Does Your Corporate Cafeteria Have Gluten-Free And Vegetarian Options?
Cafeteria food doesn’t have to be boring and tasteless. When millions of people both young and old rely on cafeteria service providers to give them their weekly meals, it’s time to get serious about nutrition. Corporate cafeteria companies are becoming more privy to the delicate balance between basic meals and a little more — businesses that provide healthy meals are proven to cultivate a happier work culture and healthier employees. What can a simple pickup and drop off meal do for your yearly figures? Now’s a good time to get curious.
Cafeterias are everywhere. They’re in corporate business settings. They’re in middle schools and high schools. They’re in assisted living homes. A cafeteria is a convenient place to get breakfast, lunch and dinner, providing a healthy meal for those that don’t have the time or the money. As of today the United States has a catering industry boasting over 261,000 people working in delivery, cooking, baking, consultation and medical assistance. Cafeteria vendors make sure everyone is covered, no matter their unique food intolerances, diets or preferences.
It’s estimated 20% of American workers take a regular lunch break or snack break. Without a little brain food to get the mind working many workers would struggle to finish their tasks. Healthy foods with specific ingredients have been found to boost brain power by as much as 20%, according to the World Health Organization. A recent survey was conducted to analyze the difference in happiness levels between companies that provided free food and those that didn’t, to boot. Businesses that offered free lunches had a 65% higher chance of producing happier employees than their counterparts.
Not only do employees fare better when their companies look after their ongoing diet, they often eat on-the-go. A Right Management survey found up to 40% of full-time employees will eat at their desks. Although this is seen as convenient by many, there are significant performance advantages to stepping away from the workstation. The most notable is being able to stop and ‘recharge’ mentally, particularly if the work involves a lot of staring at a computer screen or reading. A cafeteria can give employees a new location to mingle, relax and get back up to speed after hours of labor.
Just how far-reaching are these benefits? A survey provided in the journal ‘Population Health Management’ saw employees who constantly ate an unhealthy diet were up to 65% more likely to experience a loss in productivity than those who regularly ate fruits and vegetables. Whole grains are also highly desirable for their filling effect and contribution to a healthy digestive system. Corporate cafeteria companies are careful to fulfill all of the major food groups and make sure every last worker is getting the best meal possible.
If you’re concerned about the unique diets of your workers, corporate cafeteria companies have you covered. An employee survey saw 65% of companies offering gluten-free options, with nearly 80% providing vegetarian choices. An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet every year, to boot, and having a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to meals just isn’t an option. Cafeteria vendors are always improving their menus and changing on the dime, so you won’t have to worry about leaving anyone out.
Companies that provide healthy and tasty food for their employees are proven to function much better than those that don’t. Stay ahead of the curve and look into office cafeteria providers for your workforce. You can actually taste the difference!
