International Office Meals: A Unique Thai Breakfast to Honor Vegetarian Awareness Month

Posted by on Thursday, October 9th, 2014 with Comments Off on International Office Meals: A Unique Thai Breakfast to Honor Vegetarian Awareness Month Comments

Yes, it’s that time of year again — National Vegetarian Month! We’ve already been talking about healthy, delicious ideas to make your office crave Meatless Mondays, but today we’ll focus on delicious breakfast ideas from across the world that are both meat-free and tasty.

It can be so easy to fall back on ordering the usual Western style breakfasts for mornings at the office. But staying in a predictable food rut is not without consequences: most American or English traditional breakfasts are filled with fats and oils, leaving employees feeling heavy and lethargic — not to mention tired of the same old flavors and foods. Seeing as we’re midway through National Vegetarian Month, it’s the perfect timing to delve into a Southeast Asian meal that can work just as well without meat as it does with. No harm in making sure that we can please everyone in the office — vegetarians and meat-lovers alike — with a healthy, refreshing breakfast.

A Thai-style breakfast will entice the folks at work who are craving something new, and still remain inviting to any reluctant eaters on staff. So let’s dive right into Thailand’s tempting cuisine that is sure to turn a typical office morning into the highlight of the day.

Khao tom pla.

This version of khao tom has fish (pla) in it for some additional protein.
Image source: Flickr user Ron Dollete

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Celebrate National Curry Week with Sensational Middle Eastern and Moroccan Food Delivery

Posted by on Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 with Comments Off on Celebrate National Curry Week with Sensational Middle Eastern and Moroccan Food Delivery Comments

What’s better than ordering fresh ethnic cuisine for a meal at the office? Having the perfect excuse to do so! Next week marks National Curry Week in the UK, which sounds like a great excuse for those of us in the U.S. to branch out and satisfy our curry cravings at work. It also offers us incentive to delve deeper into our understanding of curry culture, along with the different types of cuisines that feature this delicious, hot, mouthwatering mixture.

A green curry dish being cooked.

Curries can be labor-intensive to cook at home, which makes them the perfect treat to have delivered at the office.
Image source: Flickr user numb3r

 

The nature of curries

Originating in Southeast Asia, and a veritable staple of Indian cuisine, curries are best known as a mix of spices and herbs in a flavorful, stew-like concoction that can be eaten alone, or with an accompanying dish of rice or bread. But in terms of what a curry is comprised of, the answers range greatly. As an example, a British definition of curry might include “a mélange of onion, ginger, turmeric, garlic, pepper, chilies, coriander, cumin, and other spices cooked with shellfish, meat, or vegetables.”

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Mindful Office Meals: How Indian Food and Ayurvedic Philosophy Bring Clarity at Work

Posted by on Thursday, October 2nd, 2014 with 7 Comments

Office meals are an opportunity to strengthen the connection between employees, and cultivate a supportive, community-based company culture. Within this is ample room for inspiration, fun, play, and wellness. One cuisine that enables us to touch upon these aspects of a positive, healthful work environment is Indian. Much of Indian food is originally based in Ayurvedic philosophy, an approach to life that promotes mindful eating. And there’s no need to be an expert in mindfulness or interested in Indian culture to reap the benefits of such a philosophy. In fact, it’s quite simple to pull together a delicious office meal with Indian food delivery that’s based around the mindfulness inspired by Ayurvedic philosophy.

Indian food staple vegetable biryani on a plate.

Vegetable biryani is both delicious and healthy — and fits within Ayurvedic philosophy.
Photo by Kimberly Bryant.

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The Truth About Chinese Food: Get Real with These Delicious Lunch Catering Ideas

Posted by on Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 with 19 Comments

Whenever we’re ordering cuisine from another country, it can be tough to tell whether a dish is authentic to its country of origin, or if it’s been tweaked to suit Western tastes. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with putting an American spin on traditional cuisines from other parts of the world, having a better understanding of what we’re eating makes the experience more rewarding — and sometimes inspires interest in a new culture.

Fried rice looks delicious on a plate.

Chinese fried rice is delicious, but there are other exciting dishes to try for a more authentic experience.
Image source: Flickr user by t-mizo

Signs of authentic Chinese food

Chinese food is one of the best examples when it comes to food that has been Westernized in the majority of American restaurants. Usually when we order Chinese takeout, the food that we’re receiving is actually a fusion of Chinese and American cuisine — many of the dishes on menus here wouldn’t be found in China.

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Delicious Greek Food: Fresh Meal Ideas For Walking Business Lunches

Posted by on Thursday, September 25th, 2014 with Comments Off on Delicious Greek Food: Fresh Meal Ideas For Walking Business Lunches Comments

Fresh Greek food - a classic salad.

Walking outside with fresh Greek food is the perfect break to re-energize employees.
Image source: Flickr user 46137

We typically think of office meals as something to be done, well, at the office. But what about introducing a new kind of business lunch into the mix — one that involves getting outdoors and into nature? Walking lunches are a great way to shake up our usual meal-time routine at work. If you find your office in need of a creative jolt, taking staff outside can be just the thing to get the blood flowing.

The basics of a walking lunch are simple: it involves going on a nice walk — the route is usually pre-planned — with employees, while snacking on appetizers, stopping at a picnic-area to eat the main course, and then walking back to the office while munching contentedly on dessert. Combining elements from company picnics, walking lunches offer a fresh space in which staff can unwind and re-energize.

