The breakroom is more than just a space to take a quick break; it’s where energy is restored and connections are made. But if the snacks available aren’t nutritious, it can be hard to stay on track with your health goals. Making small changes to your office kitchen can make a big difference in promoting wellness for your team.
Here’s how you can easily make your breakroom healthier and create a space where your employees can recharge with nutritious options:
1. Focus on Nutritious Workplace Options
Promote better eating habits by providing healthy snacks that are easy to grab on the go. Think protein-rich options like hummus and veggies, or high-fiber treats like whole grain crackers and nuts. Keep a good balance of salty and sweet, and make sure to include snacks that cater to different dietary preferences—whether it’s vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free. This makes everyone feel included and ensures healthier choices are always within reach.
2. Keep Hydration in Mind
Drinking water is just as important as eating nutritious snacks. Make sure your breakroom is stocked with plenty of water options. Consider a filtered water dispenser, or even flavored water or herbal teas to encourage hydration throughout the day. Hydration is key to maintaining energy levels, focus, and overall well-being, so make it easy for your employees to stay refreshed!
3. Promote Balanced Meals
Healthy snacks are a great start, but it’s also important to offer balanced meal options. Whether it’s a quick, healthy breakfast or a light lunch, nutritious meals can improve focus and productivity. Consider offering grab-and-go meals like salads, wraps, or protein-packed bowls that are easy to eat and full of vitamins and minerals. Having healthy meals available in the breakroom ensures your employees aren’t reaching for unhealthy options when hunger strikes.
4. Creating a Health-Conscious Culture
Promoting health in the breakroom goes beyond the snacks. Encourage your team to make healthier choices, and consider adding information about the benefits of different foods around the breakroom. This can be a fun and educational way to engage employees and support their wellness journey. Small changes like these help build a culture of health that extends beyond the breakroom and into the workplace.
Bonus: Our Nutritional Guide for the Healthy Office Snacks
It can be challenging to find truly healthy options to replace the snacks and drinks everyone is so used to. Also, many health-focused brands can be quite pricey, which is why we created a guide to showcase our favorite healthy alternatives to traditional breakroom staples. Whether it’s replacing Red Bull, Coke, Doritos, or Jelly Beans, we have all the perfect swaps for you!
Sodas
- Red Bull → Alani Nu Energy Drinks
- Coke → Olipop Vintage Cola
- Sprite, 7up, Mountain Dew → La Croix Lime or Topo Chico Carbonated Mineral Water with a Twist of Lime
- Fanta → Olipop Orange Squeeze
- Canada Dry → Olipop Ginger Lemon, Wildwonder Peach Ginger, or Guayaki Grapefruit Ginger
Chips
- Doritos → Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips
- Cheetos → Hippeas Chickpea Puffs, Pipcorn Cheese Balls
- Lays → Popchips, Terra Chips, Sensible Garden Veggie Straws
Sweets
- Chips Ahoy → Partake Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Candy → Smart Sweets, Unreal Chocolate Nut Butter Cups
- Welch’s Fruit Snacks → Nature’s Garden Strawberry Yoggies, That’s It Mini Fruit Bars
Lunches
- Cup O Noodles → Mike’s Mighty Good Ramen, Snapdragon Veggie Pho
Making the breakroom healthier doesn’t require a complete overhaul—it’s about small, thoughtful changes that make a big difference in employee health. By offering healthy snacks, promoting hydration, and creating a wellness-friendly environment, you’re setting your team up for success both inside and outside the office.
Happy snacking!