With a few small shifts in how we shop, cook, and eat, we can reduce our carbon footprint while increasing the nutrient density of our meals.

The Stem-to-Root Philosophy

Imagine a kitchen where no food is wasted: every edible part of the plant, including the peels, stems, and leaves, is transformed into something delicious. Stem-to-Root cooking is a zero-waste culinary practice that maximizes nutrition and flavor while minimizing waste.

Beyond helping the planet, your body benefits too. Many discarded parts are nutritional goldmines. Here are a few ways to turn your scraps into wellness wins:

• Beet Greens (Vitamins K & A): Sauté these with garlic and olive oil and add to your favorite pasta dish.
• Citrus Rinds (Fiber & Antioxidants): Zest peels into yogurt or dressings for a bright, heart-healthy flavor boost.
• Broccoli Stalks (Vitamin C & Fiber): Peel the tough skin, then slice the core into a stir-fry.
• Carrot Tops (Potassium & Magnesium): Pulse these greens into a vibrant pesto for roasted veggies.
• Potato Skins (Potassium & Fiber): Toss clean skins with oil and sea salt, then bake or air-fry until they’re crispy.

Savvy Spending for a Greener Kitchen

Creating a more sustainable kitchen is about the cumulative power of small, strategic habits. By treating your kitchen as a space for experimentation, you can stretch your grocery budget and reduce food waste. Try these high-impact kitchen hacks to kickstart your green kitchen:

• The Stock Bag Secret: Keep a reusable bag in your freezer for onion ends, celery tops, and herb stems. Once full, simmer them in water for a homemade, naturally low-sodium veggie stock that beats anything from a carton.
• Smart Heat Habits: Always use a lid to trap heat and cook food up to 50% faster. For smaller meals, reach for your toaster oven or microwave—they use up to 80% less energy than a full-sized oven!
• Pantry Powerhouses: Stock up on bulk staples like lentils, beans, and grains. These shelf-stable, budget-friendly heroes make it easy to add more plant-based protein to your week with no fridge-spoilage stress.
• Protein Pivot: Swap beef for black beans to enjoy a massive fiber boost while significantly reducing the land and water resources needed for your meal.

Whether it’s choosing a plant-forward protein or starting that “scrap bag” in your freezer, every small experiment in your kitchen adds up. You don’t need to be perfect to make a difference—just a little curious! Happy cooking, and here’s to a healthier you and a greener planet this Earth Month!

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Many offices are increasing their sustainability practices. Sustainability has many benefits, including profitability. Establishing environmentally friendly office practices can help improve many aspects of your company. As you strive to create office sustainability initiatives, this guide has tips and tricks to ease the process.

Start a Sustainability Team

Having a team dedicated to sustainable initiatives in the office is one of the best ways to ensure the implementation of sustainability measures. Your workplace sustainability team raises awareness about the importance of what you’re doing while also allowing employees to take on minor leadership roles in the company.

Potential projects for the sustainability team include:

• Implementing a recycling program.
• Assisting with purchasing decisions, including ordering clean, sustainable cleaning supplies. 
• Targeting energy-efficient practices and promoting them to the rest of the office.
• Hosting lunch-and-learn sessions to benefit the company with ongoing sustainability education.
• Analyzing how efficient the office is, including looking at gas meter readings and office supplies purchases.

Unplug at the End of the Day

Your office can be more energy efficient if your staff turns everything off at the end of the day. You can make it easier to unplug with the following practices:

• Give reminders: Remind your employees to shut electronics down and turn off the lights before leaving each day.
• Ask for a volunteer energy leader: Ask one of your employees to check all computers and turn off all the lights before locking up for the day.
• Automate your office: With automated equipment and electronics, your employees can go home without having to remember to turn something off. The lights and computers will start up and shut off on a timed system, only turning back on if they are manually triggered.
• Implement an accountability system: Mistakes occasionally happen. Keep a donation jar in the office where an employee who forgets to turn something off can put in a small amount of change.

How to Stock Eco-Friendly Snacks

Choosing healthy office snacks with eco-friendly packaging can make a big difference for your company’s budget and sustainability. Below are ways you can accomplish this:

1. Switch to Eco-Friendly Brands

Track what types of food and drink brands your office consumes in high amounts and look into how eco-friendly these companies are. If you discover any types of food or beverage brands that could be more eco-friendly, look for alternatives to provide for your employees.

2. Try Using a Subscription Service

Services that provide commonly consumed items like coffee and tea are helpful for commercial purposes. Subscriptions simplify the shopping process, meaning you can spend less time finding products. You can also avoid running out of snacks if someone forgets to make the order. 

