On this episode, Tracy and Erin Malawar of Allergy Strong recap The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. This is the first conference of its kind in more than 50 years. The first and only other one was held in 1969. The Administration's goal is "to end hunger in America and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases." The Domestic Policy Council has been working "within the federal government, including with over ...
Nov 01, 2022•51 min•Ep. 162
Megan Walker, Owner and Executive of Made by Meg had me at “health inspection score.” She was teaching an educational session at The Special Event back in 2017 on what food safety means and what planners need to know/ask of their caterers. Yes! When I surveyed hashtag#EventProfs on how often they asked their caterers about food safety practices before COVID, 70% of them said NEVER. While we should trust caterers to know how to manage food safety, we still must inquire about their practices. Tune...
Oct 25, 2022•41 min•Ep. 161
Tracy has known Chef Todd Annis of Cru Catering for ~20 years when we were both in Atlanta - as a caterer and a corporate event planner. When I randomly found his podcast "Catering...WTF", I laughed, was amazed, and immediately reached out because the stories he shares about the behind-the-scenes of catering is important for hashtag#EventProfs to understand. Listen in as Tracy & Todd talk about THE question chefs hate to answer, how business is booming but staffing is scarce, tastings, dieta...
Oct 18, 2022•51 min•Ep. 160
On this episode of Eating at a Meeting, Tracy chats with Jennifer Squeglia CMP, principle at RLC Events, Inc. about what silver linings she sees that came from the pandemic throwing the industry in a tailspin. One of those is the value of sharing a meal with others. Tune in to learn how we can use the pandemic to adapt, execute, and use food and beverage as opportunity to foster connections and create inclusivity. Connect with Tracy: facebook.com/groups/EatingataMeeting thrivemeetings.com...
Oct 11, 2022•46 min•Ep. 159
Have you ever witnessed someone having an anaphylactic reaction? It is pretty scary. Tune into the next episode of Eating at a Meeting LIVE to learn what my good friend and event planner Heather Herrig, CMP recently experienced to put her on the personal side of the dietary needs question on an event registration form. Heather has been a part of the meetings & events industry since 2005 - and loves every aspect of what goes into creating amazing, inclusive, and engaging experiences. But more...
Oct 04, 2022•48 min•Ep. 158
Meet the young entrepreneur — Zak Marks — who has lived with a severe nut allergy his whole life (24 years) and has created a company and product — Kitt Medical — "to save lives, implement change, and create a new standard for allergy care." Zak and the Kitt Medical team believe that EVERY public place must be equipped with emergency anaphylaxis provisions - just like a defibrillator, but for allergies. "Don't Delay. Anaphylaxis can be fatal." Join Tracy and Zak as they chat about how "adrenalin...
Sep 27, 2022•45 min•Ep. 157
With airline medical kits not being fully stocked being in the news lately and it being Medic Alert Awareness Month, I wanted to talk event safety expert Alan Kleinfeld about what hashtag#MeetingProfs need to know. From hashtag#epinephrine to defibrillators, what should hashtag#EventProfs make sure their medical staff has on hand? Join Tracy and Alan on Wednesday for hashtag#EatingAtAMeeting LIVE to learn how planners can be prepared for medical emergencies? What information can planners ask gue...
Sep 20, 2022•50 min•Ep. 156
Do you believe your food and beverage purchases have an impact on the environment? Do you follow a diet or eating pattern (clean, plant-based, mindful, calorie-counting)? Do you seek out “natural” foods to avoid artificial ingredients? Do you choose your beer to get more out of the price (higher ABV) or to reduce alcohol consumption altogether (zero ABV)? If any of these apply to you, then you're part of the latest trends in food and beverage. Tracy chats with Monica Watrous, managing editor for...
Sep 13, 2022•44 min•Ep. 155
In this episode Tracy opens up the podcast to Eating at a Meeting followers to come on the show to chat about food and beverage. Nancy Sutta Burns and Lynne Wellish join her. Connect with Tracy: facebook.com/groups/EatingataMeetin g thrivemeetings.c om
Sep 06, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 154
As the partners of Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited, a Toronto-based consulting practice, Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky are a dynamic duo whose mission is to "write about the world of hotels and try to make hoteliers understand that there's more to their life than just counting the number of bread rolls in a basket." Their 40+ years of joint experience consulting with and staying in hotels, Larry and Adam are going to talk with Tracy about the best big trends for F&B in the hotel indust...
