WASHINGTON STATE GUIDELINES TO HELP
energize
your meetings
Energize your meetings: Food and Beverage Standards
Follow your organization’s existing policies and procedures
Provide a tobacco free environment
Remember food safety standards when serving food
• Wash hands before serving foods—inadequate hand washing is a
leading cause of foodborne disease
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold
Meet the One Star Standard
Ensure that having food at the event is necessary
Give participants an opportunity to inform you of dietary needs or
restrictions before the event (see sample registration question and food
ideas on the Recommended Food Choices sheet)
Take cultural food needs into account
• Serve foods that are culturally appropriate for the event attendees
• Serve pork products separately from other food products
• Serve meat products on a separate dish from non meat products
• Provide a vegetarian entrée option at meals
Everyone has been to an event where they can
hardly keep their eyes open after lunch. If you are planning an
event, you want to make sure your participants are energized and
productive. By offering access to healthy foods and physical activity
you will
• help attendees get the most out of the event
• support their overall health
• help reduce their risk for chronic disease and obesity, and
• model healthy behaviors.
Are you ready to make the healthy choice the easy choice at
your meetings and events? Take a look at this guide developed
by Washington State Department of Health. You’ll find food
and beverage standards to strive toward and physical activity
suggestions to help you energize your meetings.
Strive for a five
star event. Check
the boxes for all
standards from one to
five stars to offer the
healthiest experience
for event attendees.
Listed under each
standard are
suggestions of ways
to meet it. For more
ideas, see the menu
suggestions and the
recommended food
choices list.
See attached menu
suggestions and
recommended food choices