Healthy Snacks Every Breakroom Needs

 

It’s no secret that when we eat our best, we feel our best. When workers eat well, they’re more likely to have the energy they need to perform at their highest level. That will help them remain productive throughout the workday. That makes it all the more important to make fresh and healthy foods available in your workplace.

 

When workers have access to food on-site, they can save time and money. On-site food allows workers to eat in the workplace and avoid a commute to a restaurant in the middle of the day. 

 

Food service in the workplace also helps workers appreciate the organization they work for. When employers offer great food, it shows that they care about their workers and their wellbeing. It can make employees think more positively about their employers and build stronger workplace loyalty to the organization they are a part of.

 

Beyond benefits to individual workers, on-site food can also benefit a workplace as a collective. 

 

Whether you offer snacks and refreshments or full meals, food can bring people together. Shared eating spaces like cafeterias and breakrooms encourage employees to take a beat, recharge, and spend time together. Access to areas like this can encourage collaboration when team members who wouldn’t typically interact have a discussion over a midday snack and a cup of coffee. Ultimately, food in the workplace can create a sense of community and strengthen company culture.

 

Your company should seriously consider offering foods that will help your employees perform their best. What we eat affects the way our minds work. Eating nutritious foods and maintaining a balanced diet can aid in our cognitive performance, contributing to better focus and mental sharpness throughout the workday.

 

Read on to learn more about the benefits of offering healthy food in your workplace and what kinds of foods you should make available in your breakroom.

 

Why Healthy Food at Work Is Important

 

For a lot of us, we spend at least eight hours of the weekday at work. Chances are we’re at work for two out of three meals, plus snacktimes. If food is available at the office or worksite, we’re likely to reach for it out of convenience or even necessity.

 

Food that is readily available to us greatly impacts our nutrition and physical health. In fact, according to a survey of 100 employees and office managers, 65% of employees agree that having access to healthy snacks in the office is very or extremely important. 53% of these survey respondents said that office snacks help them stay healthy.

 

A healthier workplace contributes to overall employee wellness and productivity. The food we eat powers us during the workday to have sharper focus, better and more conscious decision-making, and improved mood and energy.

 

Lastly, our diets have a great impact on our physical health. A nutritious diet can reduce the risk of chronic health conditions and boost immunity to better combat sickness. This could even reduce absenteeism caused by sick days and lower overall healthcare costs for employees and employers alike.

Additional Benefits of Healthy Food at Work

 

Healthy food offerings in the workplace have a high ROI. Not only may your team have higher rates of productivity and better workplace output, but food service also benefits your organization.

 

Wellness-centric food service can be a powerful driver behind a company’s recruitment and retention. When talented job candidates see a business caring for its employees by providing food-based perks, they immediately see an organization’s value. For current employees, they see a positive and supportive environment where they can thrive, making them more likely to stay where they feel appreciated.

Healthy Snacks for the Breakroom

 

So, now that we’ve identified the “why” behind implementing healthy food service in the workplace, let’s discuss what kinds of foods you can make available to provide a more healthful food service program.

 

Fresh Fruits

 

Fresh fruits, such as apples, bananas, and oranges, are great snacks to have in the breakroom. Whether these items are in a fruit bowl on the office kitchen counter or a fruit cup in the refrigerator or micro market cooler, fresh fruits provide natural sweetness, vitamins, and fiber.

 

Eating fruits can boost energy and productivity as the natural fruit sugars provide sustained energy throughout the day and help to stabilize blood sugar. Regular fruit consumption has also been linked to improved mental health and lower rates of anxiety and depression.

 

Nuts & Seeds

 

Nuts and seeds are nutritious, versatile, and easy to grab while on-the-go in between meetings or while working on high-priority tasks. As a great natural source of healthy fats and protein, nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and sunflower seeds, provide a consistent source of energy, reducing the chance of falling victim to the “midday slump.”

 

A variety of nuts are rich in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids that greatly contribute to brain health and cognitive function. This can help to boost focus and memory while employees are working on important projects or learning skills that will benefit the company.

 

You can make nuts and seeds easily accessible in your workplace by providing healthy vending options in workplace vending machines or by making them available in micro markets.

 

Protein-Packed Snacks

 

Protein is a really hot topic nowadays. Food innovators are putting protein in everything from chips to water. Many modern consumers have subscribed to the viral trend of “protein-maxxing,” the practice of maximizing protein intake to receive health benefits like boosted metabolism and weight management. Chances are your workers are following suit.

 

Snacks with at least seven to 10 grams of protein are considered high in protein. High-protein foods help us to feel fuller for longer, stabilize our blood sugar levels, and increase muscle repair and recovery. Consuming the daily recommended amount of protein provides consistent fuel for workers’ bodies and brains.

 

Protein-rich snacks that are easy to make available in your workplace might include Greek yogurt, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, jerky, hummus, and protein shakes.

 

Fresh Grab & Go Foods

 

When someone needs more than just a quick bite during the workday, a grab-and-go meal, like a salad, sandwich, or wrap, can make the perfect lunch. Rather than hopping in the car and finding the nearest fast food place, employees can enjoy a more health-conscious meal from the comfort of the breakroom.

 

Workers don’t have to sacrifice their well-being when looking for a convenient meal option. Well-balanced meals and snacks in micro markets make it easy to enjoy nutritious and delicious food without hassle.

 

Guilt-Free Sweets

 

We all need to indulge from time to time. Eating right doesn’t mean completely sacrificing treats. Thankfully, healthy vending options and micro markets offer plenty of better-for-you sweets like dark chocolate and date-based snacks.

 

Sweets with reduced sugar can provide a healthful mood boost, prevent sugar crashes, and support steady energy levels.

 

Not only do better-for-you sweets have great benefits, but they can also create buzz among your employees. Workers might find brands they’ve never tried before and end up with new favorite snacks and products.

 

Coffee & Tea

 

When we think of fueling the workday, chances are coffee is one of the first things to come to mind. Numerous studies have linked coffee to higher productivity at work. It also has unique health benefits like improved heart health, brain function, and mood.

 

For those who aren’t coffee drinkers, tea is a great alternative. Similarly to coffee, many tea blends contain caffeine and L-theanine that provide a sustained energy boost throughout the day. A lot of blends also have immunity-boosting properties which may contribute to reduced absenteeism among your team members.

 

Functional Beverages

 

Another trendy and healthful item is functional beverages. Functional beverages are drinks that offer additional health benefits beyond basic hydration. This includes kombucha and prebiotic sodas that promote gut health, energy drinks with plant-based and natural stimulants, adaptogen-infused drinks for mental clarity, or even enhanced waters with vitamins or electrolytes.

 

Functional drinks are one of the fastest growing segments of the food and beverage industry. As consumers crave health-conscious items, functional beverages provide innovative ingredients that support their wellness goals.

 

Finding the Right Food Partner

 

There shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to wellness. Every space may have different needs depending on a company’s size, budget, and overall wellness goals. When finding a food service partner, you want one to consider these unique nuances and to have your people’s best interests at heart.

 

As your food service provider, Canteen prioritizes your company’s wants and needs. Our diverse selection of healthy food and drink options ensures that everyone in your office will be well-fed with food and drinks that will keep them fueled through productive workdays.

 

Get started with us today and see what options will best fit into your workplace.