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Momo Madness: Add Warmth to Office Meals with Himalayan Food

Posted by on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 with Comments Off on Momo Madness: Add Warmth to Office Meals with Himalayan Food Comments

Thukpa, a noodle soup from Tibet.

Thukpa is a warm, comforting dish eaten in parts of Nepal, Tibet, and India.
Image source: m-louis via wikimediacommons.org

When most people think of the Himalayas, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the magical mountain-range the area is best known for. The Himalayan mountains run through five countries — including India, Nepal, and Bhutan (as well as parts of China and Pakistan) — while its highest peak, Everest, is located on the border of Nepal and China. Hiking through these epic mountains is on the top of many people’s buckets lists, with good reason: this part of the world is filled to the brim with natural beauty, and incredible food to go alongside. But in lieu of traveling across the globe, we can still reap the benefits of delectable Himalayan cuisine from the comforts of our own workplace. Read the full article…

Spice Up Corporate Catering With Mouth-Watering Indian Food for Breakfast

Posted by on Thursday, September 18th, 2014 with Comments Off on Spice Up Corporate Catering With Mouth-Watering Indian Food for Breakfast Comments

Vegetable uttapam looks delicious.

Indian for breakfast? You bet!
Photo by Kimberly Bryant.

Each year, people journey from all over the world to visit India. Is it the famous Taj Mahal that attracts them to this magical land? Or perhaps the lustrous Golden Temple? While there’s plenty about this special place to entice visitors, one of its biggest draws is its cuisine. Like the country itself, Indian food is vibrant, colorful, and wildly varied.

Thankfully, there’s no need to make the trek to India in order to soak up the smells and tastes of delectable, authentic dishes like tandoori chicken and samosas; we have the good fortune of being able to order from one of the myriad Indian restaurants right in our local area. The only question remaining is: how to best take advantage of this abundance of delicious opportunity?

There’s such a wealth of appealing Indian dishes from which to choose that it helps to have some guidance when narrowing down our orders, especially for a group of employees whose tastes are apt to vary. Since September marks Better Breakfast Month, why not aim to expand beyond the traditional morning fare? To ensure that everyone on staff comes away satisfied, here are some tried-and-true suggestions for the best Indian dishes to order for the most important meal of the day at the office.

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Crazy for Japanese Food Delivery: How to Eat Sushi Like a Boss

Posted by on Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 with 9 Comments

An array of nigiri sushi for Japanese food order

There’s a wide variety of choices with nigiri: fried egg, cooked shrimp, and salmon are all great sources of protein, and look beautiful placed atop sushi rice.
Image source: Flickr user Tony Gladvin George

When it comes to food, the question of comfort still very much applies: how do we know when it’s time to push ourselves to try something new? While it’s nice to stay settled in our culinary comfort zones, taking some edible risks is well worth our while. Sure, we could stick with ordering American food delivery like healthy sandwiches, but what about the myriad flavors from other cultures just waiting to be explored?

Japanese food is a great place to begin a new tasty adventure, with its light, healthy cuisine that uses different ingredients and flavors than American foods. There’s something for everyone here: In addition to sushi, most Japanese restaurants also offer other traditional Japanese dishes, such as chicken, wheat noodles, salads, and soups. And don’t worry if some people on staff are averse to raw fish; there are topping options like cooked shrimp, cucumber maki, or fried egg instead. Read the full article…

Healthy Desserts to Make Overtime Meals Something to Work For!

Posted by on Thursday, September 11th, 2014 with 6 Comments

Homemade cinnamon rolls.

Sure, these taste great — but will they leave your office energized for work?
Photo by Kimberly Bryant.

Life is shortEat dessert first.

― Jacques Torres

If there’s one thing that can bring an office together, it’s a shared affection for dessert. The right treats can make a positive dining experience even better, and provide the perfect end to any meal. They can also work great on their own, in the form of an afternoon snack or small overtime meal. But, wait — there’s a challenge with most desserts! Not only are they filled with sugars and fats, but many also contain artificial ingredients that are decidedly unhealthy. While there’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves to these kinds of sugary treats every now and then, we need to steer clear of serving them to our employees: these foods will zap employee productivity (hello, sugar crash!), and leave them feeling bloated, lethargic, and craving more. Offering unhealthy desserts to our office also undermines the goals of any staff members who are trying to eat healthier, or lose weight. For these reasons and more, it’s in everyone’s best interest to provide our staff with healthy choices at work. Read the full article…

Asian Inspiration: Delicious, Wheat-Free Business Lunches

Posted by on Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 with 4 Comments

rice-based Thai dishes

It’s easy — and delicious! — to go wheat-free with Asian cuisine.
Photo by Kimberly Bryant.

Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.

― William Cowper

When’s the last time you had a delicious, wheat-free lunch at work? It’s no secret that many people find wheat difficult to tolerate: more and more of us are going wheat-free, or even gluten-free these days. For employees who are used to eating wheat-based meals, this might sound a bit extreme — but the truth is that once we get familiar with wheat alternatives, it’s easy to be inspired by the myriad options still left on the table.

Why wheat-free is a healthy choice

What’s behind this wheat-free trend? Among numerous reasons, wheat is known to be “a common food allergen, causing [digestive and immune-related illnesses], and weight problems in many.” It’s also addictive, meaning that once we eat a wheat-based meal, we’re likely to crave more. But unless someone on staff has celiac, or a particularly sensitive tummy, there’s no need to go entirely wheat-free all the time. Read the full article…