Healthy Eating at Work: Environment Matters
Another important factor that affects healthy eating is the environment in which we live in us as well as lack of awareness. Worksite Wellness Programs that support environmental changes are quite effective strategies for lowering worker health risks. They provide ongoing support to workers about how to make healthier eating choices.
Like business policies, be sure that you have the support from senior management as these Worksite Wellness Programs can be intrusive and cause resistance among workers at 1st.
Work with your local vending machine business as to the best possible options for your company. Here are some examples of Worksite Wellness Programs that would fit into this category.
Healthy Eating at Work: Vending Machines
Vending Machines are a wonderful place to intervene, educate, and highlight “better” choices for at your company. Color code selections in red (bad), yellow (better option) and green (healthiest). Put better choices at eye level and the least healthy at the very bottom of the machines.
Make unhealthy choices more expensive. Stock machines with primarily healthy snack items and avoid or completely remove vending machines with unhealthy items.
Healthy Eating in Worksite Cafeterias
Cafeteria Plans, if you have an onsite cafeteria, an provide workers with raise knowledge about making better choices in places with multiple items and unlimited portions.
- Highlight healthier choices available while still utilizing cafeteria foods.
- Place portion control models (i.e. what is a cup of spaghetti) to educate about portion control.
- Discount healthier options for workers who make better choices.
Healthy Eating in Company Break Rooms
Company Break Rooms are a wonderful place to promote healthier choices.
- Be certain to provide a place where workers can store and prepare foods from home.
- Place educational fliers and handouts on tables or on bulletin boards about portion size, saturated fats, fruits and vegetables or whatever you feel will be of interest and is of need among workers.
- Include a fresh drinking water cooler to promote increased water consumption.
- Offer an worker recipe swap that will encourage healthier substitutions while cooking or baking.
Company Policies for Healthy Eating
Company Policies must have management support if you plan to introduce any new formal or informal policies into the company.
- Encourage or only allow for healthy options to be provided at special business meetings, events, or occasions instead of cookies, cakes, or donuts, etc.
- Be certain to provide guidelines for foods that would accepted or considered “healthy.” Inject policies for not only foods but also beverages provided in the workplace.
- Corporations that have an onsite cafeteria can develop policies about foods that don’t meet certain guidelines for calories, fat, sodium, cholesterol, etc.
Use your creativity, get the support of your management team and your workers and do what you can to start a supportive environment for healthy eating at your company.
