Posted by
Sara on
Thursday, May 8th, 2014 with
2 Comments
Offering a comfortable, welcoming break room for employees is a wonderful thing — with a lot of benefits! Taking breaks from work can actually boost productivity, and providing a communal space can encourage social interactions between coworkers that can contribute to happiness within the office. And, of course, having a dedicated place for office meals makes it easier to incorporate employee appreciation lunches and healthy snacks into the workplace.
The office fridge doesn’t have to be a scary place.
Image source: Flickr user bark
But if your office break room is poorly organized, you could really be missing out on some of these exact benefits! When employees walk into an untidy break room, relaxation and comfort are likely to be the last things on their minds. Instead, those positive social interactions are replaced with grumbling about who always forgets to wash their dishes, or why there’s never a clean fork to use at lunch… and if not stored properly, those healthy snacks and leftovers from office meals can quickly become a nuisance instead of a perk.
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Posted by
Sara on
Wednesday, May 7th, 2014 with
3 Comments
Company picnics may be a long-standing tradition, but they don’t have to be old-fashioned. Saying thank you and showing appreciation to your staff never goes out of style, and gathering your entire staff together for a day of celebration can have a huge impact on the way your employees — and their families — view the workplace.
Of course, simply hosting a potluck at the local park may not send the message you wish to communicate. From interactive games to corporate catering, here are our six tips for a modern company picnic — if done right, one that will leave your employees feeling appreciated and rejuvenated for the rest of the summer!
The company picnic doesn’t have to be outdated!
Image source: Flickr user seannaber
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Posted by
Sara on
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Headaches Plaguing Your Productivity? Switch Up Your Food Delivery Order Before You Pop an Aspirin Comments
Nothing derails a workday like a good, old-fashioned headache. As that familiar throb begins to creep in, your focus and productivity go flying out the window… and all you can think about is why you left your bottle of Advil at home today. Instead of popping pills, however, you might take a minute and consider your diet. Both in terms of prevention and treatment, the food you eat can affect when a headache might strike — and how strongly you’ll feel its crushing effects. And we’re not just talking about migraines: your diet can impact all kinds of headaches, including those brought on by stress or even having one too many cocktails the night before.
What you eat for lunch can affect how hard that headache will hit.
Image source: Flickr user Stefan Neuweger
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Posted by
Sara on
Monday, May 5th, 2014 with
4 Comments
Long days, rising temperatures, sunny skies… it’s no wonder that May has been designated as National Barbecue Month. And barbecue isn’t just for backyards and picnics, either: it makes a perfect food delivery option for team-building office meals or work celebrations. A big slab of meat, a few delicious sides, and a pitcher of sweet iced tea is an instant recipe for laid-back festivities!
Barbecue is the perfect fare for a laid-back office lunch.
Image source: Flickr user Elvert
Before you order up your next barbecue lunch, though, take a minute and determine what speaks to your soul (and your coworkers’). Is it Carolina-style chopped pork? Classic Texas brisket? While barbecue may seem straightforward, there are some very important regional nuances that go into each dish. Here’s our Barbecue 101 breakdown so you can make sure your next food delivery order doesn’t disappoint the diehard barbecue fans in your office!
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Posted by
Sara on
Friday, May 2nd, 2014 with
Comments Off on 4 Reasons Why Brunch Should Replace Business Lunches for Employee Appreciation Comments
When you understand the importance of employee appreciation — one of the top reasons why people stay satisfied and engaged at their jobs — chances are you make a habit of saying thank you. The only downside to having a culture that embraces appreciation is that it can be easy for the message itself to become part of the routine. When you provide bagels every Monday as a special thank-you, the “special” part is quickly lost. If you order the same Chinese take-out on Wednesdays for a mid-week treat, the “treat” can become an expectation.
Linger over coffee and conversation at an office brunch.
Image source: Flickr user sean mason
Business lunches, catered meetings, even lunch-and-learns: all are wonderful, but to really set a meal apart as a special celebration of employees’ contributions, think outside the typical workweek… and host an office brunch.
Yes, brunch. Email your employees in advance and tell them to clear an hour in the middle of the morning (10:30 is usually ideal, so everyone has time to handle urgent emails beforehand) on the scheduled day, and not to eat a big breakfast, because there’s a truly special, out-of-the-ordinary treat in store.
