Adequate nutrition can improve productivity by 20%, according to the World Health Organisation. A 20% productivity increase could have a significant impact on your business, and it can all be done by introducing tasty, healthy snacks into your workplace. This article is going to explain how you can increase employee productivity through the introduction of healthy food.
How do healthy snacks increase productivity?
Energy and alertness
Everyone knows that we get our energy from food, but there are a few misconceptions regarding the type of food we eat and how it affects our body.
You might reach for a high-sugar snack during times of fatigue, but the truth is that these unhealthy, sugary foods only provide a temporary spike in energy levels. As these snacks are void of any nutrients, your body has only the sugar to process and use as energy. Sugar is converted to energy at a quicker rate than other nutrients, resulting in a short ‘sugar rush’ followed by an exhausting ‘sugar crash’.
In contrast, nutritious snacks high in proteins and healthy, unsaturated fats are converted to energy by the body at a slower rate. Employees snacking on these items will remain alert for a longer period, leading to increased productivity throughout the day.
Comfort and happiness
Sitting at your desk and munching on unhealthy snacks all day is a recipe for disaster. Without frequent exercise to offset the extra calories, your employees are going to get fat. Weight gain can breed an assortment of uncomfortable health problems, leading to irritability, distraction and a lower work rate.
On the other hand, healthy office snacks will generate a healthier, happier, more confident workforce. They will be more creative, energetic and headstrong than their unhealthy counterparts.
In addition, providing tasty snacks to your workforce may improve your relationship as employee and employer. 67% of full-time workers with access to free food are “extremely” or “very” happy with their current job, compared to 56% of those who don’t have access to or don’t enjoy their office-provided snacks, according to a study by Peapod. Workers that appreciate their employer are more likely to try their hardest for them.
Which foods should you introduce to your workforce?
It’s important to strike a balance between food that is healthy and food that people want to eat. We’ve curated a list of some of the healthiest and best-tasting snack ideas for work.
- Fresh fruit
- Protein bars
- String cheese
- Yoghurts
- Roasted chickpeas
- Oatmeal packets
- Dark chocolate/dark-chocolate-covered nuts
How can I introduce food to my workforce?
A healthy vending machine is one of the most efficient ways to store an assortment of snacks and keep them fresh. Healthy vending machines can be installed into almost any workplace, and can even replace existing catering costs. With no one needed to man the machine, employees can simply walk up and obtain an energy-fuelling snack at any point in the day.
Snack smarter with a healthy vending machine. Nu Vending is a leading supplier of healthy vending machines and a range of other vending services. We provide businesses with the most modern vending machines, offering stylish designs, user-friendly controls and optional branding. Temperature control and hygiene monitoring are simple to operate, and the machines can be filled with a huge range of snacks to suit your workforce. Contact us today to begin improving employee productivity.
