When people spend about a third of their lives at the office, it stands to reason that employee diets often can come down to what’s available. And since healthier employees are better for your business and for the mood of your office, we recommend bringing in some healthy snacks to the office to encourage healthier choices and a better work environment.

Yet what choices should you make? Each office might work a bit differently, and if your employees aren’t going to eat what you choose, then it’s a waste. We’ve selected a range of different ideas here to satisfy nearly every want. Read below to learn more:

Healthy Office Snack Delivery Services

Naturally, we should start with some fruits and veggies that are perfect for the office setting. You may want to refrigerate some of these depending on exactly how long you want them to last, but we kept in mind how important food longevity is in the office setting, which is why we didn’t include many other wonderful and healthy options.

1) Carrots or Baby Carrots

Carrots last a long time and don’t have so strong a taste to offend many people, making them an excellent choice for an all-around veggie for the office. They are low calorie, fiber-rich, and contain vitamin K, vitamin A, and various other nutrients.

While we don’t have too much of a preference whether to get one or the other health-wise, we find that baby carrots will be more easily snatched up, and they go better with healthy dips and spreads.

2) Apples and Oranges

Selecting some fruits to recommend was tough, but we settled on classic apples and oranges based on their universal availability, relative longevity, and popularity with most people. Keep a basket of these in a common area and stress that they’re available, and we’re confident that they won’t go untouched for long.

Sweet and rich in vitamin C and fiber, apples and oranges are a fantastic way for employees to get a different taste in their mouth without loading up on calories.

3) Various Dried Fruits

A far better option than bringing candy into the office, you’d be surprised at just how many fiber and nutrient-rich dried fruits are available, from classic apricots to apples to chunks of dried pineapple (those have an extra strong kick to them). You might want to watch out for dried fruits that have sugar added, as it is not necessary and it only serves to diminish the health value.

4) Celery

While you might want to store this in the fridge if you’re planning on keeping it for a little while, sticks or stalks of celery are a great option for the office, filling the stomach while rich in fiber, potassium, and numerous other nutrients.

Like many other people, you may also want to treat celery as a delivery system for other healthy foods such as peanut butter or types of dip. It’s a wonderfully versatile, neutral option for the office.

 

Other Sweet and Healthy Treats

Sometimes fruit isn’t enough to satisfy a sugar craving, and we understand that. Here are a couple of more traditional options that will keep employees feeling good if portion control is considered.

5) Dark Chocolate

While rich in calories and not a great idea to offer in large quantities, eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day is a great source of antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients. Dark chocolate might also decrease blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

We recommend looking into packages of 70 to 80 percent cocoa dark chocolate squares, perhaps with hints of berries or nuts in them. A small bowl of them will be just right for an office environment.

6) Healthy Cereal or Snack Bars

You might need to shop around to find the right ones for your office, but healthy snack bars do exist, and your workplace will love them.

We recommend looking at options that aren’t too large and contain a wide variety of ingredients for a well-rounded nutritional option. Try to avoid added sugars or too much chocolate, as they not only are unhealthy but only serve to overpower the rest of the bar.

 

For the Fridge

You’ll likely need to skip these options if you don’t have an office fridge, but otherwise you’ll want to keep some of these items in the office on a regular basis.

7) Greek Yogurt

You’ve probably already heard about all of the health benefits of yogurt and Greek yogurt, but that doesn’t preclude us recommending your office stock cups of it in the office fridge to enjoy.  High in protein, packed with probiotics, and containing lots of calcium, Greek yogurt is even better if you keep some berries or honey on hand for employees to add a sweet flavor to their snack.

8) Cottage Cheese (with Berries)

On a similar note to Greek yogurt is cottage cheese, which is a great option if protein as well as calcium, if a bit calorie and sodium-rich for some people. It’s also noteworthy for helping people lower their blood pressure.

That being noted, with cottage cheese especially we recommend including some berries into the mix. Employees will appreciate it and be more likely to enjoy the supplied snack.

9) Guacamole

You might not necessarily think of guacamole as a particularly healthy snack, but what you’re likely thinking of it the various food guacamole is served with. Instead of unhealthy chips or heavier fare you normally see it with, have you considered serving it with vegetable crackers or celery stalks? By doing so, you’ll be able to provide a healthy snack to employees that contains a ton of potassium, among other things.

10) Hummus

Another thing to serve alongside celery or a healthier type of cracker, hummus is packed with plant-proteins, high in fiber, and great for people trying to control their blood sugar. It can be used in many ways, so keeping some around is a great way to encourage employees to add something a bit healthier into their diet.