3. Shop Local

Local brands can reduce your carbon footprint. This is a way for your company to give back to your local community and take care of your employees.

4. Make Eco-Friendly Packaging Choices

It can be challenging to find food products that are both affordable and use eco-friendly packaging. Single-use packaging is cost-effective, and employees enjoy its convenience. Disposable, single-use products also increase the amount of waste your company produces.

Plastic containers are another example of packaging that is cheap to produce but adds more waste to the environment. Plastic is derived from a slowly dwindling global supply of petroleum and does not break down into environmentally friendly components. Replace your plastic products with green alternatives such as compostable paper or recycled packaging.

5. Offer More Vegetarian & Vegan Options

When introducing new food products, try offering more fruits and vegetables. Reducing animal products can make a large impact on the environment. The livestock and meat manufacturing industries require more water and energy to produce their products compared to the gardening industry. vegetables to meet daily requirements. Lower your carbon footprint and help your employees snack healthier with veggie products. 

6. Build a Unique Food Culture

There is a golden opportunity to establish a sense of community in the office when you’re making strides toward a food culture with green values. When you offer free products or resources to your employees, make sure you know what your employees prefer to consume. If you want to investigate, you can conduct a survey or keep track of items in the kitchen or breakroom.

Listen to what your employees need by finding out what items are less popular in the office, even if you have provided them in the past. You can reduce your expenses by cutting back on products employees consume less frequently.

Go Paperless

The digitalization of traditional paper practices is more than a trend. As digitized services and workflows become commonplace, you can increase sustainability in the office by implementing more green practices. Go paperless with:

1. Electronic Documentation

Having to make corrections or revisions to print copy and other documents contributes to a large amount of corporate paper waste. Containing these documents requires filing cabinets, spare rooms or remote storage facilities. As your company grows, you will need more space to manage paper files.

With a digital filing system, your employees can quickly access documents on a computer or mobile device instead of digging around in a filing cabinet. Your employees can work more efficiently without spending time trying to find files that have gone missing.

2. Reliable Software & Technology

Choosing software you can count on is important whether you need to keep your digital documents organized for quick review or securely store sensitive information. Getting the right software for your industry and keeping your computer system updated is integral to going digital. With a slow system and outdated software, daily routines will be slow and inefficient.

3. A Printing Policy

One way to successfully cut back on the amount of paper you buy and use is to communicate the changes directly to your employees. Limit the number of papers employees can print each day. Or create a new business policy concerning your business community’s printing habits.

4. Automating Your Payments

Manage your accounts payables with a digital approach by inviting vendors to send your company online statements or invoices. If you make more purchases online using reliable service websites, you will reduce your carbon footprint and improve your overall efficiency.

Save your company’s checks and use a company card system instead. Set up automated payment systems for important bills and supplies, which can help limit the amount of paperwork you have to do.

Start Composting & Ditch Disposables

Composting your office’s food waste is a simple process that takes minimal time and effort. It helps spread awareness about the importance of caring for your ecosystem and gets your employees interested in composting at home.

You can begin your commercial composting system by investing in alternative materials to replace what you currently use. Get rid of plastic wherever possible and use compostable items instead. You can start composting with these tips:

1. Set Up Company Compost Bins

You can place your lidded compost buckets in a freezer or another temperature-controlled place where only employees have access. You can also place the bins in a visible location where your employees eat, such as a cafeteria or breakroom. Remember to include a sign explaining what wastes can go into the compost bin. When your buckets are full, carry them outside the office to empty them at your collection site.

If you plan to get your employees involved in starting a community compost pile outdoors, you must know all necessary laws and regulations. Place the compost pile in a logical location where the public has restricted access. You can also donate your compost to your local community gardens. 

2. Establish a Waste Management Plan

The first step of creating a plan is to evaluate the foods and packaging your office gives out. Determine which materials are eco-friendly enough for the composting process, and implement your new compost system as a waste management method.

To get your employees involved in the plan:

1. Provide clear information: Make sure everyone knows where the compost bins are and what food scraps they can toss in them.
2. Encourage volunteer involvement: Food management volunteers for your company can collect the compost bins when they are full and transport them to a composting facility or another designated drop-off location.
3. Give away excess food: Rather than composting all of your extra food, you can also save food that is still good by donating to a food pantry or sending it home with employees.
4. Collect packaging wastes: Single-use packaging is popular as a disposable material, but even if your office goes through a lot of these items, you can set up a recycling system for plastic wrappers along with your compost bins.