Aug 30, 2022•59 min
Brandon Snook, pictured here with his grandma Ceese, is owner and chef of Hudson Valley BBQ Company. Brandon takes great pride in using locally sourced ingredients from the Hudson Valley so he can make almost all of the items offered on his catering menu from scratch on event day. Having grown up in the cattle country of Montana, there was always locally sourced food on his family table and every night, the family sat down to a freshly made farm-to-table meal made from recipes passed down from g...
Aug 23, 2022•42 min•Ep. 152
What does it take to manage food and beverage for one of the meetings industry’s largest association conventions? Listen as Tracy talks with Tanya Philyaw, Senior Event Planner and Annette Gregg, Chief Revenue Officer for Meeting Professionals International about the organization's 2022 World Education Conference. They chat about how to use food to build community, what they are still learning about meal planning, how attendee dietary needs affects what they choose to serve the thousands of even...
Aug 16, 2022•47 min•Ep. 151
In this episode, Tracey looked back through 150 episodes to find how her guess answers the question and what their perception of safe, sustainable, and inclusive is to them. From making a conscious effort to think about it to think about understanding where your food is from where you’re getting it through allergy safety and making sure that everybody has a seat at the table. Hear Tracy reading excerpts from her guests and directly from the guests. Let us know what it means to you as well by sen...
Aug 09, 2022•28 min•Ep. 150
The copy/paste approach to BEO, menu and service planning prevents achieving food waste reduction goals, introducing healthy and sustainable options, and capitalizing on other promising trends. Instead, we need to adopt the improv principle of “yes, and”! Opposite of the “we’ve always done it this way” thinking that is too common in foodservice operations and menu planning, Molly Crouch Corporate Director of Sustainability at Sodexo Live! and Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton sustainability consultant and ...
Aug 02, 2022•57 min•Ep. 149
Brian Peterson is a 5th grade teacher, a beekeeper, and gardener. On this episode of Eating at a Meeting LIVE he's going to share how and why pollinators are so important to the food and beverage industry and meetings. As founder of the nonprofit Bees in the D, he's aiming to bring back Michigan’s declining pollinator population and educating us all on the complexities and importance of bees and pollinators to not only our food industry but our ecosystem as a whole. Join Tracy and Brian, as they...
Jul 26, 2022•46 min•Ep. 148
I'm SO excited to be chatting with my friend and industry leader Rachael Riggs to talk about the 5 Dimension of Wellbeing on the Eating at a Meeting podcast this week. For more than 25 years, Rachael has been dedicated to creating holistic event experiences that motivate people to be the best versions of themselves. As the Wellbeing Leader of Maritz Global Events, she focuses on improving the guest experience by keeping the guest’s wellbeing at the heart of the design. Join us as we talk about w...
Jul 19, 2022•48 min•Ep. 147
Chris Adams got his start as a pool attendant with Ritz Carlton. From that job and the future years he spent with the company, he learned the culture of what luxury was and what Ritz Carlton stood. Now, as an international luxury hospitality disruptor and CEO of lifestyle consulting agency, Ellis Adams, he and his team help brands open new hotels around the world and teach their staff that luxury hospitality is about how you make people feel and how to positively leave an impact on people’s live...
Jul 12, 2022•54 min•Ep. 146
Harlowe Custom Micro’s is a Veteran-owned and operated farm that opened in 2017 in Harlowe, NC. It's owner Ryan Willet along with his fiancé, Rebecca run the multifaceted farm with a Hydroponic Greenhouse, Microgreen Production room, and Market Garden Beds. The business, however, started out of necessity. Ryan's day job was pretty sedentary, which was taking its toll on him physically (think, "sitting is the new smoking"), so he decided to work with a nutritionist. She helped him understand port...
Jul 05, 2022•52 min•Ep. 145
In April I re-met Gagan (Jared Levy) (he/him) after 30 years. We were both attending the Natural Products Expo where he was a multi-session speaker on how to build businesses for good that prioritize the planet and people while maximizing profit. As founder and chief creative director of marketing agency Guru, Gagan's mission is to increase joy and reduce suffering on this planet through innovative, strategic creativity for brands who are creating the most quality products in the most conscious ...
Jun 28, 2022•56 min•Ep. 144
While attending PCMA Convening Leaders convention, Tracy had the opportunity to attend one of the Lip Smacking Food Tours. In this episode, she chats with founder Donald Contursi on how he has become an award-winning tour company that offers unique dining experiences in Las Vegas and beyond. https://www.lipsmackingfoodietours.com/ https://www.facebook.com/LipSmackingFoodieTours https://instagram.com/lipsmackingfo odie https://twitter.com/VegasFoodi eTour Connect with Tracy: facebook.com/groups/E...
