The Importance of Providing Healthy Options at Corporate Lunches

The importance of choosing the right food to fuel your body has never been more prominent. With study after study proving the importance of making the right nutritional choices, selecting the wrong options could significantly affect our energy levels, concentrations and overall health.

When in the workplace, employers are largely responsible for creating a healthy environment, both atmospheric and in terms of well-being, which ties in with the requirement for quality meals and snacks that will support employee health and boost productivity within the business. 

Below, we discuss four key benefits of providing healthy options when hosting a corporate lunch and why it is so important to do so. 

Encouraging Healthy Habits

Despite the common myth that habits take 21 days to form completely, the average person takes 66 days to form a habit fully. When skipping meals or consuming unhealthy foods as a replacement for long periods at a time, you are teaching your body to normalise energy crashes and low productivity. 

Employees will feel unmotivated and unproductive if they are feeding themselves incorrectly. Employers should encourage healthy habits at work, which includes offering healthy alternatives to typical ‘quick fixes’ such as high-sugar snacks and fast food. This will help staff to maintain a consistent energy level throughout the day, which helps to sharpen their focus. 

Increasing Employee Satisfaction

As well as encouraging healthy habits, employers should aim to increase employee satisfaction to create a positive working environment. Employees who feel supported by their employers are more likely to be satisfied with their job, making this necessity even more critical. 

Healthy office catering leads to increased job satisfaction and encourages employees to perform better in a positive workplace with a caring culture. It can also lead to higher employee retention as staff feel appreciated and looked after. 

Reducing Sick Days and Healthcare Costs

Many businesses feel the pinch when employees are sick or absent from work, significantly when this period of time is extended due to ill health. A decline in health often initiates long-term sick leave, whether this is physical or mental health.

Unhealthy eating habits have a lot to answer for when it comes to employees suffering from such health issues, heightening the risk of chronic diseases, which leaves staff unable to carry out their duties. Failing to look after your body in the short term can lead to more severe consequences in the long term, such as a decline in health, which will take a while to bounce back from. 

Healthier catering choices can assist in creating a healthier workforce, keeping absence costs low and negating the requirement for covering staff or even overworking current staff. 

Improving Overall Workplace Culture

Finally, as previously mentioned, creating a positive workplace culture is vital for employee motivation and a productive workforce. 

When employees feel valued and appreciated, they are much more likely to go above and beyond to assist you as an employer and primarily benefit the business by doing so. They are also more likely to have a positive attitude toward their job and their colleagues. 

FAQs

What healthy options can be provided at corporate lunches?

Some healthy options include salads, grilled vegetables, lean protein sources such as chicken or fish, and whole grains such as brown rice or quinoa.

How can employers encourage employees to make healthier choices?

Employers can provide nutrition education, offer healthy snacks, and create a supportive work environment that encourages healthy habits.

How can providing healthy options at corporate lunches improve workplace culture?

Providing healthy options at corporate lunches shows employees that their employer cares about their health and well-being, which can lead to increased job satisfaction, employee retention, and a positive workplace culture.

How can unhealthy eating habits affect productivity?

Unhealthy eating habits can lead to energy crashes, causing employees to feel sluggish, unmotivated, and unproductive.

How else can employers create a healthy work environment?

Other ways include offering wellness programs, providing standing desks or ergonomic chairs, and encouraging physical activity during the workday.

Healthy, Sustainable Corporate Breakfasts and Lunches from the Professionals at Green Bike Food 

If you want to treat your employees to a nutritious breakfast or lunch, you have come to the right place. At Green Bike Food Co., we have a wealth of experience in providing healthy, sustainable breakfasts, lunches and snacks to businesses across the Thames Valley and surrounding areas. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we can create the ideal, tailored catering service for you, please get in touch!