3. Research Your Options

Before you start composting or recycling, make sure you know which local facilities you can go to for processing. Your company might get a tax credit for recycling certain materials at the appropriate facility. Prior to making any major changes to the way you handle waste:

• Call local waste and recycling facilities: Strict rules may apply to compost when using a large facility. Most recycling plants collect specific items instead of any plastic wrapper or bottle.
• Store items for proper recycling: Improperly sorted items can cause problems in processing. It’s vital for employees to know exactly which bin to use when disposing of certain materials.

Encourage Recycling & Reusability

With accessible recycling practices, you can limit how much your employees throw away. Your office can easily limit its waste production with reusable containers or recyclable packaging. Below are a few tips for effective practices to reduce material wastes:

1. Recycle Your Used Supplies

Your employees will be more likely to recycle when it is accessible. Make clearly labeled recycling bins available in spaces where employees eat lunch, and encourage your staff to use them. Hang a sign detailing the types of used materials you can recycle in certain bins.

Recycling plastic wastes like empty water bottles and pastry containers is particularly important. Plastic contaminates the environment through landfills because it remains intact rather than decomposes.

2. Reuse Office Supplies

How many times has someone accidentally printed out a lengthy document? Instead of throwing away the paper, place the used materials into a bin for scratch paper. Paper items you can recycle include folders, notebooks and copy paper.

3. Stock Reusable Dining Supplies

Limiting your packaging purchases can reduce the total amount of waste your community produces. The best way to do this is to look for reusable supplies that your employees can share or ask them to bring more of their personal items to work. For example, if you install a water purifier to filter tap water, employees can bring their own water bottles instead of crowding around a water station where you have to restock the cups and refill the plastic water bubble.

Implementing more reusable supplies can also help save money and reduce the company’s need to restock supplies when they run out. Stocking reusable cutlery and containers reduces your need for single-use materials and is more convenient for your employees. 

Make Sustainable Meal Choices

Providing sustainable food in the workplace can help your company thrive. It’s important to choose establishments that care about sourcing, environmentally friendly packaging options and using fresh ingredients. 

You can make sustainable meal choices when you host an office party or luncheon. Hosting an office party with catered food has many benefits, including:

• Saving money: Purchasing reusable drinkware, plates and cleaning supplies can be a valuable investment over time.
• Boosting morale: Giving employees sustainable and fun options can help increase their interest in other areas of growth.
• Promoting leadership and corporate responsibility: Getting a team of employees together to act as leaders for the company’s sustainability can help them advance.
• Improving company image: You want to show your company cares about employees meeting sustainability goals and is willing to make positive changes. Many consumers prefer sustainable products because they care about environmental causes.

If you need more sustainable food options in your office, here are some practices you can implement:

• Packaging alternatives: Maybe your office uses a lot of coffee, creamer, paper towels, dish soap, paper and disposable dining utensils? You can always change your purchasing decisions, buy sustainable alternative products or switch to a supplier with reputable green practices.
• Healthy food products: For consumable products, look for Organic or Fair Trade Certified. Buy in bulk to save money. Instead of sugar packets, order a large container to empty your bags of sugar.

Find Sustainable Food Solutions With American Food & Vending

Making sustainable choices is a rewarding way to treat your employees while also managing your company’s carbon footprint. American Food & Vending offers personalized commercial dining services with clean, sustainable meal options. We provide dining facility design, marketing, communication and more for new customers interested in building a healthier office life. Contact us to learn more about ordering chef-prepared food for your company.

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Sustainability is becoming more and more widespread among college campuses. Potential students are even evaluating their choices based on how many — or few — sustainable choices their potential colleges are implementing. Making sustainable efforts are often thought to be much more complicated than they truly are. Most options involve a simple switch between two products, like switching from a plastic water bottle to a reusable one. Others can be more in-depth, like starting and maintaining a campus garden. This article offers information on sustainability, its benefits, why it’s important on a college campus and how to implement and promote it.

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the ability to meet our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It applies to natural, social and economic resources. Contrary to how many people define it, sustainability is not just about environmentalism. It also concerns social equity and economic development. Ultimately, it is a community vision that calls attention to how personal actions and community practices affect the natural world.

The concept of sustainability is still relatively new, but the movement itself has roots in social justice, conservationism, internationalism and others. By the end of the twentieth century, many of the ideas that now make up sustainability had come together in the call for “sustainable development.”

