The Best Office Snacks in Each State
We all know that productivity suffers when you’re hangry, which is why we wanted to uncover the most searched-for snack in each U.S. state.
With 54% of people working at an office pre-pandemic now transitioning back to their office buildings, it’s worth knowing which go-to office snacks are worth stocking at work and which ones are better off left on the shelves.
Read on to discover the little extra something your teams are craving to help them get through the workday.
Methodology
We compiled a list of the best office snacks with sources from 360 Connect, Small Business Trends, BJ’s, Naturals 2 Go, Shari’s Berries, and The Manual. We analyzed the search volume of 121 terms over a five-year period (May 10, 2017, to May 10, 2022) to determine the most coveted office snacks in each state.
Americans’ Favorite Office Snacks & Drinks
Zebra snacks stole the show as the best office snack in Maryland, Minnesota, and Texas. You may remember having Little Debbie Zebra Cakes stuffed into your lunchbox for school — or you might be familiar with some of their other well-known products like Swiss Rolls, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and their rainbow candy-coated Cosmic Brownies.
Montana and Wyoming had a high search volume for trail mix, which is a great healthy snack for the office with an energy-boosting mix of almonds, cashews, granola, M&M’s, and dried fruit.
While Americans are known to be coffee drinkers, bottled water had a high search volume in five states, including places like Florida, Hawaii, and New Mexico. On average, New Mexico experiences 20 days a year of dangerous heat, a stark reminder for residents to stay hydrated in and out of the office.
Not everyone prefers drinking water, however, which is why Schweppes is the most-searched-for office drink in states like Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island. The brand produces tonic water, ginger ale, and club soda as well.
The Battle Between Healthy Snacks and Junk Food
Some days, you reach for the healthy snack to get you over that afternoon slump. Other days, you just need a donut. We’re only human. And Americans have both their bases covered as we unpack some of the top healthy foods and junk foods across the country.
Blueberries might be one of the best ways to power yourself through that next report, as it’s one of the top office snacks in Maine. It’s especially helpful if you’re spending hours staring at a computer as they are high in antioxidants that help to reduce fatigue.
Georgia, on the other hand, produces over 130 million pounds of peaches each year and reaches for this healthy office snack as a juicy mid-day pick-me-up.
In Missouri, Nutter Butter cookies garnered the most search interest. I mean, who can resist creamy peanut butter sandwiched in between two crispy cookies?
Cheetos garnered high search volume in California while the carb-heavy office snack, Little Debbie Honey Buns, came out on top in North Carolina.
Other Top Office Snacks in the U.S.
While we have shared which snacks reigned supreme, we also wanted to highlight some close runner-ups that you may want to keep in the break room.
States like Hawaii feature nutritious office snacks like bananas, pineapples, avocados, and mangos — all grown on the Big Island. The Aloha State’s fertile volcanic soil creates a rich foundation for vegetation to grow and plenty of farmer’s markets to pick up some fresh produce on your way to work.
The Sunshine State seems to enjoy fresh fruits with pears and strawberries making their way to the top alongside the signature oranges. In addition to a bag of classic Lay’s chips, protein-packed hard-boiled eggs were another top snack option in Florida — so long as you are not sitting next to any sensitive noses in the office.
Illinois also enjoys a stinky office snack, as tuna salad had a high search volume in The Prairie State. But Pringles and candy from the vending machine were also popular options for satisfying that mid-day craving.
Vegetables like carrots and broccoli were other top picks in states like Vermont. In fact, a leisurely way towind down from work on the weekend isa tour of Vermont’s Wild Carrot Farm. This community-supported agriculture farm supplies eggs, vegetables, chicken, fish, honey, jam, gelato, coffee, and much more for its paying members.
Residents in Iowa seem to enjoy a balance between junk food and healthy snack options. While some people in the office are snacking on veggie straws, others are reaching for a chocolatey Cosmic Brownie to hold them over until dinner.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you want to help your team stay energized, or you just want to make your next boardroom meeting a little more flavorful, we hope we’ve given you plenty of snack inspiration.
If you’re looking for other ways to keep your teams happy, motivated, and engaged, give them a simple way to manage their work schedules and swap shifts with our scheduling software. Or, if you’re in the hospitality industry, check out our Hotel Masterclass webinar on improving employee retention.
Full Data:
That wraps up our study on Each State’s Favorite Office Snack and Drink. Interested in diving deeper into the other top snacks across the country?Want to see your state’s favorites if it’s not listed above?
We’ve compiled our full data study for all 50 U.S. states and the nation’s capital into the interactive map below. Search for the state you call home or simply hover over the map.
