Food Solutions for a Healthy Office

Forward-thinking companies are changing the way they think about food options for employees. Providing quality food and encouraging healthy eating also has benefits for employee productivity and can decrease time away due to sick days. Here are 15 tried and tested solutions to providing healthier office eating options:

1. Replace soda with healthier options such as bottled black and green teas, fruit and vegetable juices, kombucha, lightly flavored seltzers and coconut water. While you are sure to have a few initial complaints, most folks naturally start to prefer these tasty and healthy options over sodas.
2. Switch to organic coffee with a decaf option, along with a variety of natural teas. Replace powder creamers (which contain corn syrup solids and hydrogenated oils) with fresh half and half, almond and soy creamer varieties.
3. Replace candy bars with granola bars, apple sauce packs and antioxidant rich dark chocolate. Keep fresh fruit on hand such as apples, bananas, oranges, mandarins and grapes. In the summer, freeze the grapes for a delicious snacking option

If fresh fruit is too hard to maintain, offer convenient dried fruit packets including cranberries, mangos, bananas, pears, peaches, dates, figs, raising and apples. 
4. Choose salty snacks which don’t contain MSG (monosodium glutamate). While generally considered safe by the FDA, those sensitive to MSG have reported side effects including headaches and drowsiness. Plenty of healthy salty snacks are available today including baked potato chips, veggie chips and popcorn. Fresh cut vegetables or pita chips and hummus also make a great salty snack.
5. Offer gluten-free options for anyone suffering from gluten sensitivity, which can include side effects such as abdominal discomfort and fatigue. Instead of traditional wheat bread, cereal and crackers, look for options made with quinoa, nuts, rice, oats, amaranth and buckwheat.
6. The FDA released a study listing the vast side-effects of aspartame, including productivity-killing fatigue, nausea, headache and blurry vision. Offer a variety of natural sweeteners to replace aspartame including natural unrefined cane sugar, maple syrup, honey and agave syrup. For those that cannot consume sugar products, stevia is a great option as it is 100% natural and does not produce a spike in blood sugar levels.

7. Employees may wonder about the changes in the office food selection.Help educate employees about nutrition information through an employee education email and by providing nutrition information and side effects of harmful food additives in the break room.

8. Food trucks have become the latest rage in most metropolitan areas and many offer healthy options. Negotiate with the food truck owners and have the food truck stop by your office on a specific day each week. Inform employees with the menu of options beforehand. If you have a small office, see if other nearby businesses may be interested in participating.






















9. Many employees choose unhealthy fast food options simply because it is too time consuming to prepare a sack lunch or dine at a proper restaurant every day. Healthy home-cooked meals delivered daily to the office are a fantastic alternative. Look for providers in your city or nationwide online providers. Send out a menu and encourage your employees to order online, or designate someone to coordinate employee orders at the beginning of each week.

10. Experiment with healthy (but delicious) alternatives to traditional office staples like glazed donuts and frosted cupcakes. While some employees may resent the alternatives, they will thank you when they avoid the sugar rush and crash. Natural puffed rice treats (rice crispy treats without the chemicals), dark chocolate truffles, carrot cake muffins and chocolate-covered strawberries are tasty options.

11. Provide a lunch space and company culture which encourages healthy eating habits, such as eating slowly and taking enough time to eat properly, which means not eating in front of the computer while working. Taking time to eat mindfully and socializing with colleagues can improve health along with employee relationships.

12. Frozen meals have come a long way, and actually contain fresh, recognizable and tasty ingredients. This can be an excellent alternative when employees need a rapid option. The great news is that frozen meals can now be sold via a refrigerated vending machine in the break room.

13. To minimize costs, buy food for the break room in bulk and use self-serve food bins. Instead of expensive disposable cups and plates, encourage employees to bring their own dishes.

14. To maintain a healthy office culture, remember to also choose healthy catering options for office meetings and special company events. 
via:http://www.boxerproperty.com/blogs/small-business-resources/food-solutions-for-a-healthy-office