Holiday Office Potluck Ideas

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Ah, the holiday potluck and the dreaded question: what will you make? Stop guessing over food allergies, how many people are already making brownies or where you’ll find the recipe for the dish you made last year. We’ve got five crowd-pleasing recipes, one of which is sure to fit your office’s palate.

Please-everyone Corn Bread

Corn Bread - Holiday Office Potluck Ideas

You can never go wrong with cornbread. And this dairy-free, gluten-free option is safe for everyone. The best part? You can serve it chilled. So bake it the night before, wrap it up and it’s good to go. Get the recipe here.

Stand-out Salad

Stand-out-Salad: Holiday Office Potluck Ideas

Made of wheat berry, cranberry and kale, this hearty winter salad will please even your most green-averse colleague. It’s sweet, crunchy and colourful. And so easy to take-along. Get the recipe here.

Easy, Cheesy Bake

Cheesy Bake: Holiday Office Potluck Ideas

The ultimate comfort food, crispy on top and gooey with cheese. Sausage rounds out this classic Italian ‘potato cake’. You’ll want to reheat before serving, but it’s travel-friendly and easy to make in advance. Get the recipe here.

Indestructible Crumble

Apple Crumble: Holiday Office Potluck Ideas

Hearty and easy to take-away, go with a crumble. A pie will crack, but a crumble will look great even after a lengthy commute. We love this apple option, suitable for vegans, gluten-free and sugar-free folk. The yummy coconut cream topping is optional. Get the recipe here.

Festive Dessert

Festive Dessert: Holiday Office Potluck Ideas

Put a twist on the classic holiday sugar cookie in the form of peppermint, chocolate and — you guessed it — take-away ease. Peppermint chocolate sugar cookie bars are just unexpected enough, while appealing to cookie traditionalists. And taking a hammer to a handful of candy canes for this topping is the ultimate holiday shopping therapy. Get the recipe here.

Healthy Halloween Treat Options

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Candy, costumes and Horror movies are already in full swing! Halloween is just around the corner and we have some ideas for those looking to minimize their candy intake. Nothing wrong with a little treat every now and then, but Halloween time is usually filled with loads of kid’s candy or leftovers from trick or treating. If you’re looking for an alternative treat this October take a look at these “not-so-scary” treat ideas from the Fitbit blog:

SPICED MAPLE PUMPKIN SEEDS

What better way to celebrate the fall season than with pumpkin-spiced anything! Take a snack break from that pumpkin carving and separate the pumpkin seeds and place them on a baking sheet. In a separate bowl, mix maple syrup, five spice powder, cinnamon and sea salt to taste. Bake for 15 minutes and you have yourself some sweet and salty seeds!

Five Spice Maple Pumpkin Seeds | Get Inspired Everyday!

http://getinspiredeveryday.com/food/five-spice-maple-pumpkin-seeds/

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE

A better alternative than that sugar-filled latte and a great way to start your morning on a chilly day. Mix Greek yogurt, banana and pumpkin puree. Then add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. You can also sweeten it up with some maple syrup.

Image result for pumpkin smoothie

POPCORN WITH TURMERIC & COCONUT

Caramel corn is a classic cavity causer, especially this time of year. Take the healthy alternative and mix your kernels in aromatic coconut oil, then sprinkle the bowl with turmeric and a grind of black pepper. Spice it up by sprinkling cinnamon on top.

Image result for popcorn turmeric coconut oil

SQUASH SOUP PUMPKIN BOWL

If you have a little extra time, try this delicious treat! Carve out some baking pumpkins and roast them until tender. While roasting, make the squash soup in a separate pot. Puree until smooth and add the soup to the baked pumpkins. Add croutons to the bowl, and sprinkle in some salt and pepper to taste.

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http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/squash-soup-in-pumpkin-bowls-recipe.html

SPIDER BITES

This easy recipe is not only delicious, but a little spooky too! All you need is pretzel sticks, peanut butter and chocolate chips. In a microwavable bowl, mix the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Melt and stir until smooth and then add pretzel sticks. With clean hands, grab the pretzel sticks and drop onto a baking sheet in clusters to look like spiders. Then just place them in the freezer until chocolate is hardened, which is usually about 5 minutes!

SH0907_Spider_Bites.jpg.rend.snigalleryslide.jpeg

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/spider-bites-recipe.html

 CINNAMON APPLE CHIPS

Two ingredients is all you will need for this delicious recipe! Take your apples and slice them thinly, removing any seeds. Place apple slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle cinnamon over top. Bake for one hour and then flip them, baking for another hour or so until apples are no longer moist.

apple chips recipe

http://paleogrubs.com/baked-apple-chips-recipe

So before you go to grab the leftover chocolate and candy this autumn, try some of these healthy recipes instead!

How a Small Business Can Benefit from Giving Back

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Of course, giving back feels great. But many businesses struggle to find the time, or resources, to interrupt a work day in the name of charity.

Here’s something that might help: by giving back, you’re also positioning your company for success. The lost wages and productivity from one afternoon of office-wide volunteer work can have massive returns. But how?

New Connections

Charity work is a great way to network with like-minded businesses. While you’re making connections with other companies that share your philanthropic outlook, you’re making an impression in your community, too.

Try it. Hold a 5k fun-run to benefit your local soup kitchen. You can encourage the community – along with other local businesses — to participate.

Build Brand Reputation

Social responsibility is becoming more and more valuable in today’s world, especially among Millennials. When a company shares its values – like giving back – it creates an opportunity for clients to connect with it, not just on a professional level, but on a personal, moral level. That kind of relationship is the foundation for loyalty.

Try it. Set up an office volunteer clean-up crew, and schedule regular visits – along with branded tees – to local beaches and parks.

Employee Retention

Simply put, employees like working for someone with moral character. If you care about giving back to the community, chances are you care about the well-being of your employees too. That message will come across loud and clear in your work environment.

Try it. Open up the company parking lot for a cash wash to benefit a local boys and girls charity. Make it a team-building exercise by creating big, colourful posters in the morning and set up the car wash after lunch.