Jun 21, 2022•37 min•Ep. 143
I first heard The Day Tripper Chet Garner speak in early 2022 at the Southwest Showcase and immediately fell in love with his love of Texas and how through his show he is sharing and teaching us all about the culture, community, people, history, and food of the Lone Star state. As the creator, host, and executive producer of the 12-time Emmy-award-winning Texas travel show which airs on PBS stations across the country, Chet explores the HUGE state to show that it only takes a day to find new exp...
Jun 14, 2022•37 min•Ep. 142
Food Allergy Awareness Month Epsiode If you were to look at a group of people would you be able to point out the ones who have food allergies or celiac disease? Probably not. They don’t look different from others standing next to them. This is great on one hand, but also a serious challenge on the other. Food allergies and celiac disease are serious INVISIBLE medical conditions that millions of people live with every day, including Gwen Smith. These medical conditions can be life-threatening, ma...
Jun 07, 2022•50 min•Ep. 141
A Special Food Allergy Awareness Week Episode First 30 minutes: Kyle Dine and his family love to travel. But dining out while traveling can be hard when he has allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, egg, and mustard and his wife has celiac disease. He started his company Equal Eats after having a full-blown anaphylactic reaction in a European restaurant because the tree nut cashew got lost in translation between him and the waiter. Something that can and does easily happen every day. Tracy ...
May 31, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 140
Food Allergy Awareness Week Epsiode. Having a food allergy can create a heavy burden for individuals — children and adults alike — constantly having to think about and managing EVERY bite, spill and crumb because a single mistake — a morsel, a touch, or inhalation of a food protein — can be deadly. Join Tracy on Friday, May 13 as she talks with licensed clinical therapist, Lisa Rosenberg, about the BEST part of having food allergies and the advice she would give to someone who is just starting t...
May 26, 2022•45 min•Ep. 139
Food Allergy Awareness Week. Episode Caroline Benjamin and Jacqui McPeake are no strangers to a catering or hotel kitchen, having worked in food service for a combined 35+ years. They are also no strangers to food allergies and other dietary needs, Caroline being allergic to gluten and dairy and Jacqui a mom of a food allergic child. Together (and separately) their passion for raising awareness of food allergens and intolerance across the food industry has supported the rollout and adoption of a...
May 24, 2022•49 min•Ep. 138
Food Allergy Awareness Week Epsiode Due to successive tick bites, Amanda Warren became allergic to all mammalian meats (meat allergy); developed a secondary allergy to milk, cheeses, animal byproducts and carrageenan, as well as airborne lipid and particle reactivity. The Alpha Gal Syndrome diagnosis upended Amanda's personal food world. As a School Nutrition Director, chef, and educator, it changed how she feeds thousands of kids every day, and brought to mind thoughtful concerns around allergy...
May 19, 2022•51 min•Ep. 137
Living with one or multiple life-threatening allergies is not an easy thing to do, whether it is someone you care for or yourself. You have to read labels. A lot of labels, all the time, and over and over. You have to ask a lot of questions of others about how they prepared food and what's in the food. It can be terrifying, relentless and exhausting. And, every aspect of life seems to be driven and controlled by them. Ruth Holroyd is allergic to many things — nuts, dairy, soy, wheat, latex, nick...
May 17, 2022•52 min•Ep. 136
When a person gets diagnosed with a food allergy they often leave the office with not much more information than that diagnosis. Navigating life after the doctor’s office feels overwhelming. That is where Kristin Osborne, founder of The Prioritized Group, comes in. As a trained disability advocate and mom to three boys with multiple life threatening food allergies, she gets it. With over 13 years of food allergy management and disability advocacy, she has helped her clients gain services and acc...
May 12, 2022•45 min•Ep. 135
Let's talk about food allergies and celiac disease. May is the month dedicated to learning about them even though we should be doing it all year long. In this episode Tracy talks about what food allergies and celiac disease are, things to consider when planning menus for guests with those dietary needs, and how to plan for them in meeting and event food and beverage experiences. Connect with Tracy: facebook.com/groups/EatingataMeeting thrivemeetings.co m...
May 10, 2022•23 min•Ep. 134
How does equity, diversity, and inclusion relate to event catering? Tune into Eating at a Meeting LIVE on Wednesday when Tracy chats with Zoe (pronounced ZOH) Moore, an independent equity, diversity, and inclusion consultant in the hospitality, events and tourism industries. Hint...DEI (and belonging) have a lot to do with event catering. From staffing in the front and back of house to vendor sourcing, service methods to what's being served, inclusive food and beverage experiences are opportunit...
May 03, 2022•52 min•Ep. 133
