Today, more and more companies are opting to support employee wellness by offering snacks that nourish and energize your team throughout the day. There is an obvious link between sustenance and productivity, but it is maybe so obvious that some might forget just how important it really is.
But it’s not just for the sake of sustenance that we turn to snacks; having delicious treats around also just makes people happy! And as we well know, measures that promote employee happiness and wellbeing increase engagement and productivity, benefiting everyone.
Unfortunately, productivity-boosting office food does not involve chips, chocolate and pop. But that doesn’t mean you have to resort to boring healthy office snacks, because there are plenty of options out there that are both healthy and nutritious.
A recent study from the Journal of Applied Psychology basically tells us what we already know: healthy diets boost productivity. The study tracked 97 workers over 10 days and found that even if an employee had an unhealthy meal the night before they would be less productive.
This is a really important insight for business leaders because it points to a simple and easy leveraging point to dramatically increase workplace productivity. By providing healthy office snacks and meals, workers will be more likely to take the healthy, free option rather than going out for an unhealthy, costly option.
The results not only improve productivity in the short term but also goes a long way to improving the overall health and wellbeing of employees both in and out of the office.
Since we know that nutrition has a big impact on job performance, the only question left is how to get started. If your office is transitioning from offering less healthy (albeit delicious) foods like pizza and chips, or if you are bringing office food in for the first time, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.
It can be helpful to ease into the process of offering office snacks and meals by recruiting an individual or team to get the ball rolling. This team may already exist within your organization in the form of a party planning committee or a wellness team. Since food is already so connected to special events and wellness, these will be the perfect people to involve.
Do not beat your workers over the head with carrots and celery! Ask your team if they are interested in transitioning to healthy office snacks before making any decisions and then make the switch gradually. Find out which healthy snacks appeal so that there isn’t waste.
The changeover should be fun and flexible, otherwise, it will run the risk of feeling like medieval torture. Maybe four days of the week meals and snacks are on the healthier side, but you still have pizza Fridays or taco Tuesdays. Cake should always be a part of birthdays and other celebrations. Keep it loose and flexible, and at the first sign of resistance pull back on the reins a bit to give people a chance to adjust.
Traditionally, dishware, cutlery, condiments and a coffee pot have been seen as sufficient, but today, more and more employers are incentivizing and rewarding employees with popular treats.
But office food does not have to be a complicated affair, especially once the process is set in motion.
Here are some healthy office snack ideas for office managers and office administrators to consider:
Better yet, company meal programs are a great way of keeping workers fed, energized and on-task. They promote team building and enhance employee satisfaction, and today, company meal programs are easier than ever.
Snacks are sure to create a buzz in the office. But if that doesn’t satisfy your team’s hunger, you might consider offering lunches every now and then as well. Ritual for Companies is a great way of providing hassle-free lunch options to keep your office at peak performance.