There are three pillars to sustainability:

• Environment
• Economy
• Society

Increasingly, college and university campuses are embracing these pillars and sustainability as a whole since it also improves the quality of campus life. It’s a forward-looking approach to:

• Energy
• Economics
• Community well-being
• Technological innovation

A campus that implements sustainability in both academic programs and master planning tends to be:

• Vibrant
• Caring
• Innovative
• Creative
• Resilient

The Importance of Sustainability on College Campuses

People and communities often choose sustainability in their personal lives for varying reasons — so many reasons that it would be impossible to list them all. But often it comes back to the simple motivation of maintaining the future of the next generation. People and groups both now and in the future must continue to create solutions and adapt to be truly sustainable.

When it comes to sustainability specifically on a college campus, it’s important to introduce students to sustainable actions because they’re already being exposed to other ideas and opportunities through what is known as a “co-curriculum” — the learning that takes place outside the classroom. This entails everything from learning about living in a community to the people you meet to the clubs you join to sustainable efforts. These all creates the center of what living in a campus environment means.

A campus with a variety of sustainability initiatives often has:

• Healthier food
• Community service opportunities
• A creative approach to lifestyle behaviors

Students now are looking at colleges and measuring their sustainability to decide where to go because those campuses with more sustainable efforts will prepare them for the experiences that will most matter in their future. Beyond that, sustainability is also extending into the standard curriculum. A campus that emphasizes it will reflect those values in both its curriculum and culture.

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10 Ways to Promote Sustainability on College Campuses

So, sustainability on a college campus is important, but how exactly can a college promote it to its students? Here are different ways that you can improve your college campus and make it more sustainable:

1. Buy Local

Your campus can buy local foods to cut down on the distance required to transport the food. This method saves money while not adding carbon emissions to our atmosphere from the trucks that would’ve had to deliver the food. It also helps support the community around your college, which often couldn’t thrive without the business from the surrounding area. Student dorms can also be furnished with items from local shops or by buying second-hand items.

2. Participate in Campus Sustainability Month

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education holds Campus Sustainability Month every year starting on October 1st. It includes varying green ideas and projects for a college to limit their environmental impact. It also focuses on engaging students in topics of sustainability like renewable energy. Many campuses already utilize this program to inspire their students to get involved with sustainable efforts on campus. Each college can participate how it wants to to ensure the best results for their community. Educational events and service projects often are included.

3. Install Recycling Bins

The easiest and most common way that people participate in sustainability is by recycling. Installing bins across campus makes recycling as easy as possible. Students sometimes won’t go out of their way to find a recycling bin, but if there is one nearby, they’re more likely to recycle. A way to ensure there is always easy access to recycling is by putting a bin anywhere there’s also a trash can.

If your campus doesn’t already have recycling in place and you want to install a plan, you can:

• Contact local recyclers and determine what types of materials you can drop off to them.
• Work with the school’s facilities department to find spare bins.
• Label bins clearly with accepted recyclable materials.
• Place bins in highly trafficked parts of campus.
• Develop a team of volunteers to collect recyclables every week, weighing each bag to track effectiveness.

Recycling programs on a college campus often have a big impact and are quite successful.

4. Start a Bike Rental Program

A bike rental program will encourage students to rent a bike to use instead of their cars during the semester. Biking can have as little as one-seventh the impact as driving a car on the environment. Bike sharing encourages those who wouldn’t normally ride a bike to use green transportation, funds other campus sustainability initiatives with the bike rental fees, reduces vehicle emissions around campus and promotes exercise and healthy living. Riding a bike is one of the most sustainable forms of local transportation since it only uses the energy produced by peddling.

5. Start a Campus Garden

A campus garden can grow organic produce, which saves money and lowers carbon emissions, but it can also directly involve the students, teaching the importance of sustainability and healthy living. You can also support the community by donating produce to local food pantries to help those in need.

6. Start a Composting Program

Food waste piles up fast, especially when you have a lot of people eating in the same place repeatedly, like a college cafeteria. Composting minimizes the amount of food that your school sends to the landfill. It can be as simple as composting food scraps from prep and waste left on plates or as extensive as using plant-based compostable tableware. To involve the students even more, it can become a competition between the years to see who has the least amount of waste. This would teach students to also be more aware of how much they put on their plate.

7. Stop Using Disposable Items

Plastic forks, knives, spoons, cups, water bottles and anything else that only has one use before being thrown away is the biggest source of waste. These kinds of items will often sit in landfills for hundreds of years before breaking down. Using reusable plates, cutlery and cups creates a much more sustainable lifestyle while also saving money. Some universities go as far as banning the sale of bottled water on their campus to encourage everyone to contribute to a more sustainable community.

