Boxed Lunch and Supper Decorating Ideas
Many businesses and organizations turn to boxed lunches and suppers as an inexpensive way to feed a group of people, especially during a working lunch or presentation. However, boxed meals often lack visual appeal. Decorating the food in the box, using foods as a tabletop decoration, using decorative boxes or arranging an attractive table can spruce up an otherwise mundane meal and impress the crowd. Does this Spark an idea?
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Food Art
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Boxed lunches often feature prepared foods such as sandwiches, wraps, cut fresh vegetables and cookies. Consider dressing these up a bit by turning the food into works of art. For a themed lunch or supper, cut a sandwich into shapes using a large cookie cutter such as a kite shape for spring or a star shape for Independence Day. Cut fresh vegetables such as radishes into a flower shape to perk up an otherwise boring lunch. Rather than the traditional round chocolate chip cookie for dessert, make or order a shaped and decorated sugar cookie in the theme of the event.
Bento Boxes
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Rather than a boring, disposable clear plastic takeout box, consider arranging boxed meals in a bento box. Borrowed from Japanese culture, bento boxes are small reusable lunch carriers with movable dividers for separating foods. Often, the boxes are artfully decorated with bright colors or even cartoon characters for childrens' boxes. Foods are artfully arranged in a specific order within the box, explains the Lunch In a Box website. First, pack the main dish, then add any bulky foods. Dividers or food cups can help prevent mixing of flavors. Add side dishes such as small pieces of vegetables or fruits to fill gaps and add color and interest to the boxed lunch or supper.
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Edible Decor
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Some caterers and businesses specialize in creating decor that is edible. Cooks with some patience and time on their hands can also create edible decor at much less cost. To supplement an existing boxed lunch, consider setting up a chocolate fountain with bowls of foods for dipping, such as sliced bananas, strawberries, pretzels and marshmallows. Fruits cut into interesting shapes and threaded onto skewers, then arranged like a bouquet are another decorating idea for a boxed lunch or supper and are a healthy option. Consider seasonal, food-based decor such as a bowl of lemons on each table during the summer or a bowl of festively wrapped chocolates, red and white mints or candy canes during wintertime boxed luncheons and suppers.
Table Decor
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If food art, edible decor or nicer containers for a boxed lunch or supper are not an option, or outside food is not allowed, consider stepping up the table decor. Set up photos taken at past organization events to showcase significant achievements. Frame letters of thanks and gratitude and place them on tables for participants to read and enjoy. Another option for inspirational table decor for a business or charity boxed lunch or supper could include writing inspirational quotes on decorative paper and placing the quotes on stands or using them as napkin rings for ornately folded napkins.
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