When the multi-ministry task force announced on April 30 that employers should allow workers to work from home (WFH) where possible, I said my goodbyes to the pantry.

Yes, I will miss the snacks. The free snacks.

Let me begin my defence of working from office (WFO) with an unpopular equation:

WFO > WFH ∵ snacks.

But first, here’s a caveat: I fully support the government’s call to WFH but the allure of free snacks lying around the pantry with their alluring packaging is too hard for a mere mortal to resist.

Now, I know that not every pantry is a good pantry. I can fully empathise with your predicament given that my office pantry, while certainly not the most bountiful in Singapore, is still rather stacked.

Looking at my crystal ball, I can vaguely make out a few thoughts you may have, “Can’t you afford snacks?”, “Mothership not paying you well enough issit?” and even a “Good morning, this kinda snacks you also happy?”

Do allow me the time and space to explain, please.

Situation at home

So the story goes: boy meets girl. They marry, have one kid and another. And with every new kid, the snack count in the kitchen drops to an all-time low.

Check out my “pantry” now.

It is pregnant with promise.

One of my kids’ innate talents is eating, which I’m not sure what that translates to career-wise (hey, I’m Asian after all), but if my wife and I don’t put in the necessary preventive measures, childhood obesity is on the horizon.

As any ah beng would proclaim: “If I don’t go to hell, who will?”

Sure, I may be exaggerating but even if you stripped off my creative licence, you will find me covertly snacking in the service yard as quietly as possible whenever my kids are at home.

Like Pavlov’s dog, I’m conditioned to cut down on snacks at home and boy, has it been lethargic.

That’s my life at home and I accept that. And I hope that you can accept why I prefer WFO.

Snacc is good for productivity. Serious.

Now, I’m not advocating that we snack all day long in the office. I know I don’t.

In fact, I do that for an honourable and admirable reason: to up my productivity.

Even if you do not trust me and my working habits, it has been well documented that snacking does help with productivity.

In fact, a lack of snacks leads to poorer productivity.

Listen, I know my job is 90 per cent deskbound and the only calories I burn while working in the office is from the trek from table to pantry (approximately 73 steps), but being in this line requires much brain power so that I can serve you content like this that you absolutely didn’t ask for but will still read and agree with.

According to a research published on Time, while the brain represents just two per cent of a person’s total body weight, it accounts for 20 per cent of the body’s energy use.

Big brain energy, indeed.

But healthy snaccs only, please

Alas for a man my age (getting real close to a legit mid-life crisis now), gone are the days of wild potato chips abandon.

I’ve got to check what I put in my mouth.

My go-to snacks are usually boring. You know, the likes of almonds, cashew nuts and more nuts. Which can be tiresome for my spirit and my mouth (from all that chewing).

I do need some variety in my snacking career.

Lo and behold, Pocky.

Made with wholewheat, and real blueberry and almond bits, you get the best of both worlds: a real snack and real goodness.

When I first sink my teeth into them (yes, I prefer more than one stick at any one time), I tear a little because I can really taste the real blueberry and almond bits.

And the best thing about this? It’s not too filling so it’s perfect to satisfy any cravings and help me focus at work.

And hey, it looks good for breakfast too. Can totally imagine these wholewheat sticks dipped in cereal bowls.

Guess what, it looks like it belongs in the office pantry.

Pocky Wholesome is now available at all leading supermarkets.

And the Mothership pantry.

This sponsored post made this writer think about all the snaccs in the office.