8. Go Digital

Using fewer notebooks, textbooks, folders and paper handouts by going digital will create much less waste. Utilize the technology on your campus to reduce your paper usage. Encourage both professors and students to only print what’s really necessary. You can even limit printing allowances to ensure that people are making a conscious effort to watch their paper waste.

9. Offer a Donation Program and an E-Waste Recycling Drive During Moving Season

College students often collect a lot of clutter over the semester that they typically don’t take home with them. Instead of throwing out the items they don’t want, offer a donation area on your campus around this time of year to collect them. Then, the following year, you can offer the collected items to students, giving more life to them and keeping them from landfills. You can also donate the items to those in need. Along with unwanted items, college students tend to have a lot of broken and outdated electronics. An e-waste collection event is another way to promote campus sustainability.

10. Install Water Stations Around Campus

A reusable water bottle keeps needless plastic out of landfills. Offering plenty of easily accessible refill stations promotes students to make the switch to a reusable bottle. ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå offers a water purification system that is sustainable and hassle-free. It guarantees that you’ll always have an unlimited supply of purified fresh water available. They can even personalize the system for your specific water conditions for great-tasting water. You can save anywhere from 30-70% by going bottle-free with their system. Refill stations help reduce your carbon footprint by more than 70%.

The Benefits of Sustainability

Sustainability efforts help to protect the environment and leave a more promising future for the next generations. But it also has other benefits. For one, it’s an easy way to save money. The less you waste, the more you save. More than ever, the younger demographic of students are interested in services that are not only good for them and their health but also for the environment. Sustainability has a direct impact on the overall state of the Earth’s — and therefore humanity’s — ability to survive and thrive over time. One of these impacts are on climate change.

What is Climate Change?

Climate is not the same as weather. It is a broader focus on average weather patterns in a given place over a defined period of time. It also isn’t a change that happens during a day or even a month. It can only be noticed when comparing current conditions to the history of climate in the area. There are some natural reasons for the climate to change, but scientists have shown that humans greatly impact and strain the climate. Many of these factors are controllable, like the burning of fossil fuels.

Climate change causes:

• Decreased food supply
• Increased costs
• Drought
• Forest fires
• Diseases
• Extreme weather conditions
• Loss of coral reefs

By adopting a handful of everyday changes, one person can make a lifetime of differences. The more people that implement green choices, the less the climate will change, and the healthier the planet will be.

As these issues of climate change arise, implementing green solutions into buildings, especially on college campuses, increases the lifespan of buildings and outdoor spaces. Sustainable efforts by the university will influence how students learn while decreasing the college’s negative impact on the environment. In addition, students that see their college making an effort in sustainable choices are more likely to implement them into their own lives.

Colleges and universities are opting for a more sustainable design for their campuses since it is a better choice from a long-term operational perspective. Schools want their structures to last, to become a legacy. To ensure this, building design leans toward sustainable practices like durable materials that will last time and use.

Choosing American Dining Services

Implementing sustainable changes onto your college campus can sometimes be hard to do alone. You might not know where to start or how to exactly make the change. ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå can help with that. They are a third-generation, family-owned company that has a vision for hospitality and service. Reimagining the typical industry approach, they shifted from identifying as “retailers” to being service-oriented. Even as their company grew to one of the 20 largest food service companies in the United States, their original values remain — a commitment to integrity, great service and customer relationships.

Their leadership team is focused on advancing diversity and inclusion in both their workplace and community. It’s a mission of theirs to continue the advancement while ensuring that everyone is equipped to perform to their highest potential. ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå aims to utilize the varying strengths that come from the diversity of their employees when working on new projects and challenges.

Their diversity and inclusion program focuses on three critical areas:

1. Workforce
2. Workplace
3. Marketplace

They don’t just want to employ diverse backgrounds, they also want to offer diversity to their customers by partnering with diverse suppliers and community organizations to deliver culturally relevant products and services.

Contact ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå Today

As you move to implement sustainable efforts on your campus, contact ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå for a sustainability-friendly dining program. They have a team of culinary experts and industry-leading hospitality professionals that can develop a plan that reflects your campus cultures and values while catering to your unique needs.

Fill out the form on their website to get started and make your campus better for your students and the environment.

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Why Providing an Enjoyable Workplace Is Important

Today, many companies realize the value of a fun and engaging workplace for employees and are implementing ways to make the office more comfortable and enjoyable for all. With this in mind, many offices and other workplaces create more functional and relaxing spaces that employees can use while working and during breaks. Companies often add more comfortable office furniture, flexible workstations, cozy conversation areas, opportunities for games and entertainment, gourmet coffee and snacks, onsite lunch options, happy hours and so much more. 

