A 2015 survey conducted by a grocery delivery chain and published by USA Today showed that employers can create a more positive vibe at work by providing free snacks and beverages. In fact, the survey of 1,000 full-time workers revealed that worker satisfaction jumped from an average of 56% to 67% when workers enjoyed free snacks. That says a lot.

Today though, just any old snacks will not necessarily do. Our collective consciousness about healthier eating has employees looking for things other than candy bars and potato chips. They want healthy snacks and drinks they can feel good about consuming.

We’ve done a bit of research ourselves. Here are some of the new trends in healthy snacks that we are seeing:

1. Fresh Fruits

A growing number of offices are beginning to stock their refrigerators with fresh fruits and vegetables. These kinds of snacks do not come easily packed in a vending machine, but it is well worth the effort to procure things like apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. Fresh fruits pair very well with healthy beverages.

2. Packaged Organic Foods

People seem to love just about anything labeled ‘organic’. Such a label does not necessarily mean what consumers think it means, but that doesn’t change the fact that people are interested in products like organic veggie chips, energy bars, etc. Anything organic is likely to do well in the break room.

3. Portion-Controlled Snacks

One of the big dangers of snacking is not controlling your portions. For example, one candy bar per week won’t do you any harm. One per day is another matter. So to address the portion control question, we are now seeing producers putting forth the effort to make it known they are controlling portions by way of their packaging. Consumers are responding favorably.

4. Seeds and Nuts

In terms of actual snack foods, two of the hottest trends right now are seeds and nuts. People are suddenly being turned on to snacks like pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They are also showing an affinity for almonds, pecans, and walnuts. Even peanuts (they are really a legume by the way) are hot right now.

5. Healthier Beverage Choices

Last on our list is the emerging trend of replacing sugary drinks with healthier alternatives. At the top of the list are a variety of flavored seltzers, which is the fastest growing soft drink category. Also, teas that include dandelion and green tea are popular. Beyond tea are flavored waters like lemon and coconut water. It should be noted that these flavored waters utilize natural flavorings.

Natural fruit drinks with no extra sugar added are another great option. People are drinking more blueberry, tart cherry, and apple juice than they have in a long time.

We love healthy snacks here at Galaxie Coffee. We invite you to check out our entire healthy snack inventory. From fresh fruit to veggie chips, we can stock your breakroom with plenty of great stuff. And don’t forget our coffee service either!