A Guide To Offering Fresh Produce in the Post-Pandemic Breakroom
Colorful fresh fruit and vegetables are nutritious, delicious, and help us stay healthier longer. As you transition back into the office, this is a great time to put a focus on employee health by swapping out highly processed snacks for better-for-you options. At Sigona’s Office Deliveries, we have you covered for all your fresh fruit needs! We deliver local, seasonal fresh fruit, snacking veggies, and more, directly to your office.
As people prepared more meals at home rather than eating out due to COVID-19, consumers became more aware of the food they were eating and the impact it made on how they feel. They learned how to read labels, understand what foods and nutrients helped boost health and immunity, and ultimately chose better-for-you foods over packaged, highly processed foods, especially when it came to snack and convenience foods. As people return to the office, those same employees will want to continue their new healthy habits, so providing healthy snacks and convenience options will be important.
If you’re questioning whether it’s safe to offer fresh fruit in the office, the CDC states “there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or consuming food is associated with COVID-19.” In fact, healthy snacks like fresh produce, dried fruit, and nuts contain important nutrients like Vitamin C and D that contribute to a healthy immune system. The WHO recommends eating 5 servings of fruit per day! Check out more information on the WHO Healthy diet fact sheet.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the most important things we can do for ourselves for COVID-19 prevention is to “continue following basic steps for food safety and eat nutritious foods to take care of your physical and mental health.’’ To keep employees safe and healthy, it’s helpful to post friendly reminders to regularly wash or sanitize hands, especially before eating, and to use enhanced signage with recommendations for properly washing produce before consuming (print and post our handy produce washing guide).
How to Safely Administer Fresh Produce in the Office:
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce.
- If damage or bruising occurs before eating or handling, cut away the damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating.
- Rinse produce BEFORE you peel it, so dirt or bacteria aren’t transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable.
- Gently rinse produce in cold, running tap water. Do not use soap or other sanitizing products.
- Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers.
- Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.
With these helpful safety tips in mind, you can return to the office with happy, healthy employees! We look forward to continuing to provide you with fresh fruit and wholesome snacks.