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By previous standards, it wouldn’t be considered a meal. It isn’t always consumed at traditional meal times or eaten at a table. But according to those between the ages of 18 and 35 (Millennials), it contributes to their daily nutritional needs and functions as a meal.
What is it?
It is a healthy snack. Millennials are eating a lot of snacks. 92 percent of individuals recently surveyed by Surveygoo said they replace a meal with a snack at least once a week. 50 percent do it four times a week and 26 percent, do it seven times per week. That is a lot of snacking.
Since Millennials are now the largest segment of the population in the U.S. workforce, Baltimore, MD employers need to reexamine their break room snack, beverage, and food options. At the top of the list of preferred ingredients for healthy snacks are whole grains, real fruit pieces, and nuts. These healthy ingredients are not just beneficial for Millennials. They are better for everyone. When researching different healthy snack options for your employees, here are three things to consider:
Nutritional Needs
- Will it stop hunger between meals?
- Will it help me to stay hydrated?
- Will it help me to manage my health and diet?
Refuel or Energy Pick-Me-Up
- Will it give me an energy boost?
- Will it increase my mental focus?
- Will it help decrease stress?
Ingredients
- Whole Grains (oats, brown rice, millet, and quinoa)
- Plant-Based Proteins (legumes, nuts, and seeds)
- Fruits and Vegetables (berries, apple, and sweet potato)
- Low in Sugar
Each of these areas can offer benefits when considered on their own. However, when they are considered as a group, the benefits can reach even further. A snack with healthy ingredients that fulfills nutritional needs, keeps an employee hydrated, and improves mental focus positively impacts that individual’s health as well as increases creativity and productivity. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Have you considered including healthy snacks in your Baltimore, MD office break room? Whether you are just beginning your office break room journey or would like to update your vending machine selections, we can help you with that. Contact SunDun Office Refreshments at 800.466.2731 for more information.
It looks like Fairfax, VA employees can add another benefit to the list of reasons why they should enjoy a dark chocolate snack—fewer irregular heartbeats. A recent study performed in Denmark by a group of Danish and American scientists found that participants who consumed two to six servings per week of chocolate made with at least 30 percent cocoa solids had an 11 to 20 percent lower chance of atrial fibrillation (AF) or irregular heartbeats. AF negatively affects over 12 million people in the United States (U.S.) and European Union (EU), and increases the likelihood that a stroke, heart failure, cognitive decline, or dementia will occur. 
Of all of the types of chocolate available in Fairfax, VA, dark chocolate meets those criteria the best. But it is still important to check each bar of chocolate for the percentage of cocoa solids because those can vary. For example, in the EU, milk chocolate must contain a minimum of 30 percent cocoa solids while in the U.S., a minimum of 10 percent is required for the chocolate to be considered milk chocolate. Dark chocolate also has different requirements between the two locations—43 percent cocoa solids in the EU and 35 percent in the U.S. So, how do these percentages play out when it comes to the ingredients of dark, milk, and white chocolate?