Dietary restrictions aren’t anything new, but in recent years have been more widely recognized. The CDC estimates that around 17% of adults over the age of 20 have a special diet. Previously, people with dietary restrictions had to work around company catered events with limited options and sometimes brought their own food.
It can be a frustrating and sometimes embarrassing situation to be in when you have to navigate social situations that involve food while having these dietary limitations. We’re going to go over why it’s important to pay attention to your staff with dietary restrictions and how to choose a catering service with those restrictions in mind.
What Makes a Positive Catering Experience?
The overall experience of a catered event should feel seamless. Your staff would be able to walk in, be dazzled by the food options, and leave with a plate full of delicious food they can safely eat. Ideally, your staff shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they’ll be able to participate. You can’t have a positive experience if you don’t have any experience at all.
The effect of taking a few extra steps to ensure the dietary restrictions creates ripples. Positive experiences at work can contribute to an overall better outlook on your company, and in turn, more productivity according to some studies. It might sound like a small gesture, but it’ll be a lot more meaningful to your staff than you think.
The Importance of Accommodations For Catered Events
Accommodations, in this case, would be considering and implementing other peoples’ dietary requirements. It’s paramount to treat them with equal importance as well. You never truly know why someone is following the diet they’re following and it can be a health risk. According to FARE, a food allergy sends someone to the emergency room every 10 seconds. That’s a staggering amount with food allergies on the rise.
Many companies in the past have mitigated this by labeling allergens on food being served, but as we mentioned previously, taking the extra step to have food your staff can actually eat is what creates a truly positive experience. People with dietary restrictions can be wary of food preparation practices, so even if you have food labeled, it could still create an air of anxiety around choosing food.
Different Types of Dietary Restrictions to Consider
We’ll get more into food allergies in this section, but those aren’t the only dietary needs to consider. There are hundreds of kinds of diets so we’ll be sticking with the most common dietary restrictions you’ll encounter.
Food Allergies and Intolerances
Food allergies are the most common and most widely known dietary restriction. The FDA recognizes 9 allergens as the most common called the Big 9 (previously the Top 8). Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and sesame are all the major allergens to watch out for. However, the FDA recognizes over 160 different foods as potential allergens. Gluten free diets fall under the intolerance category as well, causing some people severe reactions that could send them to the hospital.
Health Related Diets
These diets can be for weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, and hundreds of other medical related reasons. Some people choose to adhere to a diet because they’ve found it works best for their health, but don’t have a suggestion from a doctor. The most common health related diets you might find are ketogenic (or “keto”) diets, low-sodium diets, and Paleo diets.
Religious Diets
Some religions require specific dietary needs. Sometimes this can fall under the vegetarian umbrella, but in other cases, you’ll need to pay attention to how the food is prepared. Pork is commonly avoided in a few different religions. It’s important to know this as a lot of the delicious foods we regularly eat can contain pork fat or secret animal products you might not immediately know about.
Ethics-Related Diets
Vegan and vegetarian diets are on the rise. Around 5% of the population calls themselves a vegetarian, while 3% is vegan. The percentage might seem small, but it’s a higher percentage than in previous years. There’s a heavy overlap in some of the other categories we mentioned as well, so still very much an important diet to consider.
No matter what diets your staff adheres to, be sure to communicate well before doing any catered events so you have time to look at your options carefully.
How to Choose Great Catering With Dietary Needs in Mind
Catering for your business has become a lot easier in recent years. There are tons of catering services made just for businesses, and some even allow you to filter your catering options with your staff’s dietary needs. Zerocater is a great option for companies of any size or budget looking to include their staff’s dietary restrictions in their next catering venture. With our AI powered applications, we’ll even remember your dietary needs the next time you want to cater. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you upgrade your catering experience, head over to our “Get Started” button and tell us a little about your needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
