4 Ways to Encourage Healthy Eating in the Workplace

How do you know your workforce is healthy?  Just look at their productivity.  There is a lot to worry about in the workplace post-pandemic, including the quality of the air, cleanliness of workstations, kitchens, bathrooms, and your staff’s general well-being.  A healthy workforce has energy and optimum productivity.

There is a saying: we are what we eat, yet many people overlook the impact eating habits can have on their cognitive functions, mood, and concentration.

So should companies delve deep into their workers eating habits?  No, however you can encourage healthy eating and inform workers while they’re on your time, the positive outcomes they’ll experience being more consciously aware of what they’re eating, how much and how often. Then, through a few adjustments to your workplace and company culture, your workers can experience their best self.

Here are a few simple ways you could encourage healthy eating in the workplace.

Use Snack Services

There are plenty of snack services out there that will allow you to provide snacks to your employees cheaply. In addition, they allow you to buy various snacks in bulk so you can save on total costs. They’re also a great way to show that you actually care about your employees’ well-being.

However, not all of them are created equal, and some might be healthier than others. For example, you can choose an office snack service or work with your team to source healthy snacks like dried fruits, nuts, and low-calorie options. What’s important is your workers do eat. Food is fuel, so it’s a worthwhile investment to make sure your team is getting the right fuel to feed their brains so they can focus on their tasks without distraction.

Incentivize your Employees

There are plenty of ways you could make things easier for your employees and incentivize healthy eating. Some companies, for instance, will have free fruit around the office or will allow their employees to have access to mineral water. If you have vending machines, make sure you stock them up with healthy foods and the usual snacks. And make sure that healthy options are much cheaper as well.

Encourage Taking a Break

You have to institute a culture in your business where your employees feel free to enjoy a full lunch break and sufficient screen break time. This will encourage healthy eating habits and reduce stress as well. Ensure that they don’t eat at their desk and consider giving flexible break hours to get out and stretch their legs.

A lunch hour should be long enough to let them go out and enjoy a healthy meal if they want to. Enjoying fresh air will also leave them invigorated for the second half of the day.

Part of the Company Culture

If you want your employees to truly dedicate themselves to healthy eating, it must be part of your company’s mission and put it down in writing.

Make sure that your commitment to healthy eating and overall health is part of the staff handbook. You should also make it clear to your staff that your mission will translate into actual policy. For example, let them know that healthy eating options will be subsidized or completely free of charge. Also, make sure that you consider adopting a corporate food plan if you have a cafeteria.

Conclusion

Lead by example and share with your workers the changes you’ve made to your diet and what you can do now that wasn’t possible on the old diet.

Investing in whole foods options for snacks is a great way to show your staff what it means to have healthy and happy workers in the workplace.

Remember, real change takes a step at a time. First, your workers will need to form new habits, and on average, it takes 66 days so use this time to get the lasting result your business desires for a happier and healthier workplace.

Do you want to know how to manage your remote workers more effectively? See this article.