You don’t have to eat at a breakfast meeting just because it’s called a “breakfast” meeting. Research by Herman and Polivy shows external cues control food intake. Options: eat beforehand and just have coffee, select any protein if available, skip pastries entirely, or have one small item if social pressure requires participation. The meeting is about business—nobody is tracking your plate. A large muffin is 400-500 calories of refined carbs that spike then crash energy.
This companion covers the breakfast meeting challenge, the options, the pastry reality, and social dynamics. (5 min read)