Seeking Meeting Foods suggestions (for Standard American Diet ...

[Guest guest]

Hi Marjorie,

 

Good for you for taking action!

This is a challenge for sure.

 

Last year my then-boss threw a holiday " party " for his few employees and some

of his clients. (Because he was too cheap to give bonuses.) He held the

party in a small room of a local restaurant. As you can guess, all they served

was

carnivorous food. Knowing in advance that this would be the case, I told the

boss that I had some raw chef friends who were willing to provide free hors

d'oeuvres and desserts. He said no, that the restaurant wouldn't want any food

brought in. I had to go to the party for political reasons. But it was most

uncomfortable. I sat there pretending to enjoy a plate of iceberg lettuce and a

few cucumber slices (no dressing, because it would have been cooked) while

the others ate unhealthy food.

 

All I can say is, the faster we can turn more people onto the benefits of raw

food, the better.

 

J.

 

In a message dated 2/17/2005 10:48:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,

mroswell writes:

 

Hi,

 

I occasionally attend meetings of health care policy people

 

I persuaded my workplace (I think) to stop purchasing Krispee Kremes for

the staff meetings (duh.)

 

The last meeting, probably as a result of my conversation with the

director, had no coca-cola, either (the official campus soda company). I'm

sure our next _luncheon_ will have coke and diet coke, per usual, but

nevertheless, the director was proud of the fruit plate (with all

non-organic fruits, including strawberries, and grapes, which

according to foodnews.org are the most pesticide-conatminated...), and the

bagels and cream cheese, and some little processed-flour/sugar muffins.

 

So, anyhow, that's where we're at.

 

I'd love to suggest more healthful solutions. They might be open to it if

the solution feels manageable. Of course, the campus has a rule that you

have to purchase food from the official campus vendor, so that's already

going to be a challenge to get around (they offer NOTHING organic.)

 

Okay, anyhow: Can you (everyone on this list!?) offer suggestions for good

meeting foods, for say, a meeting of 40 people, or a meeting of 8 people.

(I think you can do things for the latter that wouldn't work for a larger

group.)

 

 

 

One idea: order 160 oranges, clementines and tangerines, 4 automatic

juicers, 4 cutting boards, 4 knives, 4 strainers, 4 bowls with lips, 40

cups, some hulled walnuts, and 4 bowls for them.

 

Set out four stations, for people to cut oranges, and juice them.

 

 

Arrange with the campus to have all the dishes washed --we don't have a

kitchen in our office. (Also, arrange with the campus to bypass the

vendor-only requirement, unless they can offer organic oranges......)

 

I wonder how much this solution would cost? And how it would compare with

the cost of the bagels / cream cheese / muffin /fruit platter solution...

 

 

--

Marjorie Roswell

3443 Guilford Terrace

Baltimore, MD 21218

mroswell

410-467-3727

Newest Site: rawfoodwiki.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Elchanan, we all have our own preferences and paths. Perhaps those of us who

are not comfortable as you are are helping to change things faster.

 

In a message dated 2/17/2005 12:34:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

VLinfo writes:

 

 

I find this conversation interesting. I routinely bring my own food and

water into restaurants. I simply tell them that my doctor is put me on a

very special diet. If they inquire further, I explain that it is zero salt

(which they cannot do), extremely low acid (as no vinegar), or a few other

things. Only once in many years has a restaurant objected in any serious

way, and that restaurant is out of business anyway. I generally bring simple

foods -- bananas, my own tomatoes/avocados to put on a salad -- and so

forth. And I am NEVER uncomfortable.

 

I accept the others as they are now, not as I wish they would become, as I

have learned that I can only change or control myself, and even, that not

perfectly so. I am there for the people/circumstances, not for the food.

 

Elchanan

 

 

vegwriter [vegwriter]

Thursday, February 17, 2005 8:20 AM

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Seeking Meeting Foods suggestions (for Standard

American Diet ...

Hi Marjorie,

Good for you for taking action!

This is a challenge for sure.

Last year my then-boss threw a holiday " party " for his few employees and

some

of his clients. (Because he was too cheap to give bonuses.) He held the

party in a small room of a local restaurant. As you can guess, all they

served was

carnivorous food. Knowing in advance that this would be the case, I told the

boss that I had some raw chef friends who were willing to provide free hors

d'oeuvres and desserts. He said no, that the restaurant wouldn't want any

food

brought in. I had to go to the party for political reasons. But it was most

uncomfortable. I sat there pretending to enjoy a plate of iceberg lettuce

and a

few cucumber slices (no dressing, because it would have been cooked) while

the others ate unhealthy food.

All I can say is, the faster we can turn more people onto the benefits of

raw

food, the better.

J.

In a message dated 2/17/2005 10:48:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,

mroswell writes:

Hi,

I occasionally attend meetings of health care policy people

I persuaded my workplace (I think) to stop purchasing Krispee Kremes for

the staff meetings (duh.)

