In today’s fast-paced work environment, more and more emphasis is being placed on employee health and wellbeing. With many companies having onsite gyms or competitively priced gym membership deals available for employees. Whilst keeping fit and active is great for a healthy body and mind, it’s important to remember that nutrition also plays an essential role in overall health.
The thing that makes the workplace an amazing opportunity to influence health is the unrivalled daily access to the same customers throughout the working week. The food employees consume in the workplace can form the majority of their weekly food intake. Companies can truly make a difference to their employees’ lives whilst reaping the rewards of a more productive and engaged workforce.
In fact, it’s been shown that offering healthy food in the workplace:
1. Increases Productivity: Healthy meals boost productivity by up to 25% (Harvard Business Review).
2. Improves Morale: Companies with healthy food options see a 20% increase in employee morale.
3. Reduces Absenteeism: Nutritious meals can lower absenteeism rates by 15%.
4. Enhances Mental Health: Balanced diets reduce symptoms of depression by 40% (Mental Health Foundation).
5. Promotes Team Bonding: Engaging meals boost team collaboration by 30%.
6. Boosts Engagement: 60% of employees feel more engaged when provided with healthy food options (Cornell University).
What we eat today has long-term consequences on our health. By providing nutrient dense menus, including whole foods and balanced meals, we are helping our bodies prevent chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. We are also helping to maintain energy levels and improve concentration at work.
Whilst having a tempting selection of healthy lunch options available is a great place to start, it’s also worth giving some thought to your grab and go snack options. Nuts, fruit, vegetable platters, crudité and yoghurt are all good choices. By avoiding typical snacks that are high in sugar, fat or salt, you are also avoiding the quick fix and sugar / energy crashes throughout the day.
Catering can help Introduce customised wellness programmes into your business, incorporating healthy eating initiatives, with workshops on nutrition or cooking demonstrations. You could also include challenges that encourage healthier food choices such as eat the rainbow or increasing the variety of plants you consume in a week to 30. By creating a supportive community around wellness that gets employees involved, you are actively encouraging healthy habits, leading to a healthier and more engaged workforce.
Special dietary requirements are also an important factor to consider when planning your menus. Understanding that each employee has unique dietary needs, and catering for allergies, dietary restrictions and preference is all part and parcel of creating an inclusive and welcoming onsite catering facility. It ensures all employees feel included and valued and are able to participate in communal meals.
You can make a significant difference to the quality, taste and nutritional content of the food on offer by keeping it seasonal as much as possible. Fresh and seasonal food always tastes better. Combining this with local sourcing, you also help reduce food miles. Limiting the distance travelled between farm and fork results in higher quality produce that maintains a higher nutritional content. By partnering with like-minded companies that share their ethos on sustainability, your catering company can make ethical choices that are not just great for your employees but great for the planet. This can be important to many employees that value environmental responsibility and can contribute to their job satisfaction.
Bespoke Food Group have been working closely with a revolutionary technology platform offering tailored health and wellbeing solutions that empower guests to make informed food choices. The platform includes guidance on brain-boosting foods, dietary support for menopause, and other targeted wellbeing initiatives, creating a personalised approach to nutrition.
- Nutritious Menu Options
- Customisable Choices for Dietary Needs
- Technology for Informed Eating
- Wellbeing-Focused Environment
If you’re looking for a caterer that can help you with your company wellness goals, Bespoke Food Group are here to help.
