I give credit to any company that wants to please its employees by providing breakfast.

Whether it’s for an early meeting or just a Thank You, there are better options than the continental breakfast!

Continental breakfasts are chosen because they are easier and generally more affordable (and who doesn’t like muffins, right?). But they also are usually stocked FULL of carbs and nothing else. I mean, where’s the balance?

Here are some things you can (and should) consider for the next time you are considering offering breakfast in the office that will add more nutritional value but still won’t blow the budget.

Oatmeal Bar
What can I say? Oats are amazing! They are super balanced by being high in carbs and fiber to help you feel fuller longer. They also are higher in protein and fat than the other grains so they give you a little bit of everything. And don’t freak out about the fat. We NEED fat and oats have the good fat in them.

They are also versatile.

To add flavor to the oats, you can have a variety of toppings/additions that are on the healthier side like:

• Dried fruit like raisins and cranberries
• Toasted almonds or walnuts
• Natural sweeteners like honey or agave

Parfait Bar
Kudos to the companies that offer yogurts at their breakfasts. If this is you, great. But a way to step it up and make sure your employees are getting the most out of their meal, consider making it Greek yogurt to add more protein and nutritional value. Regular yogurts are typically super high in sugar and carbs but nothing else. Making this swap will be healthier and also help you to avoid the slump you may see in your employees shortly after their sugar high wears off.

Some good toppings to consider would be:

• Fresh fruit
• Dried fruit
• Granola

If you gotta have the continental breakfast…
Maybe your local restaurants don’t offer the previous suggestions. That’s highly possible.

If you absolutely have to order the traditional continental breakfast of bagels and muffins, here are a couple of things I’d like you to consider adding so that they at least have the option of getting some form of protein and balance, as well:

• Peanut butter
• Almond butter
• Boiled eggs*

*You may have cringed at the boiled eggs but some of them come already peeled and reduce the smells drastically.

Bottom Line
Do yourself a favor and keep the productivity of the morning sugar rush by providing a balanced meal to start the day. Traditional continental breakfasts appease to the carbs that people love but don’t benefit you or the employees in the long run.

The sugar high will burn off and can cause a crash. This could lead to lethargy, headaches, and irritability. No one wants any of those in the office.

Also, providing these options will take into consideration the employees who can’t have that amount of carbs. With over 34 million of Americans with diabetes, this is a serious issue to consider.