“After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.” – Oscar Wilde

Food is one of the most basic foundations of life, along with everything else that Maslow deems necessary. But over the course of the pandemic, this seemingly base physiological need somehow gained an all-new level of prominence.

Snacking became an easy part of the work-from-home routine, adding regular breaks to the monotony of remote working. So, if “snacktivity” were to ever be added to the Olympic Games, you’d likely get the entire world ready to compete! For many, self-improvement resolutions to “do better” are associated only with New Year’s. However, New Year’s resolutions can often be fleeting. That’s why at this half year point, we’re taking a look back at the promises we made ourselves, while also shining a light on all things good – especially healthy activities and resolutions!

All about snacking

Are you reaching out for that pack of chips because you’re hungry? There’s no debate about the merits of a good meal (after all, who can argue with Oscar Wilde?) But there is debate about the merits of constant snacking between meals.

Now snacking can be healthy, too. But which type are you indulging in?

Good snacking vs. bad snacking

Snacking is snacking, right? Not really – there are different kinds of snacking. That bag of chips you pick up as you watch a movie isn’t necessarily the best idea. But the bowl of fruit definitely is.

The key difference is the kind of food, of course. But it’s also the frequency of snacking.

Why snack? The remote working benefits

We’ve all heard about how too much snacking isn’t a good idea. It can increase weight and even make you sluggish. But this is all associated with bad snacking.

Smart snacking, or good snacking, comes with a range of health benefits. And these can come in quite handy, especially now that remote working has become the norm.

How do these two connect? When working remotely, especially from the comforts of home, it’s not uncommon to just reach out for a snack as monotony kicks in. So, what are the work benefits of snacking?

• Improved Energy:
  Switching to healthy snacks such as fruits or even granola can help keep your energy levels up, reduce food cravings, and help you be more productive throughout the day.
• Higher Productivity:
  Moreover, ever notice that mid-afternoon slump after lunch? You guessed it! Snacking can keep that at bay, too. By maintaining your energy levels throughout the work day, smart snacking can ensure you’re on top of your game from 9 to 5!

The snacktivity plan

Now that you’ve finally been convinced to snack (like you really needed convincing), let’s discuss ways to make sure it’s healthy snacking (I see you, packet of Cheetos in the corner!).

Bad snacking is so much more common just because of how easily accessible it is. Good snacking can take a little more effort – but for the benefits, we’d say it’s definitely worth it!

Start off with keeping good snacks ready. Make a smoothie in the morning, keep some granola bars at hand, or even just get some fruits ready and chopped up for a quick bite. If you want to be a little more elaborate, you can even prepare some veggie snacks beforehand.

Now, for the plan:

• Once you have your favorite snacks lined up, you can plan out your day
• Get a buddy on board (peer pressure for the win!)
• You can even make a work group to keep everyone motivated. After all, this won’t just improve your day-to-day productivity, but your work output as well!
• Keep yourself and others in check with regular updates.
• Be kind: it’s okay to not be perfect, but just be aware so you can stay on track in the long run.
• Reap the rewards!

Let’s get started!

Excited to launch your full snack attack? Once you have an idea of what you’d like to do, design and send out a quick survey to see who all is in!

Once you’ve got the data, keep everyone on track by setting up recurring invitation delivery. Not only does this help you feel a sense of accomplishment, but it will also help you connect better with your teammates and build camaraderie in the workplace (office challenges are a great way to get people to connect!).

And most importantly, have fun!

Want more ideas?

Looking to learn more about healthy challenges and activities you and your team can do together? Explore our earlier reads. Whether you’re focused on stepping it up, or even drinking more water, we’ve got the perfect summer healthy habits suggestions for you!