Thanks to all for responding so far. The trend seems to be to allow food only if there is a separate area where the food can be served and consummed, either inside the classroom or another room in the training facility. Unfortunately, we lost that type of space when we had to move to a smaller location. All we have are classrooms and staff offices, and the clasrooms aren't big enough to set aside a space for eating.

You can always cheat a little by providing things that don't create crumbs. Grapes, cheese, chocolate -- I've provided these so that I don't lose people to sugar lows during computer training. I just set up a small table on the side or back of the room and people can partake whenever they need to, which tends to eliminate the need to give lots of breaks where people disappear.

I agree with Laura...give them a way to grab something little and at the same time not potentially threaten the computer equipment with a coffee or soda spill.

Del

I have to agree with a signifigant amount of the "others" that have posted.

Students are allowed to have beverages only if spillproof - If there is a spill, the expectation is established early on that they will be held accountable.

As far as snacks, the general rule of thumb is that if they need to snack while they learn, that they do so in a manner that is clean and not distracting. Litter needs to be cleaned up at the end of the day. Here the expectation established on Day one is that any refuse must leave with the student at the end of the day.

Ah, 2 of my favorite topics - food and training. Now this is a good thread!

I think you have a good idea of creating a blanket policy. Your situation with having so little control over your rooms is not one I've had to face. However I did once have a training room (the only one in the office) that also doubled as a meeting room, computer lab, and partyroom. Whenever we'd have a potluck for Thanksgiving or Cinco de Mayo or something, they'd take down all the computers, store them under the tables, and set the food out. The next day I'd have to set everything back up, wipe sauce off the monitors, etc.

Nowdays I don't have the option of not allowing food. I work at a busy law firm where we bribe people to come to class by offering a free lunch.