Desserts Posts

October seems to be a time of year when everyone starts craving something on the sweeter side–probably because heading into winter makes us start thinking about all of the sweet holiday indulgences in our future. If you’ve found yourself craving delicious and tempting sweets–like a big slice of chocolate cake, a giant sugar cookie with sweet icing, or maybe even a yummy eclair or two–we know how you feel. Sweet cravings can get the best of us. But with October being National Cookie Month, you have an excuse to tack a little something sweet onto your business lunch.

And while sweets in moderation are certainly not a bad choice, there are ways to choose a healthier cookie that doesn’t leave you in a sugar slump mid-afternoon. So to help you get your sweet fix over the noon hour without completely sabotaging your diet for the rest of the day, we’ve compiled four delicious, and healthier, cookie options for you to consider.

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies: While these cookies are still a sweet treat, oats offer great health benefits, like boosting the hormones that control your appetite and helping to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, lowering bad cholesterol and managing your blood pressure. Not only that, but eating a diet rich in oats can help you feel fuller, longer. And replacing your usual chocolate chips with toffee chips can be a great way to add some new flavor without packing in extra sugar. By choosing oatmeal, you’ve made your cookie a lot healthier!

Chocolate Hazelnut Meringues: Meringues are a lovely, sweet cookie that are also quite airy and low in calories. These delicious cookies are dipped in dark chocolate, which is loaded with antioxidants that help lower your risk of disease. It’s also been shown to help you lose weight, decrease your risk of diabetes and reduce stress levels. They’re then topped with chopped hazelnuts, which are packed with fiber, protein and healthy fats, which can promote good heart health. The combination of this cookie makes for one pretty healthy indulgence. You could even have two if you were really craving something sweet!

Macadamia and Ginger Cookies: A take on traditional Italian amaretti, these cookies are a delicious mix of heart healthy macadamia nuts and ginger. Macadamia nuts are packed with good fats, which help to lower your cholesterol and decrease your risk of stroke. They also contain a type of fat that is believed to speed up your metabolism. Ginger adds a lovely taste compliment to this cookie, and it’s also great for pregnant women suffering from morning sickness!

Simple French Macaroons: Another light pastry cookie, macaroons are a tasty little treat that typically include two brightly colored cookies that are filled with a light frosting. They’re made from egg whites and sugar, which are whipped into a stiff mixture–the process makes them the perfect light afternoon treat when you’re working in the office. Macaroons are a great way to combat that sugar craving with something light and sweet, without packing a bunch of extra calories into your day.

Choosing Healthy

While you certainly don’t want to put cookies on the menu every day, having a small treat every once in a while can help you stick to your healthy eating goals for the rest of the week. And with so many tasty–and relatively healthy–dessert options out there, choosing something sweet doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your dinner, or completely undermining your healthy eating choices.

When you’re ready to order a sweet treat to accompany your next business lunch, Waiter.com is here to help. We can connect you to the best restaurants–with the tastiest cookies–in town. And we’ll even deliver your order right to your office! And that’s a great way to make your next business lunch one step easier.

Life is short. Eat dessert first.

― Jacques Torres

If there’s one thing that can bring an office together, it’s a shared affection for dessert. The right treats can make a positive dining experience even better, and provide the perfect end to any meal. They can also work great on their own, in the form of an afternoon snack or small overtime meal. But, wait — there’s a challenge with most desserts! Not only are they filled with sugars and fats, but many also contain artificial ingredients that are decidedly unhealthy. While there’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves to these kinds of sugary treats every now and then, we need to steer clear of serving them to our employees: these foods will zap employee productivity (hello, sugar crash!), and leave them feeling bloated, lethargic, and craving more. Offering unhealthy desserts to our office also undermines the goals of any staff members who are trying to eat healthier, or lose weight. For these reasons and more, it’s in everyone’s best interest to provide our staff with healthy choices at work.