But, what is behind these changes? Some of these updates may run contrary to what people believe a traditional workplace should be like. However, what many employers are discovering is that the happiness and wellbeing of their employees offers many benefits, and providing an enjoyable workplace experience is key to reaping these benefits. 

What the savviest employers know today is that not just job satisfaction, but employees’ overall happiness is so important to the company. This happiness directly translates to loyalty and employee retention. When you have a more enjoyable workplace, your workers are more excited about coming to work, and they’ll want to stay long-term. Happier employees save you the time and expense of constantly hiring and training new people. Not only that, but the best workplaces tend to attract top talent too, so you’ll have your pick of the best employees from the start. 

Overall, the more amenities you provide at work, the more your employees feel cared for and valued. If you provide a more enjoyable workplace, you’ll see better productivity and performance from your employees. This shift in mentality will lead to better teamwork, increase creativity and better attitudes about your company. All of that adds up to better results for your company.

7 Breakroom Solutions to Introduce at Your Workplace

The breakroom is an essential component of any workplace, providing space for workers to eat, rest, and recharge for the rest of their day. And whether you have a giant cafeteria and employee lounge, or a small and simple room with a few vending machines, there are ways you can make your breakroom into a place where your employees actually enjoy spending their time. So, what makes a good breakroom? Try these awesome ideas to liven up your company’s breakroom and reward your employees:

1. Specialty coffee: Nothing else gets everyone through the workday quite like coffee, so why not make this experience extra special? Try some top office coffee solutions like offering top quality coffees and teas for your employees to enjoy or giving employees branded mugs to use to enjoy their coffee in the breakroom. You can also add unique extras like flavor syrups, a variety of sugar options or even pastries to go with the coffee. Upgrade your coffee equipment to offer different types of coffee drinks, like lattes or french pressed coffee, to really enhance the experience. 
2. Upgraded water cooler: Give your team a way to stay hydrated and catch up with coworkers with some top-notch water coolers. Today’s versions go beyond simple tap water and offer purified versions, as well as flavored waters and carbonated options too. Your team will love having all of these water options available during their workday. 
3. Added comfort: Let your employees relax in style with more comfortable seating options indoors and out, as well as tasteful decor. You can add some couches or hammocks instead of the traditional cafeteria-style chairs. Consider also adding a quiet room for those who don’t feel like socializing on their break, or may want to nap, do yoga, meditate, or simply enjoy the silence for a moment. 
4. Better vending machines: Vending options make snacks and lunches in the breakroom quick and convenient. But, you can level up from the standard chips, sodas and candy bars and provide much better options for your office vending machines. Think juices and flavored waters, healthy and trendy snack options like trail mix or jerky along with other treats. Consider useful and emergency items like mini sewing kits, stomach medication or ibuprofen. Better technology, including machines that accept credit cards, also goes a long way towards an improved breakroom experience. 
5. A micro market: What is a micro market? A micro market can provide your workers with a wider range of products, including beverages, snacks, fresh fruit and healthy grab-and-go meals like sandwiches and salads. This setup is similar to a mini-mart, but offers the convenience of self-checkout. You can even customize your market’s offerings to meet the needs of your team and provide everyone with options they love. 
6. Entertainment and activities: Why not let your team have a little fun during break time? Some of the best breakrooms have some form of entertainment available for employees. This entertainment could come in the form of a basketball hoop, ping pong or foosball table, or a variety of workout equipment for some active fun. You may even consider having some TVs, computers, or tablets with options for Netflix or pre-loaded video games. Classic board games, puzzles and interesting books to borrow are also great ideas for a well-stocked breakroom that allows employees to enjoy themselves more and recharge during breaks. 
7. Advanced technology: In today’s world, touchless technology for anything is a huge bonus, and for vending machines and breakrooms, it can make all the difference. Upgrade your vending services to include touchless technology, as well as energy-star ratings and more. These upgrades can make your breakroom more eco-friendly, as well as safe and sanitary for everyone. 

Breakroom Solutions From American Food & Vending

Are you ready to take your company’s breakroom to the next level and really wow your employees? American Food & Vending has the solutions for you. Our wide range of refreshment services includes options for coffee services, water cooler options, vending machines, customizable micro-markets, and more. We can help you improve your workplace through quality food and beverage options for your whole team. Consider us your hospitality partner when upgrading your breakroom options. Contact us today to get started on your new company breakroom. 

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Companies have adapted to millennials in the workforce and shouldn’t assume that millennials and Gen Z are closely related in their career expectations. Tailor the recruiting process to the unique values and priorities of Gen Z.

