If you’re looking for an easy way to jazz up your office space, add a snack station. It’ll add color and life to the space. Plus, who doesn’t love yummy snacks? It can be a great way to keep team morale high. But remember, the organization is just as important as the snacks themselves. If you don’t prioritize organizing, a snack station can be a negative addition instead of a positive one. Here are five tips for organizing your office snack station like a pro.
1. Plan for Variety
When you decide to add snacks to your space, make sure to include a variety. In any office, there are different types of people, which means different preferences and dietary restrictions. Make sure you’re catering to everyone. Include salty and sweet snacks, but don’t stop there. Include options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free employees, and those with nut allergies.
While you’ll definitely want to cater to everyone’s preferences, it’s also important to ensure that snacks are healthy. If your employees are eating junk all day, they’re not going to feel great, and their work quality will suffer as a result. Fresh fruits and veggies are fantastic, if they’re eaten before they go bad and restocked. A super greens powder is another great healthy snack option (with a more stable shelf life). It’s also a convenient way for people to get their daily dose of superfoods. Include a variety of flavor options to entice your employees to try them.
2. Consider Placement
When considering placement, consider both the location of the snack station itself and the individual snacks. The station itself should be in a fairly central location that gets a lot of foot traffic. Make sure that employees will notice it throughout the day. Even if you make a big announcement about it, people can be forgetful. You want everyone to enjoy the snacks that are available!
Carefully considering the placement of each type of snack is also important. Put healthy snacks at eye level front and center where everyone can see them. You can definitely include a few ‘less healthy’ options, but place them a little more out of sight. This will encourage your employees to choose healthy options, thus improving their energy levels and productivity.
3. Schedule Routine Restocks
Initially setting up your snack station will require a lot of work, but the work continues even after it’s finished. People in your office are going to love having snacks around and take advantage of it (that’s the whole point). Therefore, regular restocks will be necessary. Once you let your company loose with the snack cart, you can gauge the popularity of it. From there, work to figure out a restock schedule that makes sense.
Being in charge of restocks is a big responsibility. You’ll need to keep a running list of groceries, schedule a time to shop, and schedule time to do the restocking. This can be a lot for one person to remember, so consider using a calendar software or a time management app to stay organized. One you figure out a schedule that works, set reminders, schedule recurring events, and manage your snack station with ease.
4. Label and Add Signage
Most snack stations have the power to impress at first glance. They’re full of color and variety, and can create excitement on their own. But as your employees gaze and peruse at all of the new goodies, some labeling and signage couldn’t hurt. Signage adds something more to the snack cart, giving it a professional, clean look. It can also provide direction when needed.
Labels are also very important because they can help your team members identify exactly what each snack is. You can even add additional details like nutrition information, ingredients, snack descriptions, and more. Consider adding images to detail certain information. For example, add a small image of a pepper for snacks that are spicy. Add a noticeable sign that says “contains nuts” to avoid cross contamination and allergic reactions. Small touches like this can be a lot of work, but they’ll be appreciated.
5. Don’t Forget Beverages
Lastly, if you’re feeling ambitious, add in some healthy beverages to your snack station as well. Sparkling waters are a great option because there are so many flavors and they aren’t unhealthy. A bubbly beverage in the middle of the day can feel like a little treat. So, add a few options to jazz up your snack station even more.
Proper cups and glassware can add to the ambiance of a snack station too. It gives the office a friendly, at-home feel. Consider adding glassware and cute cups that match the aesthetic of your office or that sport your company logo. Maybe even add a few mugs for coffee and tea drinkers. It can really level up your snack station.
A snack station can be a great addition to your office space. But when you’re creating a spot for snacks, don’t be in too much of a rush. The types of snacks and how you organize them is extremely important. Without organization, it will feel like a chaotic mess. A snack station should add something to your space rather than having a negative effect. If you take time and you’re thoughtful about the way you put it together, you (and your employees) will be happy.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
