Is Your Office Making You Fat?

New Study Shows that Employees Struggle to Eat Healthy in the Workplace

SKOKIE, Ill., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- With warmer weather finally here,
company employees are quickly trying to shed unwanted winter weight to head to
the beach. But a new study suggests that unhealthy snacks lingering around the
office are derailing employees' efforts to stay healthy.

The Peapod Biz Bites Survey, a study investigating workplace eating habits
sponsored by Peapod Business Delivery, shows that approximately 2 out of 3
employees (63%) find it a challenge to eat healthy in the workplace. What's
more, only 7% of respondents claimed to eat healthier in the office than at
home. Workers cite unhealthy snack options as the number one obstacle to
eating healthy while at work.

"One of the best ways to support healthy lifestyles in the workplace is also
one of the easiest," says Cathy Leman, a Chicago-area registered dietitian and
certified personal trainer who provides worksite nutrition services to local
corporations and businesses. "When you control the environment that you spend
8 plus hours per day in, you automatically set yourself up for success. That
means stocking the break room with healthy, accessible snack foods. Offer a
variety of choices like fresh and dried fruit, yogurt, whole grain crackers,
nuts, raw veggies with lowfat dip, hummus and baked pita chips, and oatmeal
raisin cookies. Many of my corporate clients use Peapod Business Delivery for
the convenience, but also because they know productive employees require
healthy fuel!"

Findings from The Peapod Biz Bites Survey show that there are major
disparities in the workplace between what people want and what they are
getting.
-- Nearly half of employees (47%) cite having too many tempting snack
options in their workplaces as the top reason they are not able to eat
healthy in the workplace
-- Less than 3 out of 10 employees (28%) claim that they are fully
satisfied with the amount of healthy snack options provided to them in
the workplace
-- The #1 food employees want in the workplace is fresh produce; however
only 36% of companies that provide food for employees regularly
purchase
fruits and vegetables

-- The least desired food item that employees want in the workplace is
candy; yet 1 out of 3 businesses (35%) provide candy for their
employees
on a regular basis

Survey findings also show that employees whose companies use grocery delivery
services such as Peapod Business Delivery, eat the healthiest while at work.
Out of these respondents, more than half (54%) said they were satisfied with
the amount of healthy food options their office provides for them. However,
only 14% of respondents whose offices used other means to provide food in the
office, claimed to be satisfied with the amount of healthy food options
provided for them.

"More and more businesses (over 3000) are starting to rely on Peapod to
provide their employees with a healthy balance of food options," says Peapod
President, Andrew Parkinson. "We carry thousands of grocery items, from soda
and cold cuts to yogurt and paper towels. Interestingly, one of the most
popular items for our workplace customers is our new best of the season fruit
basket. "

About Peapod LLC
Founded in 1989 as a smart shopping option for busy people, Peapod today
stands as the country's leading Internet grocer, serving 22 U.S. markets in
communities in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, District
of Columbia, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and
New Jersey. The Skokie, Illinois-based company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Royal Ahold in The Netherlands, has achieved over 14 million deliveries since
its late 1980s inception. For more information on Peapod, call 1.800.5.PEAPOD
(573.2763); e-mail service@peapod.com or visit www.peapod.com.

SOURCE Peapod

Elana Margolis of Peapod, LLC, +1-847-583-6313