners look to elevate attendee experience in the new year, food and beverage is a key driver of wellness, energy, and engagement. The focus is shifting away from indulgent or restrictive menus toward thoughtfully designed meals that support productivity and inclusivity.
Long meeting days demand food that fuels — not food that causes afternoon crashes. Chef Kimber Dean, a Missouri-based chef and author, has an approach that focuses on balanced, nourishing meals that help attendees maintain energy, mental clarity, and comfort throughout the day.
Her menus are designed without common inflammatory ingredients—including gluten, dairy, refined sugar, soy, and corn—making them naturally inclusive for a wide range of dietary needs. For planners, that means fewer special requests and a smoother F&B experience overall.
Instead of restrictive “diet” food, attendees enjoy meals that feel satisfying, flavorful, and intentional—a shift that reflects broader industry trends toward wellness-forward hospitality.
One of the biggest challenges for planners is serving food that works within tight schedules. Drawing from the inspiration behind her Happy Food Cookbook, Chef Kimber emphasizes simple, reliable meal formats that translate seamlessly to meetings and events. For example, energizing breakfasts that don’t slow attendees down, grab-and-go lunches that still feel curated, or balanced plates that support focus through long sessions.
Her philosophy mirrors advice she recently shared in Homes & Gardens, where she highlighted practical meal-prep strategies that make nourishing food easier and more efficient—the same principles planners value when feeding large groups.
By integrating wellness-focused food and beverage into meetings, planners can:
As meetings evolve, so does the role of food. The future of event F&B isn’t about restriction or trends—it’s about nourishment that works.
MEET
For 20+ years, the MEET family of products have provided regional and national resources that have kept corporate, association, medical, education, independent, and religious meeting and event planners informed about relevant vendors, industry news, tech innovations, and resources that impact and influence how and where they plan their group business.
For 20+ years, the MEET family of products have provided regional and national resources that have kept corporate, association, medical, education, independent, and religious meeting and event planners informed about relevant vendors, industry news, tech innovations, and resources that impact and influence how and where they plan their group business.
