Healthy Snack Program

Looking for a way to have easy access to healthy snacks while at work? Here are some tips to help you get started. 

 Why? 

According to a 2021 healthy snack study at Michigan Medicine: 

  • 75% of respondents said that having access to healthy food at all hours of work would improve the ability to sustain through a shift. 
  • 89.1% of respondents agreed that having access to healthy snacks in the work rooms at all hours of work improved their wellness. 
  • 84.4% of respondents agreed that having access to healthy snacks in the work rooms at all hours or work increased their productivity. 

Support from Management and Coworkers

The most sustainable and easily managed healthy snack program calls for the support of your management team and coworkers. By creating a system that your entire department is ‘on board’ with, a healthy snack program will be easier to maintain and much more affordable! Share this idea with your co-workers to determine their interest. Talk to the managers in your department about the’ desire for healthy snacks at work and your plan to make them available. With a detailed plan in mind, your managers and coworkers may be more likely to help out with the project. 

Space 

In general, not much space is required for a healthy snack program. The amount of space needed will vary depending on your group’s needs. Some departments have a small basket in their break room for healthy snacks while others choose to devote an entire cabinet in the kitchen. 

Design and Budget

There are many ways to design a snack program for your workplace. Depending on the snack needs, likes, and level of commitment of your coworkers, your program can be as simple as having employees sign up to “sponsor” weekly baskets or as elaborate as having a system in which employees purchase snacks from the program. A great place to start is having a conversation with your manager and coworkers – find out how many people are interested, what kinds of snacks they would like, and how much they are willing to help. You should check with your department’s business team to ensure you are following any unit and U-M guidelines for purchasing as well as cash-handling. Depending on how you decide to set things up, your snack program can start with donated goods from coworkers for as little as $15. Your department can expect to spend anywhere from $0-$50 each month for a snack program. 

Some funding ideas include: 

  • donations from employees 
  • sponsorship from the department 
  • profits generated by selling snacks 
  • using bottle and can returns 
  • MHealthy Wellness Champion grants 

Before ordering, you will want to do a survey to see if anyone has allergies that you will need to be mindful of. Even if your budget is limited, keep in mind that you can create a snack program by starting with the basics. 

Sample Shopping List for Health Snacks 

  • Individual bags of nuts, seeds, or nut mixes 
  • Applesauce cups 
  • Individual bags of olives 
  • Small packets of hummus 
  • Small packets of peanut butter or sunflower butter (if anyone is allergic to peanut butter in your department) 
  • Bottled water 
  • Chewy Granola bars 
  • Microwave or bagged popcorn 
  • Individual oatmeal packets 
  • Individual bags of pretzels 
  • Dried fruit such as raisins 
  • Turkey or beef jerky 
  • Fruit Cups