5 Easy Steps to a Healthier Office Breakfast to Kickstart the Workday
Posted by Sara on Friday, September 5th, 2014 with 4 Comments
Back away from the pop-tarts and donuts. Starting the work day off with a healthy office breakfast available to your staff can do many things – it can add to the health and well-being of your employees and let them know that they are appreciated. But providing a nutritious breakfast every day or even just during morning meetings can also help de-stress a busy morning, with breakfast being one less thing that staffers need to worry about before heading into work. A nutritious start to the day can help increase metabolism and assist with keeping employees in a good mood throughout the morning. It’s easy to get crabby when you’re is hungry, but if staff have had a tasty and filling breakfast, they’re more inclined to stay bright and optimistic throughout the day. If you provide your employees with a good start with complex carbohydrates, fiber, and lean proteins, your star team will feel great and productive all morning long!
Swapping donuts for oatmeal is only one way to serve a healthier office breakfast.
Image source: Flickr user galant
Start thinking about starting the day off with some delicious out-of-the-box options with our handy guide below: Whole Grains Swap white flour bagels for the healthier whole wheat variety. Offer whole wheat toast and pastries, or even set up an oatmeal bar! This comforting breakfast stand-by is often less than 200 calories for a full serving, and loaded with dietary fiber, protein, and omega-6 fatty acids. Add dried or fresh fruits, nuts, or even some low-fat yogurt to the top for a little extra added flavor. Or, for a unique spin on porridge, offer a savory Chinese-inspired congee — a thin rice dish that is often fortified with ginger, lean chicken, and vegetables. A brown rice variety has an extra nutritional punch. Low-fat Dairy Make sure to supply fat-free and low-fat milk options for multigrain cereals. Plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit is also a great option instead of the sugar-packed, fruit-on-the-bottom varieties. Low-fat cottage cheese is another great healthy way to start off your breakfast meetings! Fruits & Vegetables A plate of fresh fruits and vegetables can add needed color (remember, we eat with our eyes first) and nutrition to sleepy mornings. Fruit slices can be added to cottage cheese, whole grain cereals, or even toasted whole wheat bagels. Likewise, steamed and fresh vegetables can act as a healthy bagel topping, or be mixed into some scrambled eggs for some color, vitamins, and extra pop! And sliced heart-healthy avocado is a nutritional powerhouse and great on top of whole wheat toast or multi-grain pita bread. Lean Protein Healthy office breakfasts can certainly be all about swapping bad choices for good ones, but it can also include introducing brand new options like lean meats (think turkey bacon or lox), and hard boiled eggs to your office continental breakfast spread. Or, instead of the traditional cream cheese for that whole wheat bagel, provide some peanut butter, other nut butters, or even garbanzo bean hummus for fiber, protein, and all-around super food benefits. A Little Fat & Sugar Can Go a Long Way And don’t forget, a little indulgence is okay. Along with your office’s oatmeal bar, some honey, cream, or maple syrup is not necessarily a bad choice. Like all things, moderation is key. And when people don’t feel deprived, they are less tempted to binge later in the afternoon with a bag of chips, a sugar-heavy soda, or a candy bar. Let Waiter.com help your busy office with food delivery and catering options for a healthy morning meal. We can help you plan delicious and nutritious breakfast foods for meetings, special events, or a daily way to say thank you to your hard-working employees!
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This is a really good read, and id love to share it with people at work. Breakfast is very important and people should do their best to ensure they’ve had a healthy one.
All of these sound like really great breakfast ideas. My one concern would be for those employees with a long commute, especially one in lots of traffic. I couldn’t imagine having to do a long, frustrating morning drive on an empty stomach. I think tailoring these breakfast options to more of a brunch or mid-morning snack would be more appropriate for companies with lots of commuters.
I like adding tomatoes to scrambled eggs, and the pictured oatmeal with bananas looks great! Employees might get to the office earlier if something like this were offered.
It’s true – food is always a good incentive!