Alternative to the Candy Dish for Work Gatherings/Meetings?

jbirdgreen

So one of the biggest displays of hospitality in my industry (gov. employee) is to have a candy dish. Have one in your office, bring one to your meetings, hand it out like swag if you're setting up an informational booth, etc.

However, I work for the Health Dept. now, and I think it just seems kind of hypocritical to be handing out candy whenever there's a gathering.

What healthy item would you use to replace the candy? I am blanking out, so I need your help! I prefer individually wrapped things because I'm a germaphobe, and humans are gross.

I was thinking the Sunsweet individually wrapped prunes, but people may be disappointed by that. What do you think?

zyxst

I was going to suggest a fruit bowl, but not since you're germ phobic. I just wouldn't have one.

annacole94

sugar-free gum or candy, single-serving water flavor packets, individually wrapped tea bags or instant coffee sachets

Or switch over to slightly bigger prizes and draw for one/event or meeting.

ladypetrushka_

Individually wrapped dark chocolate squares? Ghirardelli makes good ones. Trader Joe's also has little individually wrapped packs of nuts or trail mix. Fruit leathers made of 100% fruit? I feel like Trader Joe's has a ton of things you could offer.

stealthq

I think someone will be disappointed by whatever you offer.

Prunes probably won't go over well. There's a bit of a stigma associated with them. Perhaps individual packets of nuts (allergy alert) or a different dried fruit?

Honestly, I'd rather get an individually wrapped hard mint. Lower cal than either fruit or nuts and tends to quell my appetite some. You can get sugar free.

TheCupcakeCounter

The flavored water packets are a great idea! Could you do a mix of items like some lower fat candy (twizzlers and york peppermint patties) or those new goodness knows snack squares and a healthier option like the prunes and drink packets?

Stella3838

Generally people might be disappointed by not having candy or a treat in a bowl, so I second maybe not having one. Depending on how much you want to spend (I assume you are buying the treats), I personally like the prunes or raisin boxes. There are 100 calorie packs of raw nuts. You could probably find some smaller (I think Quaker makes them) granola bars, but those are debatable for being healthy. There are individually packaged fresh fruits and veggies, but then you'd need to refrigerate. Maybe just skip it.

pinuplove

Please don't hand out prunes unless you accompany them with complimentary TP :laugh:

amtyrell

How about a basket of mini waterbottles

youngmommy2

Maybe a "healthier" candy? like YumEarth lollipops. Maybe even Organic fruitstrips or those tiny boxes of raisins?

kenyonhaff

Yeah I'm not sure about prunes...

How about fruit with a rind, such as a nice bowl with bananas, oranges, and such?
Or individual packets of carrot sticks? I get those sometimes for my son.
Or just put a Keurig nearby for coffee, tea, or hot cocoa?

JenHuedy

I keep a fruit bowl on my desk. Usually just a couple apples or mandarin oranges along with a few small ghiradelli chocolate squares. Mostly for me, but occasionally a coworker takes a piece. I make sure to bring home anything left on Friday so it doesn't sit all weekend. If you're concerned about dirty hands, you can put each piece in plastic wrap or a baggie. Our cafeteria puts self-serve fruit in pretty cello bags tied with a ribbon. I've seen those bags at the craft store and they are very inexpensive.

Maybe applesauce or fruit cups? Or single serve trail mix or healthier breakfast bars like Nutrigrain or Quaker oatmeal bars. You can usually find big packs of these at Costco for a good price. I also like the beverage suggestion.

jbirdgreen

ladypetrushka_ wrote: »

Individually wrapped dark chocolate squares? Ghirardelli makes good ones. Trader Joe's also has little individually wrapped packs of nuts or trail mix. Fruit leathers made of 100% fruit? I feel like Trader Joe's has a ton of things you could offer.

Trader Joes probably does have what I need. That place is borderline perfect.

nowine4me

I would do small bananas or cuties little clementines. You might get more visitors than you think AND they are naturally individually wrapped!

Strawblackcat

I would get a huge mega-pack of cheap pens and just hand those out. In my experience, everyone appreciates a good pen!

Machka9

jbirdgreen wrote: »

So one of the biggest displays of hospitality in my industry (gov. employee) is to have a candy dish. Have one in your office, bring one to your meetings, hand it out like swag if you're setting up an informational booth, etc.

However, I work for the Health Dept. now, and I think it just seems kind of hypocritical to be handing out candy whenever there's a gathering.

What healthy item would you use to replace the candy? I am blanking out, so I need your help! I prefer individually wrapped things because I'm a germaphobe, and humans are gross.

I was thinking the Sunsweet individually wrapped prunes, but people may be disappointed by that. What do you think?

I also work in a gov't health department.

We don't have candy dishes in our offices and we don't bring anything at all to meetings. In fact, we don't have any sweets for sale or anything in the place. And no one expects anything.


Are these just the normal staff meetings? Or are they some sort of promotional meetings?

gossipkween

how about kind bars, mini protein bars, or the individually packaged trail mixes (i think 5-10 small bags in a package) from trader joes?

annacole94

You can also stamp oranges - a politician did mandarins for her giveaway recently and it was cute (and cheap and healthy).

jemhh

I love prunes so I would love them. I was THAT mom and sent dried apricots to school with my daughter when it was her turn to take the treat in kindergarten.

Anyway, I wouldn't have a dish out on a regular basis. For trade shows where you have a booth, I'd stick to pens or something like that.

There's sometimes a candy dish out on the counter in my office. My staff will buy candy and fill it if they want it but I don't participate because I don't think it's necessary.

ClubSilencio

I love these fruit wraps from TJ's. And they're only .50 cents too.

catluvgal

So, I notice many of the suggestions are still pretty sugar-laden. I think nuts, fruit (not raisins), dark choc and mini kind bars are all good options as are gum, mints, and water if you have a booth since not many will give those out.

kommodevaran

Why would you need anything? What happened to "hello, nice to see you"?

kristikitter

Nakd bars might be a good idea - or the little Sun Maid boxes of raisins.

girlinahat

When I go to a meeting I'm lucky if I get a cup of tea. In fact, a cup of tea is generally ALL I want. I'm there for a meeting, not to eat.

That or fresh water, in a jug, with ice.

TonyB0588

jbirdgreen wrote: »

So one of the biggest displays of hospitality in my industry (gov. employee) is to have a candy dish. Have one in your office, bring one to your meetings, hand it out like swag if you're setting up an informational booth, etc.

However, I work for the Health Dept. now, and I think it just seems kind of hypocritical to be handing out candy whenever there's a gathering.

What healthy item would you use to replace the candy? I am blanking out, so I need your help! I prefer individually wrapped things because I'm a germaphobe, and humans are gross.

I was thinking the Sunsweet individually wrapped prunes, but people may be disappointed by that. What do you think?

I guess its hard to work against a culture that has been developed and established, but I don't think you need to have a dish of anything at all. We get nothing at regular casual meetings where I am, bottled water for slightly more formal meetings, and sometimes a pack of nuts or a granola bar depending on length of meeting. If its more organized like a seminar or training session, a catering company might be called in to provide a decent meal on site.

yellingkimber

I would be over the moon to get a tea bag out of a candy dish.

wellthenwhat

pinuplove wrote: »

Please don't hand out prunes unless you accompany them with complimentary TP :laugh:

Yeah, I wish they worked like that for me, lol. I can eat 3 cups and not have any effect. Still love them, though.

LAT1963

I think someone makes single-serving fruit roll-up 'fruit leather' that is individually wrapped.