11 Creative Catering Ideas for Lunch Meetings to Boost Productivity and Collaboration
Planning an important work or business meeting? Imagine this: your team walks in and is greeted by a table full of delicious, fresh food. The mood lifts, ideas start flowing, and productivity takes off. That's the power of great lunch catering.
Picking the right food can make or break the vibe of your next working lunch meeting. Whether it's a client meeting or a corporate event, the menu you choose can set the tone for a successful day. No more boring sandwiches or soggy salads—it's time to think outside the box! From gourmet wraps to vibrant salads, there are plenty of superb catering ideas for lunch meetings that will have everyone talking (and coming back for seconds).
Here’s what you can expect from this blog:
- Creative corporate catering ideas to inspire your next office lunch.
- Tips for choosing the right catering menu, no matter the dietary preferences.
- Easy, hassle-free lunch catering ideas that’ll keep your team focused and energised.
With these tips, you'll be able to select the best office meeting lunch options, ensuring it’s a success from start to finish!
Why Catering Matters for Lunch Meetings
When it comes to lunch meetings, food isn’t just about filling hungry bellies—it’s about creating the right environment for success. Great food can set the tone for a productive meeting, turning what could be just another "working lunch" into a collaborative and enjoyable experience. It encourages people to interact, share ideas, and focus on the task at hand rather than worrying about what to order or who’s running out to grab lunch.
Here’s why catering should be a priority for your next meeting:
- Keeps everyone engaged: Tasty, nourishing food gives your team the energy they need to stay sharp and contribute.
- Sparks conversation: Sharing a meal breaks the ice and creates an opportunity for informal discussions, often leading to creative ideas and better collaboration.
- Saves time: With meals ready to go, you can skip the hassle of planning or running out for lunch and spend more time on what really matters.
By choosing the right catering ideas for working lunch meetings, you’re not just feeding your team—you’re setting the stage for a more productive and enjoyable meeting.
11 Mouthwatering Catering Ideas for Lunch Meetings
Picking the right catering is easier than you think. With a few simple ideas, you can make sure everyone’s happy and your meeting goes smoothly. Catering Zone is here with our top picks to help you choose the best lunch for your team.
A. Gourmet Sandwiches & Wraps (Ideal for Casual and Versatile Lunches)
1. Mixed Gourmet Sandwiches Box
Our mixed gourmet sandwiches box comes with 30 of our finest gourmet breads, Turkish wraps, and more, with fillings to meet all dietary needs.
Each box includes:
- Lemon Almond Chicken with Celery & Mayo Sandwich
- Falafel & Tabbouleh with Hummus (Veg)
- Portuguese Chicken, Lettuce, Tomato & Cheese
- Chicken Schnitzel, Lettuce, Tomato & Cheese
- Pulled Pork with Crunchy Slaw & BBQ Sauce
- Beef Brisket With Crunchy Cabbage Slaw
- Vegetarian Patty with Spanish Onion, Lettuce, Capsicum & Sweet Chilli Sauce (Veg).
A perfect corporate lunch catering idea for large groups!
2. Catering Zone Gourmet Wraps Collection
Wraps are some of the most delicious lunch ideas for office meetings. With this box, you can serve 24 gourmet wraps to your team and corporate guests. Fillings include:
- Portuguese Chicken, Lettuce, Tomato & Cheese
- Pulled Pork with Crunchy Coleslaw
- Free-Range Poached Chicken with Almond, Celery & Lemon Wrap
- Pulled Beef Brisket With Lettuce & Slaw Wrap
- Chicken Schnitzel, Lettuce, Tomato & Cheese Wrap
- Vegetarian Patty, Lettuce, Onion & Sweet Chilli Wrap
- Falafel Wrap with Lettuce, Carrot, and Cucumber.
A safe menu option to make your office lunch event exciting and fulfilling.
3. Vegetarian Wraps Collection
If you prefer a meatless working lunch idea, our vegetarian wraps collection can be an excellent corporate catering option. It includes 12 wraps cut in half with premium fillings such as roasted vegetables, falafel, and vegetarian patties.
This platter includes:
- Chickpea, Green Falafel with Tabbouleh & Hummus Wrap
- Carrot, Tomato, Cucumber, Beetroot With Lettuce & Cheese Wrap
- Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini, Red Pepper & Halloumi Wrap
- Vegetarian Patty with Spanish Onion, Lettuce, Capsicum & Sweet Chilli Sauce.
It can be an excellent corporate lunch catering menu for 8 to 10 people.
B. Salads & Healthy Options (Perfect for Health-Conscious and Energised Teams)
4. Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower & Tandoori Chicken Salad
Moving away from sandwiches and wraps, next up is our roasted turmeric cauliflower and tandoori chicken salad. It can be the perfect healthy corporate lunch option for your next office meeting. Each order consists of marinated chicken thighs with tandoori paste, tomato, mint, spiced chickpeas, spring onions, cashew nuts, spinach, and mint yogurt dressing.
You can order this packed lunch option in three sizes: small (serves 6-8 people), large (serves 10-12 people), and individual (serves 1).
5. Moroccan Couscous Roasted Vegetable Salad
Our Moroccan Couscous Roasted Vegetable Salad is another mouthwatering, Halal option that you can order for your next business meeting or office gathering. It comes with Moroccan couscous mixed with roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, aubergine, roasted Spanish onion, olives, parsley, and feta cheese with mint yogurt dressing.
You can have this boardroom lunch option delivered to your office in three sizes: small (serves 6-8 people), large (serves 10-12 people), and individual (serves 1).
6. Super Food Salad
Want to keep things simple and healthy? Go with our Super Food Salad. It consists of kale, quinoa, feta, dried cranberries, walnuts, carrots, celery, oranges, and Italian dressing. A super-easy office lunch idea that is perfect for everyone at your next work event.
