A good breakfast meeting can be productive and motivating. But they take planning like any good meeting.  Here are a few quick tips that can help.

Send out an agenda. This helps people prepare for the meeting and gives them confidence that work will be done.

Have coffee and breakfast before the meeting starts.  This gives people a chance to say hello, catch up and get comfortable.  It also gives added incentive to attendees to get there before the official meeting begins.

Make the food worthwhile.  You are asking people to start the day early and you are promising them breakfast. Doughnuts are delicious but they can’t be your only option.  We’ve given you 25 suggestions below. Or talk with your caterer.

Set a firm start time for the meeting and stick to it.  Nothing disrupts meetings like late arrivals. Don’t wait around for everyone to arrive. Start on time. After one or two meetings people will understand you are serious and get there on time.  

End the meeting on time.  Everyone has a busy day planned and overly long meetings are simply inconsiderate. Start on time, stick to the agenda and end on time. People will appreciate your punctuality and focus.

The menu.

Planning a breakfast meeting with just coffee, tea, decaf and Danish pastries—the same thing your meeting attendees have seen hundreds of times? Start the day off right—and differently—by seeing if the hotel, restaurant or meeting facilities can come up with some of these:

Memorable breakfast munchies

1. Large bowl of cold gazpacho soup
2. Deviled eggs
3. Platter of fresh vegetables, with various dips
4. Regular yogurt sprinkled with fruits or nuts
5. Large bowls of cottage cheese sprinkled with fruits or nuts
6. Doughnuts
7. Doughnut holes
8. French cruellers
9. Knishes
10. Finger sandwiches
11. Peanut butter and/or jelly on various kinds of crackers (Or, put the peanut butter and jelly in a bowls, and let guests spread their own)
12. Cheese cubes wrapped in bacon or ham
13. Fritters
14. Frozen yogurt, with or without toppings
15. Chicken or beef bouillon
16. Sherbet

Do It With Fruit

17. Trays of sliced fruit (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
18. Pineapple chunks
19. Sliced fruit cut up into yogurt or sour cream
20. Cut-up fruit salad in a large, silver bowl (adds a real touch of elegance)

The Tried and True

21. Danish pastries (cut in half, depending on the audience)
22. Assorted bagels with cream cheese
23. Slices of different types of white, wheat, and rye toast (with butter, margarine and cream cheese)
24. Coffee, tea, sanka, decaf.
25. Last but not least, don’t forget the fresh O.J.

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