Rethinking Office Nutrition: How Smarter Food Choices Can Boost Workforce Wellbeing and Performance
May, 2025
As an occupational health advisor, I’ve worked with countless organisations seeking ways to improve employee wellbeing, reduce sickness absence, and create a more productive workplace. One area that’s often overlooked but has a significant impact - is the food, snacks, and drinks provided in the office.
It’s common for workplaces to offer convenience items: biscuits in the meeting room, sugary cereal bars in the kitchen, or energy drinks in the vending machine. While these options are easy to stock and often well-liked by staff, they’re not necessarily doing anyone any favours when it comes to health or sustained performance.
The Problem with Popular Choices
Let’s start with the typical office snacks—crisps, chocolate bars, pastries, and sugary drinks. These are high in refined sugars, processed fats, and salt, which can lead to blood sugar spikes followed by rapid crashes. The result? Employees may feel energised briefly but then hit an afternoon slump, losing focus and productivity.
Similarly, excessive caffeine from coffee or energy drinks may give a short-term boost but can lead to dehydration, disrupted sleep (especially if consumed in the afternoon), and increased anxiety levels for some individuals.
Over time, diets high in ultra-processed foods have been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even depression. For a business, this translates into higher absenteeism, presenteeism (being at work but underperforming), and lower morale.
What Should You Offer Instead?
The goal is to create a food environment in the office that supports stable energy, cognitive clarity, and long-term health. Here are evidence-based suggestions:
1. Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
Keep a supply of seasonal fruit such as apples, bananas, and berries. Carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, or cucumber slices in the fridge offer crunchy, low-calorie options rich in vitamins and fibre. These options support immunity and digestive health, and avoid the sugar crash of a chocolate bar.
2. Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds provide healthy fats, protein, and magnesium—essential for brain function and mood regulation. Offer these in portion-controlled packs to prevent overconsumption.
3. Wholegrain Snacks
Replace white bread sandwiches or sugary cereal bars with options like oatcakes, wholegrain crackers, or rice cakes with nut butter. These release energy more slowly, avoiding the highs and lows that impair productivity.
4. Low-Sugar Yoghurts
A great source of protein and calcium. Choose unsweetened varieties and offer fruit on the side to allow staff to sweeten naturally.
5. Hydration Stations
Water is often neglected in favour of coffee. Consider water coolers, infused water jugs with lemon or cucumber, or herbal teas. Hydration supports focus, joint health, and even mood.
6. Protein-Rich Options
Boiled eggs, hummus pots, or small portions of cheese offer protein to keep employees feeling full and fuelled between meals.
The Business Case for Better Nutrition
Providing healthy snacks is not about micromanaging what employees eat—it’s about making the healthy choice the easy choice. Studies show that employees with balanced nutrition perform better cognitively, experience fewer sick days, and report higher job satisfaction.
It also sends a powerful message: that your company values its people and is proactive about supporting their wellbeing. When combined with tools that empower individuals to monitor their own health—like sleep and activity tracking—it creates a culture where wellbeing becomes part of the workplace identity.
The Future of Workplace Health
You don’t need to overhaul your entire food offering overnight. Start with simple swaps—fruit instead of biscuits, nuts instead of crisps, water alongside the coffee machine. Invite feedback, try different options, and most importantly, lead by example.
Supporting employee nutrition is not a “perk”—it’s a strategy. A healthier workforce is a more engaged, resilient, and productive one.
