Boxed Lunch or Buffet? How to Choose for Your Next Office Event
Are you looking for office catering in Baton Rouge or surrounding areas? Whether you go for a boxed lunch or buffet, both are both convenient options for corporate catering, but the right choice depends on more than what’s on the menu. Your schedule, group size, meeting format, space and even how much flexibility your guests need can all play a role.
When you’re responsible for ordering food for an office meeting or event, choosing what to serve is only part of the decision. You also have to figure out how to serve it.
Before placing your next catering order, here are some of the pros and cons of boxed lunches vs. buffet meals.
When Do Boxed Lunches Make Sense?
Boxed lunch catering is all about convenience. Less mess, and less fuss. With pre-packed boxed lunches, each guest receives an individually packaged meal, making them especially useful when people need to eat on their own schedule or keep the day moving.
Boxed lunches may be a good fit for:
- Working lunches and training sessions
- Meetings with a tight agenda
- Groups where people may be arriving or eating at different times
- Events with limited space for a buffet setup
- Quick grab-and-go meals
- Off-site teams or employees who need meals distributed to different areas
Individual meals can also make distribution simple when you know everyone’s selections ahead of time.
The tradeoff of boxed lunches?
They generally require a little more planning on the front end. Depending on the menu, you may need individual meal selections or a clear system for identifying different orders and dietary accommodations.
Boxed lunches can also create more individual packaging and food waste, particularly when every meal includes the same sides or extras.
When Does a Buffet Make Sense?
A buffet works well when the meal is a designated part of the gathering rather than something guests need to fit around everything else. Instead of choosing individual meals in advance, guests can typically select from several options and build their own plates.
A buffet may be a great option for:
- Employee appreciation lunches
- Company celebrations
- Larger meetings and events
- Groups that will be eating at approximately the same time
- Events where you want to offer guests more variety
- Meals where people may want different portions or combinations
What do you need to consider for buffet meals? The logistics.
A buffet requires enough room for setup. You’ll also want to consider whether guests will serve themselves or whether staffed service makes more sense for the event. For larger groups, timing and flow become especially important.
Boxed Lunch or Buffet: Which Is Better for Your Office Event?
Consider how the day will actually work. One of the easiest ways to decide between boxed lunches and buffet catering is to stop thinking about the food for a minute and think about the people you’re feeding.
Questions to consider when choosing between a boxed lunch or buffet:
Will everyone be eating at the same time?
If lunch needs to happen quickly between presentations, or if people will be eating at different times, individual pre-packaged meals may make things easier.
Is lunch part of the experience?
If the goal of lunch is to give employees time to gather, celebrate, socialize, or have an extended break, a buffet can create a sense of community over a shared meal. On the other hand, boxed lunch catering can be especially useful for working lunches.
How much space do you have?
A conference room with limited setup space may call for a very different solution than an event space or large break room. For smaller areas, boxes may be easier to pack and stack. In larger spaces, a designated serving area may be suitable for a catering buffet set up.
How many people are you feeding?
Group size can affect everything from setup and serving time to how meals are distributed.
Are there dietary needs to accommodate?
Knowing about allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences ahead of time can help determine which format—and menu—will work best for your group.
Boxed Lunch or Buffet: What Information Does Your Caterer Need?
Sometimes the easiest answer is simply to tell your caterer what you’re working with.
What do you need to get started with figuring out your menu and serving option? At Carmen’s Catering, we ask for these pieces:
- The date of your event
- Approximate guest count
- Budget and location
- General event schedule
Then we can talk through what the event looks like: Is it a working lunch? An employee celebration? A training day? Do people have 30 minutes to eat, or is lunch meant to be part of the event?
Those details can be just as important as knowing what you want on the menu.
At Carmen’s Catering, we work with businesses throughout Baton Rouge and South Louisiana to create catering plans that fit the event—not the other way around. Whether that means individually packaged lunches for a busy workday or a buffet designed to bring everyone together, we’ll help you determine what makes sense for your group.
Planning an office lunch, meeting or company event in Baton Rouge, St. George, Prairieville, Denham Springs or surrounding areas? Start with what you know, and we’ll help with the rest.