International Office Meals: A Unique Thai Breakfast to Honor Vegetarian Awareness Month
Posted by Kimberly B. on Thursday, October 9th, 2014 with Comments Off on International Office Meals: A Unique Thai Breakfast to Honor Vegetarian Awareness Month Comments
Yes, it’s that time of year again — National Vegetarian Month! We’ve already been talking about healthy, delicious ideas to make your office crave Meatless Mondays, but today we’ll focus on delicious breakfast ideas from across the world that are both meat-free and tasty.
It can be so easy to fall back on ordering the usual Western style breakfasts for mornings at the office. But staying in a predictable food rut is not without consequences: most American or English traditional breakfasts are filled with fats and oils, leaving employees feeling heavy and lethargic — not to mention tired of the same old flavors and foods. Seeing as we’re midway through National Vegetarian Month, it’s the perfect timing to delve into a Southeast Asian meal that can work just as well without meat as it does with. No harm in making sure that we can please everyone in the office — vegetarians and meat-lovers alike — with a healthy, refreshing breakfast.
A Thai-style breakfast will entice the folks at work who are craving something new, and still remain inviting to any reluctant eaters on staff. So let’s dive right into Thailand’s tempting cuisine that is sure to turn a typical office morning into the highlight of the day.
This version of khao tom has fish (pla) in it for some additional protein.
Image source: Flickr user Ron Dollete
Khao tom: Thai rice soup
To get an authentic taste of Thailand, khao tom is good introductory dish. A rice soup commonly served for breakfast, this is a bowlful of flavor filled with shallots, garlic, and lemongrass, along with rice that has been cooked in the broth. It usually comes with fish sauce, a staple of Thai cuisine. Although this dish is often made with ground pork, it can also be made with fish instead, which is called khao tom pla. Additionally, it’s possible to order it without meat or fish, making it multi-functional dish that can work for both vegetarians and meat-eaters, by altering the order slightly. If there are vegans on staff, remember to hold the fish sauce as well for them. Lastly, be sure to specify how spicy you’d like the order to be, which can be easily adjusted according to preference.
Satisfy sugar-fixes with exotic fruit
Complement the khao tom with a large platter of fresh fruit — but not the regular apples, oranges, and bananas. Instead, go crazy for new colors and tastes with exotic Southeast Asian fruits like dragon fruit and papaya. Fruits that employees can peel easily by hand, such as lychees and rambutans, are great for loosening up the energy in the office first thing in the morning. After all, it’s pretty hard to be grumpy when eating lychees! These fruits are all deliciously sweet, and also work well as either dessert or ordered as smoothies — ask for sugar-free if you’d prefer to keep them on the healthier side.
Dragon fruit is delicious, and is even better when served alongside fresh papaya and pineapple slices.
Image source: Flickr user John Loo
Crazy for coconuts: desserts and drinks
To balance out the spicier flavors of khao tom, and please the office sweet-tooths, try ordering individual servings of Thai coconut pudding. This will be a decadent treat for staff, but still lighter than most American desserts. Coconuts are known to be one of the healthiest foods we can eat, and the pudding format puts a fresh spin on this old favorite. Additionally, order some coconut water to quench thirst, and nourish employees. Incredibly energizing, all natural coconut water is tastier than an artificial energy drink — with even more health benefits. If you’re able to order real coconuts for the office, all the better: the best part of drinking coconut water (some call it juice) from a real coconut is that when the liquid is finished, there’s still delicious, fresh coconut meat to scrape out and eat.
Coconut meat can be whipped into either milk, yogurt, or pudding, while the juice is tasty as drink on its own.
Image source: Flickr user Hafiz Issadeen.
Creative and energizing office breakfasts
Ordering a Thai-style breakfast for the office will beat out heavy bacon, sausage, or sugary waffles as an energy-booster for employees. Experimenting with different cuisines from around the world is a perfect way to incorporate new, nutritious dishes into morning office meals, and give staff members something to talk — and smile! — about. Waiter.com is here to help with your order of multicultural dishes for the office — because the right food order can inspire much more than just satisfied bellies: it can increase productivity, innovation, and enjoyment at work.
What are your favorite breakfast meals to order for the office, meat-free or otherwise? Let us know in the comments!
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