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Posted by
Sara on
Thursday, May 1st, 2014 with
3 Comments
Leading by example is one of the most frequently cited ways to make employee wellness programs a success: when the boss makes health a personal priority, others will follow. And this tenet is being played out very effectively on a very public stage: the White House.
Beyond policy decisions, like the first lady’s school nutrition programs, the Obamas are famously – some would say infamously – passionate about health and wellness in the White House itself. And the most well-known examples, such as the president’s pickup basketball games and Michelle Obama’s organic vegetable garden (and toned arms), are only the tip of the iceberg. It turns out that President Obama runs a tight ship when it comes to his staff’s health and wellness.
The kitchen garden is just one way the Obamas are promoting health and wellness at the White House.
Image source: Flickr user USDAgov
“The culture here has shifted pretty dramatically, in direct ways and indirect ways, based on their leadership,” Sam Kass, the White House senior advisor for nutrition policy, told The Washington Post recently. “I think we really live that.”
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Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Spice Up Your Mexican Food Office Meals with These 5 Authentic Dishes – Just in Time for Cinco de Mayo! Comments
Tacos are amazing. Burritos are wonderful. And enchiladas can be downright divine. But, there’s so much more to Mexican food than these north-of-the-border chain restaurant staples!
Make sure your office’s Cinco de Mayo celebration is a festive affair.
Image source: Flickr user Andrew Mager
Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner — a prime opportunity for celebratory office meals or post-work parties. And if you’re in charge of planning the affair, think of the impression your Mexican menu will make on your coworkers: a platter of tacos, chips, and salsa will be surely appreciated, but is also completely predictable. On the other hand, a table topped with less familiar dishes like pozole, elote, or mole poblano will instantly take the excitement up a notch!
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Posted by
Sara on
Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 with
2 Comments
Stamina is something many athletes must take into consideration, whether they’re preparing for a long hockey match on the ice, or participation in a marathon. However, marathon runners aren’t the only individuals who have to worry about “hitting the wall”. While runners are concerned about their bodies physically running out of fuel during a big race, the rest of us know the feeling of staring at a computer screen or piece of paper for an extended length of time and the toll it can take. It can begin to feel as though we can’t actually read the words in front of us. Long days, conflicting priorities, and endless meetings make it easy for the average employee to hit the wall when it comes to focus and attention — especially when we don’t pay attention to properly fueling our brains the way athletes fuel their bodies.
Marathoners know how to avoid hitting the wall!
Image source: Flickr user edwardopilopilous
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Posted by
Sara on
Monday, April 28th, 2014 with
2 Comments
All-day meetings and conferences can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to workplace wellness. Sitting all day, mindlessly snacking during breaks, and indulging in large portions of corporate catering buffets: the traditional meeting can break every rule in the book when it comes to keeping employees healthy, attentive, and focused.
Plan a healthier buffet line at your next conference.
Image source: Flickr user techedlive
So how do you break the cycle and make meetings healthier? The Center for Science in the Public Interest (a highly-respected nutrition advocacy group) has a few ideas: 36 well-researched pages’ worth, in fact. They recently published an incredibly informative toolkit for meeting planners and caterers. Those who care about workplace wellness and employee health will find plenty of helpful guidelines for hosting healthier meetings… but we’re willing to bet that not many will take the time to read it through and through.
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Posted by
Sara on
Friday, April 25th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Admin Assistance: 7 Tips to Avoid Sad Salads at Business Lunches Comments
Salads are awesome: you just feel healthier while you’re eating a big pile of leafy greens and crisp vegetables. They make great fare for business lunches, too, since they’re rarely messy and easy to eat while working. But if you’re a busy admin in charge of ordering salads for meetings or conferences, don’t make the mistake of choosing the wrong kind of salads — the ones that will leave your coworkers feeling unsatisfied once they clear their plates (and already planning their afternoon snacks).
No fiber, no protein, no satisfaction. This is not a meal!
Image source: Flickr user Ged Carroll
When a salad is created to be low-fat and low-calorie, it’s almost always low-protein and low-fiber — which means while it may satisfy our desire to stick to a restrictive diet, it probably won’t satisfy our appetite. That’s why many people who aren’t interested in watching their waistlines may dismiss salad as “diet food”… but you can prove them wrong with your next menu selection!
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