Healthy desserts to please everyone

When it comes to healthy treats, there’s an abundance of healthy options we can try. Instead of eating chemicals and fake substances, why not explore desserts made with nutritious, wholesome ingredients? While food movements like veganism and raw foodism aren’t for everyone, they offer interesting philosophies and inspiring alternatives for healthy eating. A stricter form of vegetarianism, veganism “is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products.” Like vegetarians, vegans avoid meat, in addition to staying away from dairy products and eggs. Raw foodists, meanwhile, are more concerned with food temperature. Evidence has shown that cooking removes some of the nutritional value from foods like vegetables. Some people even prefer to combine the two: raw veganism is usually based around seeds, nuts, and fruit. And yet, there’s an astounding amount of delicious raw vegan dishes — including some truly incredible desserts.

Now, if you’re accustomed to eating a typical American diet, you might be (understandably) skeptical that a raw vegan dessert can satisfy your sugar cravings, let alone an entire office’s worth! Let’s take a look at one in particular that will excite your staff’s tastebuds, and leave them feeling healthy.

Raw vegan cheesecake

Imagine looking forward to tucking into a healthy, delicious thick slice of cheesecake when you’re working overtime. Sounds nice, right? Offering mindful incentives like nutritious food is a respectful way to keep your office fueled while feeling motivated and happy. Raw vegan cheesecake is one such healthy dessert that can work this kind of magic.

First off, there’s absolutely no need for your staff to be full of raw food enthusiasts (or fans of veganism, for that matter) in order to enjoy this healthy dessert. With ingredients like “soaked cashews, coconut milk, coconut oil, lemon juice and agave nectar for the cake, (…) and dates and raw walnuts (or almonds)” for the crust, it’s easy to see where all of the nutritional benefit is coming from. Known to be “jam-packed with nutritional content,” cashew nuts are high in protein, essential minerals, and a natural source of healthy fat — the good kind that everyone needs to keep functioning at our optimal level. Similarly, the fatty acids in coconut oil not only have the potential to stave off infections, but have also been shown to reduce hunger. Instead of going back for seconds, healthy desserts like raw vegan cheesecake can actually help employees notice when they’re truly full.

From orange chocolate and strawberry, to lemon and mango — there are as many raw vegan cheesecake choices as there are regular cakes. But cheesecake is only the tip of the healthy dessert iceberg: getting creative with our food choices allows us to see how many different kinds of healthy desserts we can order for our office — and encourage mindful eating, along with a healthy lifestyle. Providing mindful food for our employees is an important part of creating a positive company culture. What kind of healthy desserts can Waiter.com help you order for your staff? The benefits are endless: our taste buds are satisfied, our employees get to try something new, and everyone leaves the table feeling healthier — and more ready than ever to work hard.

What other healthy desserts could you surprise your staff with at overtime meals? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to start building a master list of delicious, nutritious treats.

Summertime at the office might be the hardest time of year to stay focused: between sunny weather, people coming and going from vacations, and just long, hot days, there are plenty of challenges to keeping up the daily routine. And while it might seem counterintuitive, providing plenty of group breaks and last-minute office parties might be just the ticket to keeping up productivity!

It’s true: research has shown that taking breaks is good for employee productivity, providing a chance for workers to mentally reset and recharge. Even more, group breaks offer a team the chance to reinforce social bonds and boost camaraderie, whether they need to vent about a difficult client or just voice to a sympathetic ear that it’s tough to come back from vacation to a full inbox.

And while lavish company picnics are wonderful, you don’t have to do a lot of planning to provide smaller and more casual office parties with a big impact. Next time your team meets a sales goal or beats a tough deadline, take the opportunity to provide a laid-back gathering the break room — the perfect way to encourage employees to take a little time to laugh and recharge in the midst of the long days of summer. And of course, you can make the most of the occasion by skipping the predictable sheet cake or box of cupcakes, and serve a refreshing summer dessert!

We’ve rounded up a few ideas for light, tasty treats that won’t leave your team in a food coma during a hot day… but will certainly draw a crowd into the break room for a much-needed respite from the usual grind!

Strawberry shortcake 

Juicy strawberries piled atop a fluffy spongecake – with a dollop of whipped cream, of course – is the quintessential summer dessert.

