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How to Stock a Healthy Break Room

Posted by Jamie Bell on Wed, Mar, 19, 2014

Providing a healthy place for a break and a snack is an excellent way to keep your employees happy and productive. Adding a coffee machine, fresh fruit, granola bars and other nutritious snacks provide support for your wellness program and boost your employees' overall satisfaction. Screen Shot 2014 03 19 at 10.07.06 AM

Here is what our ideal healthy breakroom looks like: 

- Coffeemaker: You'll be hard-pressed to find a group of employees that doesn't appreciate their morning cup of coffee. The caffeine boost helps worker to focus, and plenty of studies show the health benefits of this bold beverage. While plain black coffee is the best for your health, cater to everyone's preferences and provide raw sugar, agave nectar, natural creamers and other additives that aren't filled with artificial sweeteners or syrups. Bonus tip: Add a second coffee pot for hot water and a selection of tea bags as an alternative. Green, chai and earl grey teas are all great break room options. 

- Fresh fruit: This is one of our favorite additions to any healthy break room. Look into local fresh fruit and produce delivery services, many of which deliver to office locations. Apples and oranges tend to last longer than bananas or pears, and you can consider incorporating dried fruit that doesn't have any added sugars. 

- Granola bars: Kashi TLC bars, Luna bars, Kind bars, Clif bars and Fiber One Cereal Bars are just a few of our favorites to include in the break room. Avoid anything that is unnecessarily high in calories or looks more like a candy bar than a granola bar. 

- Nuts: A handful of these is packed with protein, fiber and good-for-you fats. The best choices are walnuts, almonds, pistachios and pecans. Avoid anything sugar-coated and skip the peanuts and cashews if you can. 

- Oatmeal packets: We doubt all of your employees made it to work today with a heart-healthy breakfast in their bellies. Microwaveable oatmeal packets are inexpensive and provide everyone with a nutritious hot breakfast option. Paired with the fresh fruit in your break room, you can't go wrong with it. 

- Light popcorn: This is another one of our favorite mid-day munchables. No need to go for extra butter or fancy flavors; look for 100-calorie bags that make an easy, personal-sized snack. 

- Fresh veggies: If you can, stock the fridge with cut veggies like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and cherry tomatoes. We find that the more you make these nutritious options are available, the less likely that your employees are going to feel the need to bring cookies, potato chips or other junk food to snack on. 

If you don't want to be personally responsible for stocking the break room with nutritious snacks, there are plenty of new healthy vending machine companies that can provide your employees with good options. 

What kinds of foods are in your break room? Comment below. 

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

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