But what are these young adults looking for in a company? It’s crucial to understand all aspects of Generation Z and how you can make your company more appealing to them for work.

Who Is Generation Z?

People born between 1997 to around 2012 are apart of Generation Z. Most people who are members of Generation Z have parents who are a part of Generation X, but some have millennial parents.

Gen Z was born into a world that was already immersed heavily in technology, making them exposed to vastly different experiences than any generation that preceded them. The environment Gen Z has been raised in makes them stand out from millennials, a generation introduced to technology at a young age.

There are three aspects of Gen Z that are unique to this group:

1. Tech-native: People may refer to Generation Z as tech-savvy when, in reality, they are tech- or . Gen Z doesn’t remember a time before the internet and smartphones. The digital revolution was already taking off when they were born, and they have a strong familiarity with technology. Gen Z spends about . They constantly connect with others through technology every day.
2. Money-conscious: Many members of Gen Z witnessed their parents struggle through the 2008 recession. Gen Z was also set up to receive a strong economy, but recent events may have reshaped this potential. As this generation starts enrolling in college, Gen Z may fear taking on too much student loan debt. Their view of money may affect their school choices and other financial decisions.
3. Educated: Gen Z is on the path to become the most educated generation in the U.S. Gen Z has the highest percentage of parents who hold a college degree compared to the generations that come before them, likely contributing to a value in higher education. In 2018, around who are members of Gen Z were enrolled in two-year and four-year colleges. Promising industries for Gen Z include healthcare, technology and engineering, based on their high education rates.

Gen Z is also the most racially diverse generation in the United States. Research shows that almost .

Generation Z’s life experiences and backgrounds are much different than other generations. This group is on the path to transform the workforce.

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Generation Z Workplace Expectations

Because of Gen Z’s exposure to education, technology and knowledge of money, they are set to be a powerhouse in the workforce. Their experience will bring a fresh set of ideas to various industries. Companies will witness new behaviors and expectations from these young adults, and they may need to prepare their company culture for a change because of this incoming generation.

Gen Z recently began entering the workforce since their eldest members graduated from college, went to a technical school or found a job after graduating high school. HR managers, hiring managers and other talent recruiters should understand what this generation is looking for in their careers to successfully gain new talent.

Gen Z has shown to be immensely different from millennials. Your company’s current hiring strategies may not attract Gen Z, so what changes should you make to recruit these young professionals?

To get the benefits of Gen Z in your workplace — from technology experience to educational backgrounds — understand what this generation is looking for in a job.

Work-Life Harmony

Feeling burnout on the job can affect an employee’s quality of work. Many companies continue to follow the typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday, giving employees projects or tasks that may result in overtime or continuing their job on the weekends. Employees who experience burnout are or leave their job because they feel restrained from their personal life.

This pattern is something Gen Z definitely wants to avoid in their careers. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is a goal for many young employees. It’s time to strip away the guilt that employees might feel when they need to take time off and possibly become more lenient on work-from-home policies. Allowing employees a better work-life harmony can help them appreciate their company more and feel better in their overall health.

Frequent Feedback

Frequent feedback from managers and team members can improve an employee’s performance at work and help increase their likelihood of staying with the company. This quality goes for most individuals, including those apart of Generation Z.

Gen Z expects plenty of constructive feedback from their superiors at work. Companies can adapt to this change with a few adjustments to their feedback policies.

Consider increasing the regularity of feedback employees receive from managers by having reoccurring meetings for projects and tasks. More time spent between employees and managers can make communication stronger. The more feedback your young employees receive, the faster they may improve in their job duties.

Diversity & Inclusion

Creating an inclusive and diverse work environment is highly essential when looking to recruit Gen Z talent to your company. Working with people from diverse backgrounds and learning from others with different experiences is one of the top priorities of young professionals.

A diverse staff can steer projects into successful directions and create a knowledge base so vast that team members learn from each other almost every day.

A company committed to developing a diverse workplace delivers major points to new Gen Z recruits. Companies can consider all aspects of what makes a person diverse, like gender, race, religion, age, physical ability, education level, and more.

Respect for Personal Data

Older generations may have some concerns when it comes to sharing personal information with businesses. These folks may believe their personal information is only for their eyes and companies have no business utilizing that information, but younger generations think differently.

Gen Z is especially familiar with the idea that companies use their personal information to cater to their wants and needs. Personal data is valuable for marketing and recruiting, and young people know companies will take this information through online social platforms, search engine inquiries, and other smart technologies anyway. Gen Z understands they might as well get something good out of sharing their information if a company does it in an appropriate way.

