Running a catering business means being willing to make special requests for your clients. If you have been approached about serving a healthy catered meal, you might wonder how to do so while still offering something that tastes indulgent. Eating a well-balanced diet improves health and reduces the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Having a healthy range of options on your catering menu might mean additional business from clients who are worried about the negative health consequences that come with eating foods that might not be healthy.
Step 1
Provide a salad bar. Include leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, peas, mushrooms, carrots and any other type of vegetable you think your clients might like. Add some sliced fruits, such as apples, berries and melon, as well. A salad bar allows you to offer items that your clients specifically request and provides a healthy meal for people who are watching what they eat. Adding fruits and vegetables to a catered meal increases intake of vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium and iron.
Step 2
Pick lean cuts of meat. Choose sirloin or round cuts of beef, pork and lamb, fish and skinless chicken breast. These options are lower in saturated fat and calories than other selections, but still contain plenty of protein, making them a healthy choice for your catering menu. For a buffet-style event, thinly slice meats and serve small portions to each guest, which controls the amount of calories on each plate. For a sit-down dinner, serve each person about 3 oz. of meat.
Step 3
Use whole grains for clients who want a healthier meal catered. For sandwiches, opt for whole-wheat bread. Italian-inspired meals contain more nutrients when prepared with whole-wheat pasta. Offer whole-grain crackers and low-fat cheese as an appetizer and serve brown rice instead of white. Whole grains are considerably higher in fiber and complex carbohydrates than their refined counterparts, making them ideal for health-conscious clients.
Step 4
Prepare foods with low-fat dairy products. Use skim milk in baked goods and soups to reduce fat and calorie intake. Use low-fat cheese for Mexican and Italian meals, as well as on sandwiches and as appetizers. Serve dips and sauces made with low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream. These easy alternatives offer guests calcium and protein while keeping calorie and fat intake moderate.
Step 5
Serve healthy fats. Include avocado and seeds in a salad, and use canola or olive oil in place of butter or lard when cooking. Offer nuts as an appetizer and serve fish instead of red meat. These foods contain heart-healthy fats that reduce the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease and are easy to find and use as part of a healthy catered meal.
Member Comments