Healthy snacks are all the rage these days and for good reason. With about 93 million Americans affected by obesity, one of the most common causes of Type 2 diabetes, poor eating habits are at the core of these and other health issues.
Many people seemed to have taken note.
Awareness of the positive impact a healthy lifestyle provides can be seen all around us. You can’t go anywhere without passing by a fitness club or yoga studio or seeing an advertisement for products or services meant to improve your health.
But can eating healthy all the time be bad?
As it turns out, it can. Sort of. There is such a thing as eating too healthy. It’s called orthorexia. Though not an official diagnosis, some experts in the medical community recognize it as problematic and see similarities to other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
Does this mean by offering just healthy snacks in your workplace will have an adverse effect on employees? No. Not at all. But is it terrible to
What is important to consider is the variety and balance of snack products you offer in the office.
Why Balance Healthy Snacks & Junk Food in The Office?
Eating habits are largely a personal choice. It’s one thing to stock your own home with nothing but healthy snacks, but in the office there are other factors at play.
The diversity of the workplace is perhaps the biggest reason you want a good balance between healthy items and junk food. Not everyone is a health fanatic, and one employee’s definition of eating healthy could be different from another’s.
For example, some employees might eat as healthy as possible for their main meals and exercise routinely, but they allow themselves to snack on sweet and savory items throughout the day.
Furthermore, even if encouraging healthier eating habits are part of your company’s approach to employee wellness, it’s okay to provide a little candy or some cookies.
And what of the stress factor? Sometimes the pressure is on at work and while a healthy snack can help you power through the day, sometimes you just want a cookie or piece of chocolate to get through the stressful moments.
What is a Good Balance?
It depends. Because of the diversity among employees vary from company to company, a balance of healthy snacks and junk food will be just as different.
The best way to find out what ratio will work for your office is to ask your employees. A simple email or a survey will do. Just try to refrain from assuming what everyone will like, as doing so can lead to signing up for the wrong type of snack delivery service for your office.
Finding out what types of snacks your employees want will help you choose a snack program that offers the variety and balances of products your workplace needs.
