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

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.

Like what you heard? Subscribe to our newsletter for more episodes and insider content delivered right to your inbox!