Office Meeting Snack Guide: We Snack, Therefore We Are

Picture this: you’re halfway through a department meeting. At least, you thought you were halfway through — you just looked at the time, and you still have another hour to go. Your team members are glassy-eyed, some seemingly about to nod off while others may well be disassociating. 

It is a tragic sight, and one that’s all too common in meetings. In a best-case scenario, you halt proceedings and bring in the one thing that is almost 100% guaranteed to turn a meeting around: snacks. 

Your colleagues brighten. They reach for whatever you’ve brought in and pour themselves water or top off their coffees. Meeting snacks aren’t just a nice perk; they’re fuel that will get them through the rest of the meeting and possibly even the rest of the day.

Man…what if you’d brought the snacks in earlier? You make a note to yourself to do that next time.

YES, SNACKS MATTER

In our ongoing quest to educate and connect local businesses with delicious meals, we admit that snacks sometimes fall by the wayside. But make no mistake: snacks are just as important to workplace morale and productivity as a fully catered lunch. 

Why are snacks so powerful? They do all the stuff a good meal does, including raising blood sugar, which can improve focus and energy. And they do it without the lapse in work that comes from consuming a full meal. 

Oh, yeah, the average snack requires a lot less cleanup, too. 

Plus, who are we kidding? People just love food. The company that feeds its employees has a better chance at keeping them.

PLANNING YOUR OFFICE SNACKTIME

You’re probably on this page because you want meeting snack ideas, and yes, we’re going to get to them. But much like full meals, different types of snacks may be better-suited for different times of day or types of meetings. And while some meetings can go on for hours, a lot of them wrap up much quicker than that. 

So stick with food that is easy to eat and doesn’t require a ton of utensils. Finger foods are a quick win here, as are pre-packaged items like trail mix or granola bars. As a bonus, they’re usually quick to clean up. 

Before dropping everything to go food shopping, find out what kind of dietary restrictions and preferences you’re working with. Some of your colleagues may have gluten or nut allergies or be vegetarian. You’ll want to be considerate of their needs, too — that doesn’t mean you can’t bring in donuts or beef jerky, but make sure you’ve accommodated the needs of the entire team. 

Let’s be clear: there is no one snack to rule them all. If you’ve got a group with diverse dietary needs, you probably won’t strike gold with a perfect snack everyone can eat (or wants to eat). But you can provide several choices that will a) fit your colleagues’ requirements, b) make them happy, and c) help them be more productive. 

HEALTHY MEETING SNACKS

• Hummus and veggie cups: What goes well with creamy hummus? Veggies! Specifically crispy ones like carrots, celery, and bell peppers. If you really want to go all-out, bring in a few different kinds of hummus and let folks pick their favorites. 
• Cheese cubes: Pretty much any cheese you can imagine is available in a cube. It’s tasty, it’s bite-sized, and did we mention it’s really easy to clean up? Throw in some veggies and crackers and you’ve almost got a full meal right there. Bonus: You can find dairy-free alternatives. 
• Trail mix: Now, we said there’s no one snack to rule them all, but if there were…trail mix might be it. There are seemingly endless mixtures available, with fillings including dried fruit, chocolate, nuts, granola, carob, and more. It’s also easy to eat and generally doesn’t leave a mess.
• Popcorn: It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s satisfying. We love almost any kind of popcorn as a meeting snack, but if you have an itch for more flavor (and don’t mind compromising on the healthy aspect a little bit), then you can add all kinds of flavors.  
• Fruit skewers: Sticks of fresh fruit pack a colorful punch; we like them stacked with berries, pineapple, and melon, but you can use any fruit that’s in season. They’re sweet and refreshing, and all you have to do afterward is toss or recycle the skewer. 
• Apple slices: Apples on their own are a sweet and healthy snack, but they also provide plenty of real estate for spreads. You can go traditional with peanut butter or almond butter, or try something more daring, like cocoa-hazelnut or cookie butter. 
• Yogurt: Creamy and often rich in protein, there’s a yogurt for just about every need. Plain, fruit-on-the-bottom, mixed fruit, and honey are all delicious options, and you can find plenty of dairy-free alternatives, too. 
• Bagel and cream cheese: It’s a touch heavier than some of the snacks we’ve discussed here so far, and indeed could be called a substitute meal. But this old standby is tasty and filling, and might be just the thing to kick your meeting into high gear. 

A LITTLE INDULGENCE IS OK

The more traditional office snacks may not be ultra-healthy, but you know what? That’s all right.

• Granola bars: They’re fast, they’re tasty, they come in all kinds of flavors and with all sorts of ingredients. Since they’re individually wrapped, they’re easy to hand out and clean up — a great fast snack during a brief lull in a meeting. 
• Donuts: Hey, they’re a crowd-pleaser. They’re also available in endless varieties, from basic unglazed to artisanal creations that are almost too pretty to eat. 
• Rice cakes: A light and crunchy snack that can be eaten on its own but mostly ends up as a vehicle for toppings (chocolate, hummus, nut butter, mayonnaise…we don’t judge). 
• Cookies: Honestly, most people love cookies. They’re sweet, they come in many varieties, and you can find them with alternative ingredients to ensure you can take care of the dietary needs of your team. 

LIQUIDS ARE IMPORTANT, TOO

• Water: Keeping water on hand is just the decent thing to do — but it doesn’t have to be boring water. Make flavored infusions available, or go the fancy route and pick up some sparkling water. 
• Coffee: Yes, you should have the ultimate pick-me-up on hand. Bonus points if you bring in creamer and sweetener for those who need it. Okay, you should probably ask your team if they’d like decaf, too. 
• Tea: Tea has many of the same benefits as coffee: it’s hot, it’s tasty, and many types have enough caffeine to give you a little boost. Ask your team what flavors they’d like and keep them in stock for future meetings. 

SNACKS ARE IMPORTANT…BUT SO ARE MEALS

When it comes to productive meetings, snacks can make all the difference. Tasty, easy-to-eat options can help attendees stay focused and motivated, turning what might have been a slog into a productive event.

But sometimes — just sometimes — you need a real meal. If that’s the case, Waiter is here to help. Our Meals on Demand is a great way to try out our meal delivery and catering service without all the strings of a long-term commitment. Honestly, it’s almost a snack unto itself.