Ideas That Work: Free Snacks Keep Staff Healthy and Happy

Supply chain issues during the pandemic caused deliveries of Diet Coke, Mountain Dew and other sodas to be delayed at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, S.D.

When the soda deliveries went away in 2020, the facility’s leadership came up with an idea that increased the team’s satisfaction and encouraged them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They added two vending machines fully stocked with items that are healthier than what’s typically found in workplace breakrooms — and everything is free. The machines provide protein cookies, baked potato chips, pumpkin seeds, beef jerky and Velveeta snacks. Available drinks include kombucha black and green tea, Muscle Milk, juice and sparkling water. “All the good stuff,” says Bill Willis, RN, the facility’s director. Requests to add soda have been politely declined. “We just decided it’s healthier to not have it, and we want to offer healthy options,” adds Mr. Willis. “If someone wants to drink soda, that’s cool. They just have to bring their own.”