339: Creating Space to Opt Out: Why True Belonging Goes Beyond What's on the Plate

Eating at a Meeting

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8d ago 42:31

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What we put on the table does more than feed guests — it fuels their energy, focus, and capacity to belong.

That's the perspective Yush Sztalkoper, CMP, founder of NeuroSpark+, brings to this special episode of Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE from IMEX America in Las Vegas.

With two decades in corporate events and her lived experience with ADHD and parenting a twice-exceptional child, Yush knows that inclusion isn't just about access to the room — it's about access to regulation, energy, and choice once you're there.

For neurodivergent attendees, food is a nervous system intervention. When menus lack labels, variety, or whole-food options, you're not just excluding diets, you're excluding capacity. Designing meals for nourishment is designing for belonging.

In our conversation, we'll explore:

▶︎ Why whole foods, clear labeling, and variety unlock authentic participation ▶︎ How circadian rhythms and meal timing support energy throughout long event days ▶︎ The role of protein-forward, minimally processed choices in regulating the nervous system ▶︎ Why training staff in neutral language — "We've got options for everyone" — builds inclusion ▶︎ How normalizing opt-outs reminds us: food is optional, belonging isn't

For event planners and hospitality pros, this episode is a call to action: inclusion doesn't just live in your registration system — it lives on your menus and in the way your team serves them.

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