--- title: "Daily Buzz: New Food Rules for Meetings" id: "44632" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-new-food-rules-for-meetings" published_at: "2018-10-29T19:38:38+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:04:37+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/10/29/daily-buzz-new-food-rules-for-meetings/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/10/29/daily-buzz-new-food-rules-for-meetings.md" excerpt: "Dietary restrictions and foodie culture have changed how meeting planners create event menus. Here are the new food rules to follow, from BizBash. Also: how to reinstate lapsed members." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "emerging organizations" - "event planning" - "Meetings" - "Trends" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: New Food Rules for Meetings Planning a meeting menu used to be simple: A meal revolving around a central dish with an alternate vegetarian option, just in case. But with the influx of food allergies and other dietary restrictions, as well as the boom in foodie culture, planners can no longer get away with limited food options. Here are four new food rules planners should follow to keep attendees happy and full, [according to BizBash (opens in a new tab)](https://www.bizbash.com/4-food-rules-planners-need-to-follow-for-meeting-menus/new-york/story/36393) : **Offer varied food choices.** It’s no longer just a courtesy: A variation of food offerings is now an attendee expectation. **Emphasize sustainability.** “In addition to making menu planning more economical, touting a commitment to cutting back on food waste has the added bonus of pleasing event organizers who want to know that their vendors are mindful about sustainability,” says Martha C. White in the post. **Make dishes Instagram-ready.** Food not only has to taste good, but it also has to look good, be it in the way a dish looks or is plated. **Set a bigger food budget.** Offering more food with locally sourced ingredients doesn’t come cheap. Allocating more money to the budget from the start can help planners effectively plan dishes both clients and guests will be satisfied with. ### Encouraging the Return of Lapsed Members https://twitter.com/callie_walker/status/1056901634490548224 **Your association relies on membership renewals** to promote new growth, so don’t let lapsed members ghost you. [Callie Walker from the MemberClicks blog (opens in a new tab)](https://blog.memberclicks.com/3-eerily-good-ways-to-re-engage-your-lapsed-members) suggests creating a win-back campaign through email, [which studies show generates the most reinstated lapsed members (opens in a new tab)](http://www.marketinggeneral.com/knowledge-bank/) , and offering a discount to promote rejoining your organization. And don’t forget about personalization: “If you allow people to customize their membership—even just somewhat—would that entice more people to join?” Walker says. “Maybe they don’t want to pay for all the benefits you offer; maybe they only want to pay for a select four or five. Is there some kind of lower-level membership they can apply for? If not, that may be something worth considering.” ### Other Links of Note **Going international is a great way to grow** your organization, but it requires special consideration. To be successful, [global marketing starts with trust, says CMSWire (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cmswire.com/digital-marketing/successful-international-marketing-starts-with-trust/) . **So, you want to switch your AMS.** The Higher Logic blog outlines [five questions to ask before you do (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.higherlogic.com/5-questions-to-ask-before-jumping-ship-on-your-ams) . **Good leadership starts with a mentally resilient brain.** *Inc.* outlines [four skills every leader should have, according to neuroscience (opens in a new tab)](https://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/4-brain-superpowers-you-need-to-be-a-successful-leader.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter) . (LElik83/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#emerging organizations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/emerging-organizations/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Trends](https://associationsnow.com/tag/trends/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [ArticleReport: Cost, Stability Top Meeting Planners’ AgendasOctober 20, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/20/report-cost-stability-top-meeting-planners-agendas/) - [VideoThe Graham Report: New CEO Trends in 2024January 31, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/01/31/the-graham-report-new-ceo-trends-in-2024/) - [VideoIntroducing the Graham Report Short Intro V2December 16, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/16/introducing-the-graham-report-short-intro-v2/) - [VideoIntroducing the Graham Report IntroDecember 16, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/16/introducing-the-graham-report-intro/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F10%2F29%2Fdaily-buzz-new-food-rules-for-meetings%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !