The Power To Fuel the Workforce

Erin Mittelstaedt is founder of The Fruit Guys.

By Erin Mittelstaedt

It’s 2 p.m. and I’m at my desk, contemplating another cup of coffee. My mind wanders to school pickup and my wife’s upcoming birthday—then I catch myself. I head to the break room for a snack and can’t help but smile, because this moment is exactly why The FruitGuys (the company I run) exists! We deliver healthy food that helps push workers through the midday slump by powering their bodies and minds. 

I believe that as leaders in our organizations, we can set our employees up for success by providing good food that fuels them. Time and again, science has shown that fruits and vegetables are the ideal fuel. We all know that they can help with disease prevention, but there are other work perks that we don’t talk about enough: 

 Sharper memory and processing – Research shows that people who eat more fruits and vegetables (and exercise regularly) remember information better and speak more fluently than their peers. 

 Energy without the sugar crash – Fruit is naturally sweet and high in fiber, so it can satisfy our cravings without causing brain fog or sluggishness.

Reduced risk of anxiety and depression – A recent study found that eating citrus fruits could help reduce our depression risk by as much as 22%. There’s a real connection between our brains and our stomachs.

I’ve struggled with healthy eating all my life, so I realize there’s a difference between knowing the best thing to do and actually following that advice. But there’s one easy way to set your team up for success: Provide healthy snacks in the office, where they spend a lot of their time. 

At the end of the day, people power our organizations. If we power our people in caring, thoughtful ways, then we’ll all reap the benefits.

Erin Mittelstaedt is founder of The Fruit Guys. https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-mittelstaedt-aa667a18/ ; https://fruitguys.com