The last meeting, probably as a result of my conversation with the

director, had no coca-cola, either (the official campus soda company). I'm

sure our next _luncheon_ will have coke and diet coke, per usual, but

nevertheless, the director was proud of the fruit plate (with all

non-organic fruits, including strawberries, and grapes, which

according to foodnews.org are the most pesticide-conatminated...), and the

bagels and cream cheese, and some little processed-flour/sugar muffins.

So, anyhow, that's where we're at.

I'd love to suggest more healthful solutions. They might be open to it if

the solution feels manageable. Of course, the campus has a rule that you

have to purchase food from the official campus vendor, so that's already

going to be a challenge to get around (they offer NOTHING organic.)

Okay, anyhow: Can you (everyone on this list!?) offer suggestions for good

meeting foods, for say, a meeting of 40 people, or a meeting of 8 people.

(I think you can do things for the latter that wouldn't work for a larger

group.)

One idea: order 160 oranges, clementines and tangerines, 4 automatic

juicers, 4 cutting boards, 4 knives, 4 strainers, 4 bowls with lips, 40

cups, some hulled walnuts, and 4 bowls for them.

Set out four stations, for people to cut oranges, and juice them.

Arrange with the campus to have all the dishes washed --we don't have a

kitchen in our office. (Also, arrange with the campus to bypass the

vendor-only requirement, unless they can offer organic oranges......)

I wonder how much this solution would cost? And how it would compare with

the cost of the bagels / cream cheese / muffin /fruit platter solution...

--

Marjorie Roswell

3443 Guilford Terrace

Baltimore, MD 21218

mroswell

410-467-3727

Newest Site: rawfoodwiki.org

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/17/2005 10:17:17 PM Eastern Standard Time,

aummm1 writes:

Simply Tomatoes, that has all kinds of dehydrated fruits and

veggies to nibble on. I know I've seen this at Whole Foods and some

other health food stores too.

Do you know what temperature these are dehydrated at? I don't think this is

a raw foods company.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Carolyn,

 

I don't see it as " imposing " our eating standards on others, but rather as

sharing our knowledge with others. It so happens that Margie's meetings are

with members of a health standards committee, so they will certainly appreciate

learning about a healthier way of eating that is also delicious.

 

Judy Pokras

Editor/Founder

www.rawfoodsnewsmagazine.com

An online magazine--founded in March 2001 as rawfoodsnews.com--celebrating

the raw foods lifestyle with authoritative info, breaking news, and fun

features. You'll find raw food recipes, celebrity news, sections for parents and

kids,

regional listings, book reviews, a free e-mail newsletter you can

to and lots more!

 

 

In a message dated 2/17/2005 10:19:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

siviax3 writes:

 

 

Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to impose your eating standards on

the others at the meetings? Wouldn't it be simpler to bring your own foods to

the meetings and let everyone else go their own way?

 

Carolyn

 

 

 

-

Margie Roswell

 

 

And I should be clear: I mean " as easy as " chips or bagels or diet cola...

 

I'm explicitly looking for healthful substitutes that are just as

manageable (or nearly so) for both servers and eaters as these foods

above.

 

Yes, of course, whole fruit. Any additional ideas are welcome.

 

[snip]

 

 

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/17/2005 10:44:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mroswell writes:

Meetings of health policy organizations shouldn't be offering Krispy

Kremes to attendees. C'mon, is anybody with me on this?

I am. I've send several e-mails in agreement with you.

 

Judy

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> Do you know what temperature these are dehydrated at? I don't

think this is

> a raw foods company.

>

 

Had the name slightly off - it's actually " Just Tomatoes " , and I

called them to see about their processes. The apples, persimmons,

and tomatoes, and a fruit mix they have are dehydrated at or below

105 degrees, the other products are freeze dried and never go above

90 degrees. Some products are also certified organic, and the label

on the product states as such for those that qualify for organic.

So, I would think this qualifies as a raw foods company.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 9:11:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,

aummm1 writes:

 

 

 

 

> Do you know what temperature these are dehydrated at? I don't

think this is

> a raw foods company.

>

 

Had the name slightly off - it's actually " Just Tomatoes " , and I

called them to see about their processes. The apples, persimmons,

and tomatoes, and a fruit mix they have are dehydrated at or below

105 degrees, the other products are freeze dried and never go above

90 degrees. Some products are also certified organic, and the label

on the product states as such for those that qualify for organic.

So, I would think this qualifies as a raw foods company.

Wow, I had no idea they used low temperatures. That is good to know!

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

does anyone know if you can freeze alfalfa sprouts

 

A & G <aummm1 wrote:

 

 

> Do you know what temperature these are dehydrated at? I don't

think this is

> a raw foods company.

>

 

Had the name slightly off - it's actually " Just Tomatoes " , and I

called them to see about their processes. The apples, persimmons,

and tomatoes, and a fruit mix they have are dehydrated at or below

105 degrees, the other products are freeze dried and never go above

90 degrees. Some products are also certified organic, and the label

on the product states as such for those that qualify for organic.

So, I would think this qualifies as a raw foods company.