If your company collects and uses personal data in a fitting way, young professionals may be more likely to trust you and consider a career at your company.

Authentic Connection

Gen Z values an authentic connection with a company and its employees. While Gen Z is known for frequent technology use and being tech-native, companies should prioritize personal connections with their employees to gain this generation’s attention.

Young adults appreciate companies that treat their employees like family and make an effort to learn more about an employee past their professional life. Skip the fake facade and make an effort to be authentic in all aspects of the company.

Flexible Schedules

Similar to wanting a better work-life balance, a flexible schedule is high on the list of things Gen Z considers when looking for a job. More and more companies are starting to offer a more flexible work schedule in terms of when employees work and if they have the opportunity to work remotely.

As the world changes, so do the lives of individuals. Many people can benefit from a flexible work schedule to complete necessary personal tasks, like taking kids to and from school, doctor’s appointments, car troubles and other necessities.

Technology Integration

A company that is up-to-date on technology is a must for Gen Z. A main component of their communication is technology. This generation receives their news, talks to friends and family and looks for jobs all online.

To show your company is up on technology trends, have a well-functioning and updated website, be present on multiple social media platforms, and utilize video content. Use modern and efficient technologies on the job, as well.

Fun

A benefit that can attract Gen Z, millennials, and employees of all ages is fantastic company culture. Work can become gloomy when it’s the same routine all day, every day. Companies need to scatter some fun throughout the year to attract this incoming generation.

Fun monthly newsletters, a relaxing break room, company potlucks, birthday and other milestone celebrations, and other activities can make employees appreciate the company they work for. It’s critical for a company to make an effort to provide a productive and fun environment when recruiting young professionals.

How Generation Z’s Expectations & Core Values Affect Their Food Choices

The values and priorities Generation Z holds affect various aspects of their lives, including what they eat and how they choose grocery stores, restaurants and meals.

Gen Z food preferences affect companies because most young people have high expectations when it comes to what they consume, determining food choices on:

• Where the food is grown
• Knowledge of how farmers or companies treat animals
• How well companies treat their employees and how well they are paid
• Availability of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options
• Information about what ingredients are in their meals

A big aspect of Gen Z’s dining preferences is transparency. They don’t want to be in the dark when it comes to the sourcing and creation of their food.

Brand loyalty doesn’t necessarily apply to Gen Z in regards to food. Young people in urban and suburban areas have access to an array of food choices. With the help of social media and sharing recipes and restaurants, people are being exposed to food from all cultures, with the option to eat ramen one night and falafel the next.

Gen Z also is . Since they are more likely to value the quality of the food and its sourcing, they are willing to spend more money per meal than older generations.

This generation also values trends and fresh changes — they crave unique options and are always looking for the next best thing, which also applies to their food choices. Gen Z wants to experience new meals, preferably aesthetically pleasing ones they might share online.

Using Food Solutions to Create the Optimal Workplace for Generation Z

While companies strategize plans to attract young employees, it’s essential to consider their food preferences. How can your company tailor food and meals to appeal to Generation Z? Meet their food and workplace expectations by implementing new dining solutions for your company. There are some simple ways to make your break room more attractive to young professionals:

• Add technology: You should incorporate technology into every aspect of your company, and bringing it into your break room is a great way to appeal to Gen Z. Whether it be updating your coffee machine, vending machines or water dispensers, having various food and beverage options in your break room can help.
• Sanitize: Keeping spaces in your company clean is crucial. Having touchless pay systems for purchasing food and clean shared spaces is key to implement and share with recruits.
• Provide options: Consider all dietary restrictions and allergies when stocking your break room or providing company lunches. Make sure there are food and beverage options for everyone in your company. Gen Z expects to have multiple food options, and this will stand out to them when considering your company.

Contact ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå to Upgrade Your Company’s Food Solutions

Gen Z is a highly influential generation. They are in constant communication with each other, sharing their opinions online through social media. When Gen Z sees something they like, they want it and will share the news with everyone they’re connected with online.

When you upgrade your company’s food solutions to appeal to Gen Z, opportunities for more exposure emerge. Perhaps a young employee will share their appreciation for the new coffee machine in the break room or for on-site dining on their social media accounts. That could spark interest in more young professionals as they see the work your company is doing to cater toward them.

To learn more about how you can upgrade your dining options for your company, reach out to ÈÕ±¾¸ßÇå. We are one of the largest foodservice companies in the country while still being family-owned and operated. We strive to provide excellent hospitality service to our customers. Fill out our contact form online or call to learn more about our services.

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