Cheesecake topped with fresh berries

OK, this may not exactly be a light dessert, but creamy cheesecake topped with fresh summer berries is a refreshing kind of indulgence!

Granita

Think of it like a grown-up sno-cone: ice is flavored with sugar and fruity syrups in this classic Italian dessert that won’t leave you feeling overfull and out of energy for the rest of the day.

Ice cream sandwiches

Scooping out ice cream for a group can be a pain – so order a round of ice cream sandwiches for a convenient single-serving dessert.

Panna cotta with fresh berries

Another Italian contribution, this dessert is made from cream, milk, sugar, and gelatin — sort of like fancy, creamy Jell-O. Topped with fresh summer berries or a fruit coulis, panna cotta is a good summer treat for a more upscale office occasion.

And the benefits of a surprise summer dessert go beyond productivity: at any time of year, treating employees to unexpected office parties helps communicate a message of appreciation to your team, boosting engagement and job satisfaction as well as providing the opportunity to build social bonds… and just have a break from the daily routine. And you don’t have to do it alone — Waiter.com has a wide range of menus with abundant summer dessert options, along with easy online ordering and prompt delivery! All you have to do is choose the perfect treat for your next celebration.

 

Busy admin assistants and office managers know that delivery is a huge time-saver, from printer paper to business lunches. But when it comes to office birthdays, there’s often a last-minute rush out to the bakery or market to pick up a dessert. Instead of adding a task to your already busy day, take advantage of the delivery options you already use on a regular basis — restaurants!

From your favorite Mexican spot to the local Italian joint, there are plenty of creative and convenient takeout treats that can be delivered right to the office. Not only will it save you time, but you’ll end up with a delightfully unexpected departure from the usual round of cupcakes or box of doughnuts. Here are some of our favorite delivery-friendly office birthday ideas:

Mexican: tres leches cake

The quintessential Mexican dessert may be churros, but let’s be honest: those sugary treats are best eaten right out of the fryer, and may not hold up well for delivery. Instead, try out the decadent tres leches cake, a richly dense dessert that’s more custard than cake.

French: macarons

These delicate, elegant, sandwich-style cookies are perfect for a light birthday treat. Macarons (not to be confused with coconuty macaroons) consist of flavored buttercream tucked between two rounds of meringue-and-almond “bread.” Small yet indulgent, macarons are just special enough to make an office birthday celebration really sing!

Italian: cannoli

A rolled tube of fried dough stuffed with a sweet, creamy ricotta filling, maybe with a sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar or powdery chocolate on top… you may not be able to put a candle in it, but cannoli will certainly take your next office party up a notch.

Greek: baklava

This classic Greek dessert is made with thin sheets of phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and a healthy drizzle of honey or flavored syrup. Usually served at room temperature, it’s an easy and fuss-free choice for the office.

Japanese: souffle cheesecake

The Japanese version of cheesecake replaces a good portion of the actual cheese used in rich, American-style cheesecake with egg whites and cornstarch. The result is a much lighter cheesecake with a more delicate flavor.

Thai: mango sticky rice

The most ubiquitous Thai dessert, mango sticky rice is incredibly simple: sticky rice layered with sliced mango and smothered with a sweet coconut milk sauce. While not a typical birthday dessert, mango sticky rice gets bonus points for those occasions when you need vegan and gluten-free office birthday ideas!

American: pie, of course!

And last but not least, if you have a favorite good old-fashioned diner, order up a few slices of pie for an unusual birthday treat! Just a warning: you may ignite a lively pie versus cake debate in the break room if you choose to go this route.

Birthday celebrations in the office can get a bad rap, but in truth, they are a wonderful opportunity to communicate a sense of employee appreciation and build social bonds in the workplace. And when busy admin assistants are tasked with pulling off the festivities, Waiter.com can help make treat delivery as easy as apple pie! With online ordering and prompt delivery from a wide variety of restaurants, you’ll always be able to find the perfect office birthday ideas for every colleague’s special day.