Leap on This: Another iPad Giveaway!

Happy Leap Day!

Back by popular demand, we are celebrating St. iPaddy's Day again this year. Wouldn't you leap at the opportunity for a new, FREE iPad? We'll be giving one away on March 17th.

We've made it super easy to enter - and to enter often. 

• You will be entered in the iPad drawing by simply creating your free account with Vmeals.
• If you are already registered, you will also be entered every time you refer a friend to Vmeals. 
• You will receive an entry for every order you place through the month of March.
• And you can enter every day by going to our Deals page. Just pop your name and email into the form, and bam! There's another chance to win!

Does that have you leaping for joy yet?

So what are you waiting for? Go. Enter. Now.


Good Luck!

Tip Tuesday: How to Save the Meeting That's Going Nowhere

Have you ever been in one of those meetings? The one that seems to be aimlessly going nowhere? Of course you have – we all have – and that’s why meetings get such a bad rap for being colossal time-wasters. Meetings do serve a purpose, however, so let’s see if we can't tidy them up bit.

As the meeting organizer/leader there's a lot you can do make meetings more productive,  but what if you are just an innocent victim attendee? The good news is that you can be delightful and help keep things moving along with these simple tips:

Play dumb.

If you find yourself in meeting la la land, traipsing through open-ended fields of issues, don’t be afraid to be the one to stop and ask for directions. Ask someone to help you understand the objective, what the problem is you’re trying to solve. Chances are there are quite a few other people in the room who have the same question. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say, “This might be a dumb question but…” while others were quietly grateful for the asking.

Identify the subject and verb.

Meetings are great for tossing around ideas and generating new ones, but they can quickly stall and end up in the dust bin of good ideas without action items and decision makers. Identify what needs to be done, by whom, and by when. Even if you aren’t the meeting leader, you will be performing a valuable service by helping them articulate actions, outcomes, deliverables, and deadlines.

What tips do you have for keeping a meeting moving and making it good use of your time?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

"All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience." ~Henry Miller

OK, so I was looking for a Leap Day quote (because Leap Day is kind of a special occasion) and I came across this one. I think it resonates, especially with the promise of spring just around the corner. If we think of growth like a sprouting seed or budding tree, we know it comes when it comes, pushing forth something new without fear of change or the unknown.


Is this a season of growth for you? Don't be afraid. Think how beautiful you will be when you blossom, and how productive you will be as your new growth starts to bear fruit.

New Lunch Delivery Choices for Vmeals' Maryland and Delaware Customers

Vmeals is pleased to announce a great new lunch delivery option for our Baltimore area customers: Alexander's Tavern. .

Alexander's Tavern is a popular neighborhood restaurant located in Fells Point, an historic and unique part of Baltimore City. Now you can order a little of that friendly neighborhood vibe delivered right to the office.

They offer a great selection that will satisfy any appetite - appetizers, soups, salads, pizza, sliders, paninis, sandwiches and tavern fare.

Check out the Alexander's Tavern menu and give it a try for your next event!

Vmeals customers love Moe's, and we're pleased to add more locations to serve a wider area. Wilmington, Bear and Rehobeth stores will be making sure more of their signature burritos make it into the hands of hungry office workers all over Delaware and Maryland. 

Moe's features fresh, flavorful ingredients, with vegetarian and low-calorie options. They are also committed to sourcing only the highest quality ingredients: their menu proudly boasts all natural, cage-free, white breast meat chicken; steroid-free, grain-fed pulled pork; 100% sirloin, grass-fed steak; and organic tofu. At Moe's, there are no microwaves, no trans fats and no msg.

Check out the Moe's menu today!

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~John Quincy Adams


Presidents' Day is dedicated to honoring the leaders of this, the greatest country in the world. U.S. presidents not only influence and inspire U.S. citizens, but the world. 


But don't think that leadership is just for the Oval Office or the C-suite. There are plenty of inspirational people all around you, and if you have anyone watching you - friends, family members, co-workers - chances are your actions are influencing them in some way. 


You are a leader when you inspire someone to work harder, dream bigger,  be kinder, or learn something new. Lead well.

The Presidential Palate

You may not consider President's Day a big cooking holiday, but I'm of the opinion that any thematic food is just a little more fun. (Inauguration Day was way more fun when we served Barak-wurst, Barak-aroni and cheese and Barak-olli. I am not making that up.)

So here are a few ideas to help you observe President's Day deliciously:

The Lincoln Log
Who doesn't love a cheese ball? I made this one in the shape of a football for the Super Bowl. Just a slight modification in shape and you can present your guests or co-workers with a very patriotic snack.

• 8oz softened cream cheese
• 8oz of shredded cheddar cheese (I like the extra sharp)
• 1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix 
• 1 cup pecan pieces

Toast the pecans in the oven (350 degrees for about 10 minutes) They will burn fast so keep an eye on them. You just want a deep, toasty brown. After they cool a bit, I crush them into a finer crumb by rolling over them with a rolling pin. How fine you make them is completely up to you.

Combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing mix thoroughly. form into a log shape and roll in the pecan pieces. Chill. I find this tastes best if made a day ahead.

Serve with your favorite crackers and maybe a glass of wine from Jefferson Vineyards (near the home of Thomas Jefferson). Add some cherries on the side in honor of George Washington and you have a positively commanding dish.

Or get inspired by one of these  recipes from the First Ladies:

Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies
Mamie Eisenhower's Fudge
Nancy Reagan's Monkey Bread
Lady Bird Johnson's Lemon Cake

Have a great weekend!

