Why should a workplace be concerned about healthy eating?
Together - healthy eating and active living - combined with a positive outlook can lead to:
Reduced risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.
Elevated mood, energy and self-esteem.
Reduced anxiety and stress.
Opportunities to spend enjoyable time with family and friends.
How do you start a 'healthy eating' program?
While it's most important for an employer to provide a safe and healthy workplace, it's also important to encourage healthy lifestyles among their employees. Healthy eating programs can be a great first step. They can bring lots of people together to learn how to improve their health both at work and at home. As always, these programs should be part of a complete workplace health program and should not take resources or attention away from workplace hazards that may be present.
Before you start:
No matter how much you plan or make people aware, healthy eating programs should be voluntary - not everyone will join or be interested. Survey employees to help you to decide what types and levels of programs to offer.
When planning a health program, be sure you know the interests of your audience. In this case:
Know why people are interested in a healthy eating program. Are participants looking for general nutrition information, or more specific programs such as heart health?
Be sure to consider what types of programs have been offered in the past. Which programs worked? Which did not?
Know exactly who your target audience is * who are you trying to reach most?
Plan when will the program be offered (seasonal, or all year)
State who people can go to if they have individual questions or want more help
Enjoy a variety of food.
Choose cereals, breads, other grain products, and vegetables and fruits more often.
Choose low-fat dairy products, lean meats, and food prepared with little or no fat.
Aim to keep a healthy body weight by enjoying regular exercise and healthy eating.
Limit salt, alcohol and caffeine.
What are sample topics for a workplace healthy eating program?
When offering nutrition information at the workplace, be sure to offer a wide range of options. Topics for programs may include:
Understanding the basics.
Weight management and body image.
Fad diets.
Fats and cholesterol.
Salt reduction.
Planning balanced meals for the whole family.
Aging well.
Making smart choices while grocery shopping and reading food labels.
Programs for specific health conditions (diabetes, heart conditions, etc.).
Healthy eating on the run.
Vegetarian eating.
Some more specific things you can do with a workplace healthy eating program are:
Offer material for employees to take home to help them make healthier choices when planning meals. For example:
Provide a sample shopping list and a plan for the week's meals you can make from that list.
Have handouts of the Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (the "Rainbow" or "bar" charts).
Provide information about how to make healthier food choices when shopping, ordering in restaurants, etc.
Teach people how to read and understand food labels.
Provide cooking demonstrations, or cooking tips, for making healthy foods.
Post a list of local restaurants that offer balanced food menus.
Invite a speaker to a 'lunch-n-learn' session.
Have "theme" weeks or months.
Arrange for the cafeteria to offer a range of healthy food choices for every meal.
Have a refrigerator and microwave at work so people can bring healthy lunches from home.
When lunches or drinks are provided at meetings, be sure to provide healthy choices.
Give people a way to share healthy recipes with each other, by using Intranet, e-mail, or posters.
Provide information about how to use low-fat ingredients in favourite recipes.
Organize a potluck lunch at work featuring healthy food choices.
Offer incentives, if people are interested.
Offer a new tip or goal for each week, such as:
I will eat 5 fruits or vegetables each day.
I will eat breakfast every morning.
I will have an extra piece of fruit every day.
Does the workplace influence how people eat?
Yes. Always remember that the workplace environment influences the health of its employees. For example, if a healthy eating program is offered, remember to look at where the employees eat their lunch. A safe and clean eating area is a requirement under most occupational health and safety laws. Beyond this, it is important to look at what is offered at vending machines and staff cafeterias. If you don't look at the larger picture and see how the way the workplace itself influences the eating patterns of the employees, the program will often not work very well.
Be sure the workplace supports healthy eating programs by providing time for employees to go to information sessions, offering appropriate foods in the cafeteria and vending machines, or by having refrigerators and microwaves so that meals can be stored and prepared appropriately.
What are some tips for snacks to keep at work?
Store in your desk or locker Store in the lunchroom fridge On the Road
Crackers
Dried fruit / Canned fruit
Juice box
Rice cakes
Cereal
Granola bars
Instant soups / pastas
Peanut butter
Canned fish
Bagels / Bread
Bran muffins
Yoghurt
Cottage cheese
Fresh fruit
Raw vegetables
Cheese
Milk
Salad greens
Baby carrots
Celery sticks
Bagel bits
Rice cakes
Apples
Crackers
Pretzels |