With more than 1,500 hungry athletes and delegation coaches in St. Louis for nearly a week, feeding mouths at the 2016 JCC Maccabi Games could be a challenge.

However, the three co-chairs responsible for handling all of the meals promise that Games participants will have plenty of nutritious, tasty food to satisfy even the most ravenous appetites. 

“The caterer and food chairs picked healthy, well-balanced menus that have been liked by athletes in the past at previous Maccabis,” said Lori Sheinbein, B’nai Amoona congregant and Maccabi Games Food Co-Chair. “We also interchanged dairy and meat meals at lunch for a variety.”

The St. Louis Jewish Community Center will provide four lunches at Maryville University, which is serving as one of the hubs of the games, and dinners at the City Museum, Dave and Busters and closing ceremonies at the J. Maccabi will also serve food at the opening ceremonies for a VIP reception and coaches dinner. All of the meals with be kosher; in fact, Maryville’s kitchen will be kashered before the start of the Games.

“There are always vegetarian and gluten free options available at all meals,” Sheinbein said. “All lunches also include a salad bar for an additional option.”

Sheinbein said some challenges include keeping food warm, preparing box lunches and providing for such a large group of people. But the chairs are taking advantage of truck rentals and Maryville’s new kitchen facilities.

“This wonderful facility really helps support our caterer in food prep and production of our meals,” Sheinbein said. “We have additional volunteers helping for each meal to monitor food entrance/security, crowd control, work buffet lines, and help clean tables.”