You can order the Super Food Salad in three sizes: small (serves 6-8 people), large (serves 10-12 people), and individual (serves 1).
7. Turkish Fingers Platter Box
For hot finger food ideas, you can't go wrong with our Turkish fingers platter box. This innovative lunch catering option includes 18 Turkish fingers with fresh ingredients and premium lunch fillings such as:
- Chicken Schnitzel, Tasty Cheese, Tomato & Lettuce
- Veggie Patty, Olive Paste & Rocket (Veg)
- Deluxe Tuna Mix with Wild Rocket
- Lemon Almond Chicken & Lettuce
- Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon, Capers & Cucumber
- Avocado, Lettuce & Poached Chicken.
It can be the perfect lunch catering menu to suit business meetings or working lunch settings.
8. Finger Sandwich Platter
Our finger sandwich platter can be another delicious menu planning option for organising corporate catering for office lunch meetings. Each platter includes 24 delicious finger sandwiches with soft multigrain, white, and rye bread. The sandwiches come with fillings like:
- Chicken Pesto, Rocket, Mayonnaise & Herb Oil
- Free-Range Curried Egg & Mayo Mix with Baby Spinach
- Smokey Leg Ham & Pickle with Swiss Cheese
- Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Arugula, Spanish Onion & Capers.
A safe and enjoyable catering option for workplace lunch meetings.
9. Sandwich + Salad + Sweets Lunch Pack
If you want more variety in your office lunch catering menu, this can be the perfect option. You can choose this lunch pack in four varieties:
With protein
- Vegetarian sandwich
- Gluten-free sandwich
- Vegan sandwich.
Each option will include a classic triangle sandwich, a salad, and a house-baked chocolate brownie. In other words, a complete meal for your meeting attendees.
10. Gluten-Free Lunch Box
Looking for more gluten-free options? This individual, go-and-grab-style lunch box lets you serve your guests gluten-free sandwiches, sweets, juice, and salad. Each box consists of:
Poached chicken, Avocado, Beetroot, and Tasty Cheese Sandwich
- Chef's Selection Lunch Salad
- Chocolate Brownie (gluten-free)
- Orange Juice.
A well-rounded meal that can satiate and energise your meeting members.
11. Vegan Lunch Box
Our final office meeting catered lunch recommendation is the vegan lunch box. It is another individual, go-and-grab-style lunch box that comes with our gourmet wraps, salad, protein balls, and juice. Each box will include:
- Roasted Vegetables Roll with Grilled Eggplant, Capsicums & Zucchini with Hummus
Chef's Selection Lunch Salad
Bliss Protein Ball
East Coast Orange Juice (350 ml).
A complete catered lunch box idea for business and office lunch meetings.
Important Tips for Selecting the Right Catering
Choosing the right catering for your lunch meeting can make or break the experience. Here are a few simple tips to help you select the perfect menu that suits your needs:
Consider Dietary Needs
It’s important to cater to everyone's preferences, whether they have dietary restrictions or food preferences like vegan, gluten-free, or vegetarian. Offering a range of options ensures everyone is included.
Offer a Variety
People have different tastes, so try to provide a mix of options. There can be sandwiches, wraps, or salads—variety is key to keeping everyone happy and satisfied.
Easy to Eat and Serve
Opt for food that’s easy to eat and doesn’t create too much mess. Finger foods, wraps, and salads are great choices because they’re simple to serve and don’t require much clean-up.
Plan for Portions
Make sure you have enough food for everyone, but avoid over-ordering. A good rule of thumb is to have a little extra in case your team is particularly hungry, but not so much that it goes to waste.
Presentation Matters
The way the food is presented can set the tone for the meeting. Neatly arranged platters or lunch boxes make the experience feel more professional and enjoyable.
With these tips, you’ll be able to select lunch catering that’s convenient, satisfying, and ensures your team stays focused and energised throughout the meeting.
FAQs
What’s the best catering option for a working lunch meeting?
For a working lunch, finger foods like wraps, sandwiches, and salad bowls are ideal. They’re easy to eat with minimal distraction, letting everyone stay engaged and productive.
How far in advance should I order lunch catering for a meeting?
It’s best to place your catering order at least 48 hours in advance, especially if your meeting is during peak times or requires custom dietary options. This ensures availability and allows the caterer to prepare fresh ingredients.
How do I ensure the food stays fresh during a long meeting?
To keep food fresh during long meetings, opt for options that can be served at room temperature, like salads, wraps, or sandwiches. If you're ordering hot food, ask the caterer if they can provide insulated containers to maintain temperature.
What if I don’t know how much food to order?
As a rule of thumb, order around 10% more food than the number of attendees, especially for casual lunch meetings. Caterers often provide guidance on portion sizes based on the number of guests to help you plan better.
Are there eco-friendly catering options available?
Yes, many catering services now offer eco-friendly packaging options, like recyclable or compostable containers. You can ask your caterer about these options if sustainability is important for your meeting.
Can I order catering for a virtual lunch meeting?
Absolutely! Many caterers can deliver individual lunch boxes to your virtual meeting participants. Just ensure you get the timing right so everyone enjoys their food at the same time.
Conclusion
The right catering can make all the difference in your lunch meeting. It’s not just about food—it’s about creating an atmosphere where your team can connect, collaborate, and stay focused. With a variety of delicious corporate lunch catering menus to suit all tastes and dietary needs, a well-planned lunch can boost energy and make your next office meeting more enjoyable.
Ready to make your next lunch meeting a success? Check out Catering Zone’s menu and let us help you make your next lunch meeting a success!