 

Protein Rich Items

While fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and the like are all great options, some employees might need something a little more substantial to get them through the day. Here are a few denser, protein-packed yet healthy options for the office.

11) Jerky

When you first think of jerky, try not to think of the brands that you’d find in convenience stores. Those are by no measure healthy. Instead, we would ask you to look for jerky made without preservatives and too much extra salt and sugar.

We generally recommend jerky in small portions from high-quality brands, but if you’re willing to order it, there are few better sources of protein and the carnivores of the office will love it.

12) Nut Packets

Except for people who might be allergic, small packages of about a handful of assorted nuts are a great way to keep employees from feeling hunger pains late in the day. We recommend almonds, pistachios, cashews, and walnuts, but for the most part, you can’t go wrong when making your selection. Try to take a poll of what people like the most so you can cover the office.

13) Protein Bars

A more protein heavy alternative to a health bar, protein bars generally provide high-quality proteins and a moderate amount of carbs and fats to help employees get through the day. While they can be overeaten, having a few around the office is likely to do more good than harm.

Generally look for the same things as cereal and health bars, although be wary of too much processing and false health claims. If a protein bar seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

14) Peanut Butter

A denser but to many more delicious option than simple nut packets, A couple of spoonfuls or packets of peanut butter are all most people need to stave off hunger for a while. Rich in protein, fiber, minerals, and other things, employees will be eating healthier and not even realizing it.

15) Sunflower Seeds

Similar to nuts in taste to many but a much slower eat, sunflower seeds can be messy if shelled but are a great way to relieve boredom while providing a snack with a high amount of protein to employees. Great for employees who need to fidget with something as well as those looking for a somewhat substantial snack that can be measured throughout the day.

16) String Cheese

While certainly calories rich and meant to be eaten in moderation, there is nothing wrong with string cheese. Rich in protein and calcium, it can make for a filling snack that will satisfy some employees’ cheese cravings (without letting them go overboard). Try to keep some around in the fridge and see how quickly it disappears.

 

Additional Items

Here are a few more items that didn’t finely fit into previous categories and will fit nicely into your office.

17) Rice Cakes

We wouldn’t recommend rice cakes by themselves, not as a healthy snack choice or as an office snack choice at all. But they’re fantastic for acting as a delivery system for healthy spreads, butters, and dips. They’re wonderfully neutral for that and all the while have very few calories themselves when compared with alternatives.

18) Trail Mix

Containing several of the items already listed in here, trail mixes have already been a great snack for nearly anywhere and anyone, and there are so many different options you’ll be certain to find a healthy option that everyone likes.

Look for trail mixes that go light on the chocolate and candy and have more nuts and dried fruit in them. They’ll provide more stable energy and allow for a more diverse range of flavors to get through, making most employees happier for it.

 

For Special Occasions

While it would be impractical to keep these snacks around all the time, they’re a great option for when you want to treat the office to something special without resorting to sugary cakes or fatty pizza.

19) Sushi

We understand that this is an expensive, somewhat impractical, and quick-to-go-bad option, but if you’re looking for a way to really reward employees with something that they won’t expect while still not resorting to fatty and sugary foods, we recommend sushi. A lot will depend on where you get it and what types of rolls are chosen, but it is an excellent, delicious, and healthy option. This is something your employees will remember.

20) Roasted Chickpeas

A crunchier and more easily snackable form of the chickpea than hummus, roasted chickpeas might be hard to come by freshly made (or take some effort to make), but they are a wonderful and still easy-to-make snack that goes well with a variety of spices. If you want an even healthier version of the snack, skip the salt and let other flavors take over.

21) Healthy Smoothies

They might be hard to make or find depending on where your office is located, but providing some healthy smoothies to employees is a great way to show them you care while staying away from milkshakes and other far too sugary beverages.

Look to get or make smoothies that include some vegetables and herbs in them, or at least berries that are full of antioxidants and other nutrients. Try to stay away from too many added sugars or smoothies with too much dairy (although yogurt-based smoothies can be a great choice).

 

Conclusion

There are even more healthy and creative options available to you than what’s listed above, depending on your office’s tastes. We also would like to mention to adjust your choices depending on how active your office is, as they might require something with a bit more weight to it. In general, we encourage you to experiment and see what gets picked out of the snack basket first.

Do you have any other snack ideas for the office? What do you currently have, if anything? We would love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below.