Saint Germain Returns to Vmeals

Vmeals is pleased to announce that premier caterer and partner, Saint Germain, is back online with some beautiful new menus.

Saint Germain Catering offers a sophisticated flavor and a uniquely European flair that you won't find anywhere else. For over 20 years, Saint Germain's has developed an ever-changing array of delectable food, creative menus, personalized service and the finishing touches that make Saint Germain-catered events affairs to remember. 

With an unparalleled selection of menus - hot breakfast, hearty lunches, elegant buffets - you'll find just the right thing for any occasion.

Check out Saint Germain's menus and give them a try for your next event.

Tip Tuesday: Managing the Perfectionist

It's Valentine's Day, but let's face it - some people are pretty hard to love. Am I right?

This especially so in the office. Just like our own crazy families, we don't always get to pick our work family. You have to deal with a variety of characters with patience and grace. So today's tip is about dealing with one common to most offices: the perfectionist.

Do you have a perfectionist on your team? (Maybe you're the perfectionist?)

They can be tricky to work with or manage - they can get bogged down in details, plagued by unrealistic expectations, and be sensitive to criticism - but there are a couple things you can do to help them stay productive and succeed (adapted from this HBR post).

Set Expectations

It's critical to clearly define desired outcomes and objectives to help your perfectionist know exactly what to focus on and what is a waste of time. The more explicit you can be, the better, including giving them permission to specifically not worry about X, Y or Z.

Schedule Regular Check-ins

Perfectionists are notorious for only wanting to share perfect, finished products. Encouraging them to share works-in-progress helps loosen their grip on paralyzing perfectionism and can also save lots of time and energy heading off efforts gone astray by unnecessary and distracting details.

Recognize the Warning Signs

Perfectionists can be hard working, conscientious and driven to succeed. We all want more of that on our team, but sometimes perfectionism is a mask for insecurity and procrastination. We should take care to recognize the difference - especially within ourselves - so that we can leverage the benefits of high expectations without risking defeat by unrealistic expectations. With perfectionism (like fear), a little can be motivating but too much can be a real productivity killer. 

Do you struggle with a perfectionist or perfectionism?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

"There are two types of people: the pillars and the caterpillars."


I don't know who said it originally, but I heard this in church yesterday. The preacher was referring to church members specifically - those who hold everything up and those who just crawl in and out.

I couldn't help but think how this could easily this could be applied to any workplace. There are the pillars, those who do the heavy lifting of supporting the business or organization, those who work hard to add value. Then there are the caterpillars, those who just crawl in and out, the seat warmers, the clock watchers, the low fliers who think it's safer to go unnoticed.

Which will you be today?

Vmeals Offers New Kosher Options to Baltimore Customers

Vmeals is pleased to announce some great new kosher lunch delivery options for our Baltimore customers.

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The Knish Shop is a kosher NY style deli and will tickle your taste buds with the flavor of the Big Apple. Their platters are made with the best meats and fresh baked breads. 

If you just need to add some kosher selections to your next catered office event, Vmeals has two full service caterers,  Chesapeake Food Works and Mr. Charles Market Catering, that have partnered with kosher certified restaurant Me Latte to bring you separate sealed kosher meals with any catering order.

Kosher doesn't refer to a particular style of food, but rather how the food is stored and prepared. Observing a kosher diet isn't hard as long as you have access to certified kosher foods and/or restaurants.

Vmeals makes it easier than ever to accommodate everyone in the office!

Tip Tuesday: Heart Healthy Substitutions Because There's no Substitute for You

February is American Heart Month. We want you to follow your heart, put your heart into your work and love your life, but you can't do any of that if your heart stops working.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, however we aren't powerless against it. We can make some simple (not to be mistaken for easy) choices to greatly reduce our risk.

Let's talk about food choices (since it's always about the food here). What you eat will impact your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure - all big factors in heart health. Usually when we think diet, we think deprivation, but I've found it helpful to think differently about what I eat. Instead of focusing on what to remove, I focus on what I want to add. This has the effect of replacing some low value foods with more nutritious choices. You might try to:

• Include a fresh fruit or vegetable with every meal or snack
• Trade refined white bread or rice for more whole grains. Brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat all include more fiber which helps reduce cholesterol and makes you feel fuller faster and longer.
• Add fish packed with good-for-your-arteries omega-3 fatty acids like tuna or salmon a couple times a week.

You're going to want to reduce fat, sugar and salt (yes, all the tasty stuff) as much as possible, but no need to become a martyr about it. Pick one guilty pleasure and see if you can't find a more healthful substitute. I love ice cream, but I've found I am pretty satisfied with a fat free, Greek yogurt. (I'll even throw it in the freezer for an hour or so if I'm thinking ahead.) Make changes you can live with a little at a time, and you'll find you can adapt quite well.

What are some heart-healthy substitutions you've been able to make? What are some habits/foods you like to replace?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." ~Steve Jobs

February is a month of the heart - the time to express your feelings for your beloved, a time to think about your heart health (repenting of all Super Bowl dietary transgressions), and maybe the time to think about following your heart in more areas of your life. What would your day look like if you worked like you didn't need the money?

Good Things for Great Houston Vmeals Customers

Vmeals is pleased to announce a great new catering partner in the Houston metro area: Abdallah's Bakery and Lebanese Restaurant.

Abdallah's bakery serves the most delicious,healthy,and truly authentic Lebanese food in Houston. They stay faithful to quality and superior service for their customers.

Be sure to check out the Abdallah's bakery menu for your next event. 

But wait...there's more! We have another deal just for Houston Vmeals customers: Sushi King is offering a FREE Boxed Lunch for person who places the order! Hey, you deserve a little something too!