Curious why your inclusive workplace may still feel unintentionally exclusive?
While many HR policies in India focus on diversity and performance, one crucial aspect is often overlooked: food. In a country where cuisine is tied to religion, culture, ethics, and health, ignoring dietary preferences can lead to discomfort and alienation—even if unintentional.
The Life TrackR dashboard provides clear, organized data on employees’ food preferences. It offers HR teams an opportunity to turn mealtime into a moment of belonging.
Why Food Preferences Matter in Indian Workplaces
Food is not a mere logistical function; it’s an extension of identity. In India, workplace food decisions affect everything from employee participation to emotional safety. Understanding:
- Veg vs. Non-Veg
- Cuisine type
- Fasting days
- Allergies
- Meal timings
…can make a significant difference in employee morale and inclusivity.
When food options fail to consider religious fasts or vegetarian choices, employees may feel overlooked—even if unintentionally. But this can be easily resolved using intelligent insights from the Life TrackR dashboard.
The Life TrackR Dashboard: What It Can Tell HR
The Life TrackR platform provides aggregated and individual-level (optional) data on:
- Dietary preferences (vegetarian, non-vegetarian, vegan, Jain)
- Fasting routines (e.g., Mondays, Thursdays, Navratri, Ekadashi)
- Preferred regional cuisines (Gujarati, Bengali, South Indian, etc.)
- Health constraints (e.g., diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, nut-free)
- Ideal meal timings (for shift workers, flexible teams, etc.)
This data can be used by HR and Admin teams to create thoughtful food policies, avoid accidental exclusion, and increase the sense of care within the workplace.
Actionable HR Initiatives Using Food Data
1. Introduce Rotating ‘Pure Veg Days’
Designate one day each week as a vegetarian-only day, based on preference data. This supports strict vegetarians and religious observances without affecting the rest of the week.
2. Add Fasting-Friendly Options
Use fasting data to prepare dishes like sabudana khichdi, fruits, and farali meals on popular fasting days. This shows respect for employees’ religious or health routines.
3. Curate Regional Cuisine Days
If a large portion of your staff prefers specific cuisines, introduce monthly menu rotations (e.g., “South Indian Wednesdays” or “Bengali Fridays”) to reflect diversity.
4. Label Food Transparently
All dishes should clearly indicate:
- Vegetarian or non-vegetarian
- Contains onion/garlic
- Jain-friendly
- Contains common allergens (e.g., dairy, nuts, gluten)
This enables safer choices and demonstrates thoughtfulness.
5. Use Employee Feedback for Menu Planning
Distribute short, anonymous food feedback forms powered by The Life TrackR. Use this input to revise canteen offerings or vendor contracts.
6. Personalize Food Options Where Possible
For organizations with meal vouchers or flexible food budgets, use preference data to let employees choose vendors based on their own needs (Jain, vegan, regional options).
7. Accommodate Non-Standard Meal Timings
Sales, support, and remote teams may not eat at traditional lunch hours. Create staggered meal times or on-demand options based on timing data.
Often Overlooked Areas in Corporate Food Inclusivity
Even well-intentioned companies may miss the mark due to lack of data or oversight. Here are commonly neglected issues:
1. Fasting Days: Meals on Navratri or Ekadashi often ignore religious dietary restrictions.
2. No Jain or Onion/Garlic-Free Options: Many strict vegetarian employees compromise or skip meals due to missing variants.
3. Lack of Labeling: Absence of allergen or veg/non-veg tags causes confusion and hesitation.
4. Uniform Portions: Calorie-conscious or diabetic employees need varied portioning, but this is rarely available.
5. Office Celebrations: Cake cutting and fried snacks dominate without alternatives for vegans, diabetics, or fasting employees.
Addressing these silently improves well-being, morale, and inclusivity.
The HR Advantage: Why This Matters
When HR teams act on food preference data:
- Employees feel respected and valued.
- Workplace satisfaction rises during shared meals.
- Participation increases in canteen and food-related events.
- Inclusivity metrics improve across teams and functions.
This is a powerful way to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) beyond the traditional scope.
Take the First Step Today
- Access the Food Preference section of your Life TrackR dashboard.
- Identify the top 3 dietary trends in your team.
- Implement one small menu or scheduling change this week.
The result? Immediate improvement in employee satisfaction, without high cost or complexity.
FAQs
1. Why should HR be involved in food planning?
Because food directly impacts employee comfort, health, and cultural inclusion—core parts of the HR function.
2. Is employee food data privacy-compliant?
Yes. Life TrackR anonymizes data unless employees choose to share details personally.
3. Will menu adjustments cost more?
No. Most adjustments are cost-neutral, focused on smart planning, not expansion.
4. What if my organization uses meal vouchers?
You can still use data to recommend inclusive vendors or default options.
5. Should we include food preference questions during onboarding?
Absolutely. Life TrackR can integrate this as part of your digital induction.
6. How do we ensure fair treatment of both veg and non-veg eaters?
Use rotational menus and balanced frequency based on actual data, not assumptions.
7. Do these changes apply to small teams too?
Yes. Even small gestures matter. Data-informed inclusivity builds stronger team culture.
8. How do we engage our food vendors in this process?
Share summary insights from Life TrackR and request menu alignment based on needs.
#HRIndia #WorkplaceDiversity #FoodInclusivity #LifeTrackR #IndianCanteens #EmployeeWellbeing
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published here https://thelifetrackr.com/why-hr-must-understand-employee-food-preferences-data-a-strategic-step-toward-inclusivity/ by @Kairav and @krutika