My boss a few months ago brought in this beautiful blue bowl and put it on a little metal stand by the door. Then, she filled it with chocolate. The goal was to get some traffic into our office. It is rare that people want to come down to the HR office – most people associate being in the HR office with employee relations issues, boring benefits or payroll questions. We are trying to change that – get people excited to say hi, comfortable with having conversations with us and not always thinking of our office as the avoid-at-all-costs office.
Thus, the chocolate.
Most weeks, I can manage through not inhaling the chocolate. Some days, I reach for 1 or 2 or 3 pieces. I’m really fighting through the temptation and trying to work on my own relationship with the chocolate. I’ve been doing well with my chocolate bowl relationship lately, a total NSV (non-scale victory.)
We’ve been pretty busy the past month in our HR department and the chocolate stash has slowly dwindled until one day last week, it had gone dry. A few employees stuck their head in and frowned at our empty bowl. Myself, my coworker and my boss didn’t have time to run out and pick chocolate up so it sat empty for two days.
On the third day, I realized I bought too many clementines to eat myself so decided I’d switch the candy bowl up a bit and add some healthiness. Why not? Why wouldn’t we want to encourage a healthy snack versus always reaching for chocolate?
So I filled the bowl up and waited.
and waited.
and waited.
and waited.
The poor clementines just sat there. For 2 days no one took one.
On Friday, a co-worker stuck his head in and reached down for what he expected to be chocolate. As he realized the chocolate had been replaced with clementines, he let out a “what the … um…” and in a flash, retracted his hand from the bowl and looked up with a shocked look.
“What happened to the chocolate?” he shrieked?
“Oh, we ran out so we put some clementines out – they are good, have one!” I replied.
“Well, I was actually looking for a little piece of chocolate.” He chucked back.
“A clementine can be just as sweet, it’ll do the trick!” I chirped back.
My boss was chuckling at her desk. Our co-worker, still in his state of shock, obliged and grabbed a clementine. As he turned to walk away, he said “okay, I’ll take a clementine but I will go find some chocolate too.”
After he walked away, my boss and I chuckled to ourselves and went back to work. But I kept thinking – is it possible to replace clementines with chocolate in the chocolate bowl?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutly! Its free food right, designed to stimulate the relationship in a positive manner, I know i’d love a bowl of those bad boys sitting around!
it is
IT IS!!!
one office at a time
Ha Ha – I <3 <3 <3 <3 chocolate so much that nothing can replace it!
But I like oranges too.
and those chocolate oranges during the holidays? Yes please
I've actually not eaten any sugar at ALL this year except for stevia and natural sugars in fruits. It's been amazing but right now random people are starting to look like glazed doughnuts and pieces of chocolate cake.
I have such a sweet tooth and I’m always looking for healthy alternatives to satisfy it. I do like to a have a little bit of chocolate here and there, but find that fruit, yogurt, and even a bowl of Kellogg’s FiberPlus(R) Cinnamon Oat Crunch cereal often helps keep my sweet tooth satisfied.
If you’re really “always looking for healthy alternatives” to satisfy your sweet tooth, why on earth would you pick a processed “science project” food substance like the insanely unhealthy cereal that doesn’t even come close to resembling real, healthy food that’s been harvested from our earth? Oh, my bad. You’re a paid shill, er, um “advocate” to help remind us that “processed food is the way to go!”
Julie, as a registered dietitian, I truly believe that any food can fit into a well-balanced meal plan. Finding tasty sweets that also provide nutrients our bodies need can sometimes be a challenge. Our cereals are just one of many foods that can help you satisfy that craving without overindulging or grabbing foods that have little nutritional content whatsoever. That being said, please know that I do appreciate your concerns and respect your thoughts on this matter.
Of course it is possible. In our accounting dept every other week is expense report week. ALL expense reports are due by 3 pm Friday so on Fridays we normally bring out the stash of chocolate to get us thru the endless nonsense of employees trying to get away with us reimbursing them for things like gum, batteries, etc. I would indulge in the chocolate but then would feel so guilty so I suggested fruit, veggies and the boss thought it was a great idea. Well, the other gal who is suppose to take up the slack and help with the expense reports frowned at the “new” goodies and didn’t touch them the first time but has since come to the “light” side and is enjoying the healthier snacks. Besides if she really wanted chocolate she could also go over to Payroll because they always have chocolate!
That is so cute! I would definitely take a clementine over chocolate…most days ;o)
Sometimes you just want a piece of chocolate
I love clementines, but they could never replace a nice square of dark chocolate.
GOD yes. Next time you have clementines, send ‘em my way! Of course, I still like chocolate, but the last thing I eat before going to bed almost every night is small citrus. During the summer, I’ve gone through whole boxes of kumquats. :-9
HA! its the opposite at my office. I buy alot of healthy snacks and the clementines are always the first to go. I buy a whole box and they never last more then 3 days.
hee. hee. That’s funny. Of course, I think it’s fine because it’s your office, but I know myself and I’m still trying to convince me that clementines can be just as tasty as chocolate.
Ummm…. while the clementines look pretty I have to say they are less appealing than chocolate. Also harder to eat presumably.
Chocolate is more snacky. Perhaps you could try something in between. Not sure what, but mini nut/fruit bars / little packets of nuts or popcorn or something similar?
Deb
Since I started drinking more tea (with a teaspoon of sugar) I’ve been able to cut right down on the chocolate. I’m not sure if fruit would work the same way.
When I used to work in an office I was the social club person who used to go and buy all the stuff for birthday morning teas and I also fundraised for the social club by having mini chocolates and mini chips and a fridge full of soft drink that people could buy at my desk. I was the official junk food pusher!
These days I freelance from home, keep any chocolate out of sight and never have soft drink, and am doing Weight Watchers to undo all those years of abuse.
Hey – are Cuties still in season?
I’m not proud of it but I’d totally be disappointed too haha. As much as I try to convince myself that fruit is just as good for dessert… it’s just not! lol
I think the substitution of the clementines was an awesome idea! Although I’m a serious chocolate addict (trust me, it’s major) and I can rarely pass it up when it is free, clementines are also one of my favorite fruits. They are so juicy and delicious! I can’t believe your coworker basically gave you the stink eye for having a healthy but still delicious alternative. That just shows more people need to discover the delight that is fruit.
Have you tried any other variety of healthy alternative in your bowl yet? I need ideas. = )