The human brain, despite being only 2% of the body's total weight, accounts for about 20% of the body's total energy consumption. Brains need a lot of metabolic fuel in order to function, and the best way to supply it is with nourishing, high-quality food.
Mentally energized employees do their best work, and that's why building a brain-enhancing work environment should be a top priority. A key component of that environment can be the food that employers provide through services like DoorDash for Business, which facilitates meals and healthy snacks to eat at work.
Eating healthy at work provides multiple benefits for brain health. Establishing an expensed meals program can deliver tangible value not just for your workforce’s well-being, but for your bottom line.
The connection between nutrition and cognitive performance
Knowing how to eat healthy at work is important for employee performance and productivity. Brains and bodies are holistically connected, and psychological well-being is inextricably tied to physical health.
Proper nutrition contributes to regulating the balance of hormones — chemical messengers that activate different responses in your body, depending on what you need. If you're not sufficiently nourished, it may reduce your ability to moderate moods and stress. When you're overworked and running on empty, your brain struggles to focus on the task in front of you — it may be too busy sending and receiving urgent signals that it needs food in order to function.
The brain is powered by glucose, the primary fuel for energy metabolism. All foods have unique glycemic indexes which determine how quickly blood sugar increases after they have been consumed. Some foods — such as highly processed snacks — can contribute to a rapid rise in energy before swiftly receding, while foods like vegetables and whole grains provide nourishment that is absorbed more gradually.
Research shows that 66% of employees with unhealthy eating habits and 93% of employees who rarely eat fruits and vegetables are less productive at work. This is also sometimes known as "presenteeism" — team members may be physically at work yet mentally and emotionally checked out. Unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles also correlate with increased absenteeism, contributing to costs associated with lost productivity.
How should employers promote nutrition and exercise in the workplace?
According to the Workplace Health Research Network, one of the biggest barriers that employees face to a healthy brain-boosting diet is a lack of access to nutritious foods. In a report prepared with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, it recommends that employers provide healthy food options to their teams.
The longer a person is engaged in a specific task, the more their concentration and performance wanes, and breaks are necessary to recharge and refocus. Having a culture of wellness that empowers employees to step away from their desks, enjoy a restorative meal or snack, and do some light stretches or exercise helps sustain physical and mental health.
Physical activity is just as important as nutritious eating when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Employers can demonstrate their commitment to wellness by encouraging employees to take breaks for meals and light exercises.
Employers should also consider implementing a broader healthy eating program. While this can be a more formalized approach with initiatives like company gardens, the primary goal should be providing employees with up-to-date nutritional information, including workshops and seminars, to educate your team about the best choices they can make to energize their brains at work. Another recommended brain-healthy eating initiative is actively encouraging the practice of mindful eating, including designating specific dining areas free from the daily clamor and bustle of the office.
Improve morale and reduce stress with healthy food in the workplace
Nurturing a culture of well-being is the best way to build a brain-enhancing work environment, and DoorDash for Business can help you achieve this with convenient meal solutions that are customizable to the needs of every organization and its team members.
Diverse workforces can bring a dizzying array of dietary restrictions and preferences, so flexibility, variety, and choice are paramount for encouraging eating healthy at work. As the category leader in meal delivery services across the US with 500,000+ local and national merchants, DoorDash for Business offers several solutions:
Expensed Meal Credits are a way for employers to set a time, a place, and budget for employees to order food with the freedom to meet their preferences.
Group Orders allow employers to select one (or multiple) restaurants, and then up to 15 in-person employees can individually select from their menus to be delivered together.
Catering lets employers choose multiple dishes from one restaurant that is experienced with providing for big gatherings.
DashPass for Employees is a perk for employees to order with DoorDash with waived delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible meals.
These centralized billing and management solutions enable cost-effective employee meal benefits that are both convenient for team members and efficient for administrators.
Healthy eating at work boosts morale, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive performance. With DoorDash for Business, providing nutritious meals has never been easier. Discover how DoorDash for Business can transform your workplace with healthy meal solutions.
