You're standing in the office cafeteria, looking at your selection of snacks and trying to decide on which food to order that will make your employees the happiest.
You've noticed that unhealthy snacks are the most popular, and you'd rather keep the peace than try to force healthy food on your employees. So, what are your options to encourage healthier eating without making it the only option?
We all know the typical conversation that starts circulating around the office at 11:30 AM or so.
"Yo, where are you going for lunch?"
"How about Whole Foods?"
"Nah too far, let's just walk across the street to Chick-Fil-A."
"I'm down."
A startling majority of people value convenience over health.
Talking to a local, healthy restaurant or food truck about setting up a pop-up lunch shop outside your office is a good way to give employees a convenient option to eat more healthy at lunch time.
Plus, it benefits a local business in two ways: direct income from their pop-up shop, and if the employees enjoy their meal, they are sure to spread the word, increasing business opportunities for said restaurant/food truck.
Knowledge is power.
Knowing how to eat healthier is the first step in actually doing it. Many foods front as being healthy, but are actually detrimental, on the other hand, some foods that are perceived as unhealthy offer many benefits.
Even if you're not a nutrition expert, ask around the office to see if there's anyone who's passionate about health that would be willing to write it.
If not, do your research. It doesn't have to be an extensive email, simply include:
Make it fun. This should be an email that employees look forward to on a weekly basis. Host some friendly competitions, encourage employees to share their healthy snacks, etc.
Again, knowledge is power.
In this interesting figure presented by the Hartman Group, it shows that 72 percent of people who aren't diet minded read nutrition labels, while 81% of people who are read them.
Simply post a piece of paper on the fridge or next to the snack with some general nutritional info, and it will, at the very least, give employees the option to read it and be more conscious of what they are eating.
Healthy eating isn't rocket science. It's a combination of knowledge, eating in moderation, and knowing what your goals are for your health.
Setting up wellness initiatives that help educate your employees on ways to eat healthier while they aren't in their home kitchen is a win-win for everyone.
Healthier employees are more productive, and more productive employees fuel more productive businesses.
To get your weekly email started, we have compiled a list of the top 20 healthy snacks to eat in the office, which you can download for some inspiration, or send it out to your company! Click here to download .