It's no secret that a balanced diet is crucial for good physical, mental and emotional health, as well as for a good performance at work. And all meals are important, including those we eat during work breaks.
Throughout this article we will explore how healthier snacks can positively impact the productivity and well-being of an organization's employees.
Benefits of eating healthier snacks
Nutrition and energy
After a few hours without eating, many people start to feel drowsy, uncomfortable and weak (among other things) due to a drop in glycemia (blood sugar).
These effects are not only important to the employee's personal health, but can also have a negative impact on their capacity to work and on the organization's results.
In this context, eating balanced and nutritious snacks, rich in complex carbohydrates and vitamins, which keep blood glucose stable between main meals and during working hours, can give employees the energy they need to remain more focused and productive in their tasks.
Among the most suitable foods for this purpose are oats, whole grains, nuts and legumes.
Emotional well-being
We also know that food can affect our mood and emotional well-being, factors that can have an impact on an employee's productivity.
As such, it's important to include food sources of tryptophan throughout the day, an amino acid which, after various chemical reactions, can be converted into serotonin, the so-called "happiness hormone".
In addition to regulating mood and sleep, serotonin also helps to modulate appetite and the quality of the food we eat, making it an ally in avoiding overeating.
The main suppliers of tryptophan are dairy products, lean meats and fish, eggs, pulses (beans, grains, peanuts) and nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews).
Replacing unbalanced options
Finally, the inclusion of healthier snacks in work breaks will probably replace and help reduce the intake of more unbalanced food options, such as cakes, cookies high in sugar and fat, processed products, among others, which translates into a reduction in the intake of refined white sugar, saturated fats and salt.
These dietary changes can have an interesting impact on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, metabolic diseases, among others, and can contribute to a reduction in absenteeism due to long-term sick leave in companies.
Our best snacks for your employees' breaks
With the above in mind, Oh! My Snacks offers a range of solutions to make it easier for you to eat healthier foods that are also tasty:
- Salty mixes: Snacks based on nuts or legumes, combined with cereals, help provide energy and tryptophan;
- Mixes of nuts: these are mixtures of different types of nuts in their purest state or combined with dehydrated raisins, ideal snacks for providing a boost of energy and omega-3, for good cognitive performance;
- Raw Bars and Protein Balls: with the inclusion of oats and nuts, they are a satiating snack that helps modulate energy levels;
- Dehydrated fruit, fruit balls and fruit bars: with the inclusion of real fruit, these are practical snacks that provide important vitamins and minerals for energy metabolism.
Conclusion
Healthy snacking is more than just a trend; it's a way of improving employee productivity and well-being in the workplace.
Providing your organization's employees with a range of balanced options for their breaks helps to create a healthier and more efficient working environment.
We therefore invite you to explore our website to discover our range of snacks and our offer for companies, which will make your working day and that of your team even better.
Bibliography:
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). The Nutrition Source: Snacking. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/snacking/
Author:
Rita Lima (CP.3003N)