food trends

Many industry pros predict that plant-based dishes, as well as vegan and raw diets, will continue to dominate menu offerings in the new year.

In June, the Museum of Modern Art in New York hosted its Party in the Garden, and caterers paid special attention to food presentation on the tray. Sweet pea and pesto crostini from Union Square Events took on artful forms of their own.

Last year in Los Angeles, Ted Baker hosted an event at Carondelet House, where Tres L.A. whipped up whimsical catering trays reminiscent of organic environments. On one presentation, moss and whole mushrooms surrounded mushroom griddle cakes.

For a luncheon with a “hat party” theme, New York caterer Abigail Kirsch created a playful arrangement of desserts, including a white chocolate "fence," citrus macaron "hat pops," peanut-butter-and-jelly tarts, miniature carrot cake, and Devil's Food cakes topped with flowers.

Morning workouts can increase productivity throughout the day. IMEX America in Las Vegas has begun offering the IMEXrun, an early-morning 5K along the city's infamous strip. The 2017 run drew 450 conference attendees from 50 countries.

The inaugural In Goop Health summit, held in June in Los Angeles, featured collagen martinis, sound bath mediation, crystal therapy, and other unconventional wellness-focused ideas. There were also several workout classes offered to start the day, including a foam-rolling session from popular trainer Lauren Roxburgh.

Use session breaks to energize and refresh guests with options such as Wolfgang Puck Catering's spa-water hydration station. Fresh fruit and herbs can be added to water, and combinations include orange, mint, and lemon for an immunity boost; blueberry, apple, and raspberry for an antioxidant boost; and cinnamon and strawberry for a metabolism boost.

IMEX America has hosted a dedicated meditation room for the last few years. During breaks in the busy three-day conference, guests can step inside for regular sessions on yoga, mindfulness, and meditation run by mindfulness trainer Lee Papa.

Wolfgang Puck Catering also offers a variety of energizing snack options with brain-boosting foods such as almonds, walnuts, and flax seeds. Options include a customizable trail-mix bar, a build-your-own parfait bar, and a build-your-own oatmeal bar (pictured).

Turn up the color in a meeting room with an eye-catching veggie charcuterie, like this one from the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles—Beverly Hills. Brightly colored seasonal vegetables are displayed on a tiered platter and served with herb hummus.

For a healthy, visually appealing cheese board, Tart Restaurant at Farmer’s Daughter Hotel in Los Angeles serves a veggie option featuring green beans, baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced radishes, hummus, and prunes.

A colorful Mediterranean table display from the Hotel Colonnade in Coral Gables, Florida, features red pepper hummus, baba ganoush served with mixed cured olives and baby mozzarella, dates, feta cheese, halloumi, tzatziki, stuffed grape leaves, grilled artichoke hearts, heirloom carrots, pita chips, and grilled bread.

The Forbes Under 30 Summit, held in October in Boston, aimed to create memorable moments within a larger conference. During one session, former N.B.A. player Amare Stoudemire shared tips and led an informal basketball game for attendees at a gym on the campus of Emerson College.

In early December in Los Angeles, AwesomenessTV and Gatorade welcomed local high school women to a motivational workout class led by celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, actress Lea Michele, World Cup champion Julie Foundy, and TV host Rachel DeMita. The women led a conversation about how playing sports shaped who they are today. A visually appealing workout area featured colorful lockers adorned with the phrase “Sisters in Sweat.”

The workout can continue even while guests are sitting and networking. For Kehoe Designs’ Love Yourself Fitness & Networking Event, held in June in Chicago, decor included orchids anchored to kettlebells as centerpieces. Balance balls set in gilded stands (pictured) made for unexpected, inventive—and healthy—side chairs.

Propel Electrolyte Water recently hosted a series of workout events for consumers across the United States. Known as Propel Co:Labs, the events ended with a two-day festival in Los Angeles in August. Strategic marketing agency Invisible North designed a photo booth set that channeled the color and energy of the brand’s #LetsGetUgly campaign; guests used the vignette’s fitness props while getting snapped by a multi-camera photo system, which captured the moment in a 180-degree GIF.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants revealed that 91 percent of the brand’s bartenders plan to use vegetables in cocktails in 2018, including nontraditional options such as beets, carrots, green beans, butternut squash, corn, and radishes. At Firefly in Washington, D.C., the “This Is How We Cass-E-Role” cocktail features El Pelotón de la Muerte mezcal, Green Chartreuse liqueur, Cynar liqueur, salted lime simple syrup, and pureed green beans.

And don't forget dessert, of course. An array of guilt-free options is available at the Westin Galleria Dallas, including dairy-free dark chocolate mousse with blueberry compote (pictured), a fresh fruit martini topped with non-dairy chantilly, honey yogurt with toasted pecans, and dairy-free strawberry mousse with granola crumbles.