7 ms·

Not long ago I was running a small office of 4-6 devs and at least once a month I would make a trip to Costo or Sams and buy some good stock of soda's and snack

Not long ago I was running a small office of 4-6 devs and at least once a month I would make a trip to Costo or Sams and buy some good stock of soda's and snacks for everyone. This was easy to do, and cost negligible. Then at some point I hired an admin assistant and she correctly pointed out that, long term, this was likely a very bad thing for everyone's health. Drinking 1 or 2 soda's a day is not healthy for anyone. I know we were all adults in the office but at least I felt responsible for providing more healthy alternatives. Easier said than done as I was never really able to figure a good alternative at that scale. Most beverages in a can seemed as bad or worse than soda. I wonder if the office density in cities like SF or big startup hubs offer an alternative for this. I mean logistics of fresh fruit vs once a month trip are very different.

jayess 11y ago
Unsweetened ice tea?
- cableshaft 11y ago
  If unsweetened iced tea were already prepared and in pitchers in my office, I'd drink that all day instead of soda. It's me having to spend time preparing it that insures I don't end up drinking it that often compared to soda.
cloverich 11y ago
Sparkling water. Our office runs on TopoChico. Prior office stocked "LaCroix" flavored sparkling waters; same deal. Or just diet soda.
rev_bird 11y ago
At a previous job, I was in a decidedly un-hip city, and even then our employer found a local farm co-op thing (not sure of the details) that just showed up every Wednesday and left oranges and bananas and kiwis on a bunch of the centrally located filing cabinets. Such a simple service, but it ran like clockwork.
ElijahLynn 11y ago
Yeah, I fear that as someone who will likely run a tech company or manage etc. I don't really want to buy shit food for people that I know they really want. It just doesn't feel right. Buy a bunch of organic fruits and veggies and bean dips or whatever and I feel like they would still want the crap food anyways. Suck a pickle.
- honestcoyote 11y ago
  It's not as bad a dilemma as you think. Buy the doritos and buy the fresh food too. You show respect for your employees by respecting their wishes and you show you care about them by offering healthier options.
xeni 11y ago
Costco has 0-calorie flavored sparkling waters that I love http://reviews.costco.com/2070/100115780/niagara-bottling-llc-1-kirkland-signature-sparkling-water-17-oz-bottle-variety-24-pack-reviews/reviews.htm http://reviews.costco.com/2070/100115780/niagara-bottling-ll... Lots of people absolutely hate the taste, so don't buy in bulk to start. I've never had a problem with artificial sweeteners, but apparently they taste bad to some people?
lifeformed 11y ago
I interned at a place that had a cafeteria, and free fountain drinks for anyone. "Freshman 15" was a common phenomenon - new employees would gain about 15 lbs in their first year of working there.
roel_v 11y ago
Coke Zero.
gaius 11y ago
One company I worked years ago for got a Scottish CTO and he insisted the free drinks fridge be filled with Diet Irn Bru. It probably remains full to this day...
patrickmcmanus 11y ago
seltzer and upgrade your coffee.. and while it isn't exactly health food: nuts, yogurt, apples, and cheese are much better than chips, cookies, and 'bars'.. yogurt apples and cheese will keep for weeks in the fridge.

jayess 11y ago

Unsweetened ice tea?

cableshaft 11y ago
If unsweetened iced tea were already prepared and in pitchers in my office, I'd drink that all day instead of soda. It's me having to spend time preparing it that insures I don't end up drinking it that often compared to soda.

cloverich 11y ago

Sparkling water. Our office runs on TopoChico. Prior office stocked "LaCroix" flavored sparkling waters; same deal. Or just diet soda.

rev_bird 11y ago

At a previous job, I was in a decidedly un-hip city, and even then our employer found a local farm co-op thing (not sure of the details) that just showed up every Wednesday and left oranges and bananas and kiwis on a bunch of the centrally located filing cabinets. Such a simple service, but it ran like clockwork.

ElijahLynn 11y ago

Yeah, I fear that as someone who will likely run a tech company or manage etc. I don't really want to buy shit food for people that I know they really want. It just doesn't feel right. Buy a bunch of organic fruits and veggies and bean dips or whatever and I feel like they would still want the crap food anyways. Suck a pickle.

honestcoyote 11y ago
It's not as bad a dilemma as you think. Buy the doritos and buy the fresh food too. You show respect for your employees by respecting their wishes and you show you care about them by offering healthier options.

xeni 11y ago

Costco has 0-calorie flavored sparkling waters that I love http://reviews.costco.com/2070/100115780/niagara-bottling-llc-1-kirkland-signature-sparkling-water-17-oz-bottle-variety-24-pack-reviews/reviews.htm http://reviews.costco.com/2070/100115780/niagara-bottling-ll... Lots of people absolutely hate the taste, so don't buy in bulk to start. I've never had a problem with artificial sweeteners, but apparently they taste bad to some people?

lifeformed 11y ago

I interned at a place that had a cafeteria, and free fountain drinks for anyone. "Freshman 15" was a common phenomenon - new employees would gain about 15 lbs in their first year of working there.

roel_v 11y ago

Coke Zero.

gaius 11y ago

One company I worked years ago for got a Scottish CTO and he insisted the free drinks fridge be filled with Diet Irn Bru. It probably remains full to this day...

patrickmcmanus 11y ago

seltzer and upgrade your coffee.. and while it isn't exactly health food: nuts, yogurt, apples, and cheese are much better than chips, cookies, and 'bars'.. yogurt apples and cheese will keep for weeks in the fridge.