Meeting Well is a tool designed to help staff that determine meal and snack options for meetings, workplace events and conferences. By providing healthy alternatives, participants can make healthy choices within the work environment. Ultimately, Meeting Well is about creating social and physical environmental changes that support people in maintaining healthy eating and physical activity habits.

For people who do not smoke, eating and activity habits are the most effective ways to reduce cancer risk. One-third of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year are due to nutrition and physical activity factors, including obesity. Most variation in individual cancer risk is due to behavioral factors - such as diet and activity habits and tobacco use - rather than inherited factors. Providing a workplace environment that promotes healthy eating and physical activity will benefit employeee health through the reduction of cancer and other chronic disease risks. Through the Meeting Well worksite program, the American Cancer Society proposes that delicious health promoting menus selections enhances the meeting experience while supporting employee wellness.

The Meeting Well tool has many easy to use suggestions for busy meeting planners. The booklet tesxt uses bold headings and bullets for quick references. There are snack substitution ideas for meetings and menu suggestions for all day conferences and suggestions for themed events. The "Menu Maker" has pages divided into sections by breakfast, lunches, dinners and snacks to use with cateres for creating all daymenus. Meeting Well has been designed by the American Cancer Society to be readily incorporated into the planning toolbox of busy staff.

For more information, call the American Cancer Society
Source: American Cancer Society 2002.