Food brings people together, and not just while eating. Sharing a meal deepens social ties, both personal and professional. In fact, one Cornell University study found that the firefighters who ate together had better group job performance compared to solo diners. So why not add some food to your work events and reap the benefits?

If you’re not sure exactly how to integrate food into the office, our Admin’s Guide to Food at the Office can help you throughout every step of the process. Check it out now for tips on food ideas for work events, ordering guidelines and more.

But in the meantime, we’ve curated the top five work events that you can improve by adding in a dash of dining. Next time your office is hosting one of these events, bring on the snacks.

1. Client meetings

Good food boosts anyone’s mood, and clients are no exception. Offering food for work meetings is a fantastic way to make a good impression from the get-go. It shows clients you went through the effort of planning a meal for them and that you value them.

That’s one of the reasons why business lunches have been a cornerstone of client meetings for decades. On top of that, sharing a meal (something usually done with friends and family) is more intimate and relaxed than looking at a slideshow in a conference room. Make your clients feel at ease and happy and they’ll likely remember you (and your pitch) fondly.

2. Everyday lunches

As it turns out, there is such a thing as a free lunch — or at least there should be, according to 44% of employees, who ranked free meals as their top dream job perks. Our research found that people love free work lunches because:

•      It saves them time cooking and packing lunch.

•      It saves them money.

•      It encourages them to take a longer energizing break.

Additionally, well-fed workers feel appreciated when their employer takes the time to plan out a group meal. That is especially true for workers with food allergies and strict dietary restrictions, for whom lunching takes just a bit more prep work.

Food can also make going into the office every day more appealing. Forward-thinking companies offer free lunches regularly to improve morale and office culture. Research backs this up: 65% of seasonal and part-time workers say they’re more likely to stay put (and return the following year) if free food is provided.

3. Trainings, special projects and presentations

Serving free food can boost attendance for training sessions and presentations, especially for hybrid and remote workplaces. Don’t minimize the enticing powers of a delicious meal! Ninety-three percent of business leaders we surveyed say more employees show up to the office when food is provided.

Not only that, but food can optimize training sessions. These work events tend to go on for several hours and cover extensive topics and material, so many employees lose focus. Adding food to work events can provide a much-needed break in the middle of an intense training- or presentation-heavy day.

Food can also make special projects better. Say your company is putting together a special task force and needs employees to volunteer. At first, you may not have many takers. After all, getting involved in a separate project often brings along a greater workload and share of responsibilities. But if you let them know there’ll be food at every single meeting, people will be lining up to participate. 

4. Holiday parties

Celebrating special holidays is a great way to build camaraderie in the office. Who doesn’t love a little extra holiday cheer peppered here and there throughout the year? 

Putting food front and center at holiday celebrations encourages mingling and helps break the ice between attendees. Voicing one’s love for a specific food or sharing an interesting fact about the meal can be a useful awkward silence-proof conversation starter.

And why stop at major established holidays? Don’t underestimate the importance of food in events to celebrate smaller, lesser-known food holidays. They’re a great excuse to make your crew smile and have fun. A special team-wide meal to mark National Pizza Day (February 9th) or National Hamburger Day (May 28th), for example, could be a major team-building success.

5. Weekly office food days

Having weekly office food days can boost employee morale. Events like Taco Tuesday and Donut Fridays are popular for a reason. They get people excited about otherwise mundane parts of their work week. And for many, having a little special treat waiting for them at the office can become a highlight of their day. They may even wake up excited to go to work that day—a rarity in the modern office!

Even better, these types of events can help you curate company culture. Your workplace will feel more fun for everyone—and this is something you can sell to recruits who are on the fence about joining your company.

Providing food for work meetings doesn’t have to be complicated

You don’t need training as a chef to provide meals clients and employees will love—you just need an experienced catering partner like ezCater. We’ve built a network of over 100,000 restaurants across the country to make ordering food for the office easier. Browse eateries near you using the smart filter to find the feasting experience your employees deserve. And to learn more tips and tricks for ordering food for work, download our free Admins Guide to Ordering Food For the Office.