5 Healthy Foods That Your Employees Will Want to Eat
Eating clean in the workplace can be tricky, especially if your employees are surrounded by snacks like pretzels, sugary cereals, and candy, rather than healthy foods. But given that we spend the majority of our weeks in the office, it’s a good idea to consider keeping the office kitchen stocked with healthy foods to help your employees stay on track with their wellness goals.
Encouraging employees to indulge in nutrient-dense snacks may help them better manage or reduce their risk for chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In fact, one study found that maintaining a healthy diet independent of other factors like physical exercise, helped participants reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%. So, the next time you take inventory of your current snack offerings, consider swapping things out for these 5 healthy foods in your office.
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- Fresh fruit. Fruit is a healthy and delicious snack option, and while many offices do offer apples and bananas, there is opportunity to level up things by having a fresh fruit vendor deliver a wider variety once or twice a week to the office. There are vendors who offer these services which include fruits such as berries, grapes, apricots, oranges, and even avocados.
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- Dark chocolate. This one is a must for your employees with a sweet tooth. Consider providing your employees small squares of dark chocolate of at least 70% cacao. Recent studies have found that small amounts of dark chocolate can help lower stress levels, improve brain function and mood, lower inflammation and boost cardiovascular health.
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- Almonds. Providing unsalted almonds is a satisfying and quick snack that employees can easily grab and go for an afternoon bite. In fact, research has found that consuming nuts can help improve blood cholesterol levels, and may reduce the risk of heart disease. Bonus: offer both almonds and dark chocolate (both of which are antioxidant powerhouses) to employees so they can pair the two for an afternoon pick-me-up.
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- Nut butter. Many people love a good nut butter, whether that’s almond or peanut butter. Nut butters provide a good source of clean protein and healthy fats, and can be paired with just about anything–whether that’s an apple, banana, carrots, or even a tablespoon on it’s own. Remember to pick out nut butters with clean ingredients with no added sugars or salt.
- Veggies & hummus. Only 1 in 10 Americans consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and an easy fix to that is offering them in the office. Small snack packs of carrots, celery, or snap peas are inexpensive, and easy for employees to grab on their way to meetings. Be sure to include single serving hummus packs too. Hummus is nutrient dense, filled with fiber, and researchers have found it may help with weight, glucose and insulin management, and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
This article is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
