Encouraging Employee Healthy Eating and Exercise.

In today’s organization environment, the health of staff members is usually related to the health of the organization. Better job satisfaction, improved morale, decreased illness and injuries, and increased productivity are just some of the benefits of having healthful staff members.

Marketing health in your worksite doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time-consuming. Any company, big or small, can promote healthful eating and active living in the worksite. Here are some suggestions -

Healthful Eating

o  For breakfast meetings, instead of serving donuts, big muffins, cookies, tea and coffee with cream and sugar, offer healthier alternatives such as bagels, small muffins, fresh fruit, water, 100 percent fruit juice and milk with coffee and tea.

o  For lunch meetings, avoid serving chips, fried foods, rich pastas, and salads loaded with dressing. Instead, offer sandwiches, bagels, whole grain low fat crackers and cheese, 100 % fruit juice, water, salads with dressing on the side, vegetable and fruit trays.

o  Reimburse workers for items purchased to improve their health (e.g. healthy consuming cookbooks, consultation with a Registered Dietitian).

o  Arrange for the cafeteria or food providers to offer healthful food choices.

o  Arrange to have healthful options like bottled water, 100 percent fruit juice, fruit bars, and raisins available in vending machines.

o  Provide a means for people  to share healthful recipes with each other (for example, posting recipes on the Intranet, on posters or by e-mail).

Active Living

o  Plan events and group activities to encourage personnel to become active, such as walking programs, contests and challenge events, stretch breaks, team sports or participation in local or provincial events.

o  Provide on-site health experts (e.g. fitness trainers, fitness instructors) or incorporate this service in staff member assistance programs to help staff work towards physical activity objectives.

o  Give a supportive environment in the workplace that makes healthy choices easy – bike racks, shower facilities, clean, safe and accessible stairwells, walking or running routes about the workplace, and health and fitness center facilities.

o  Allow for flex time so that staff have more opportunities to take part in fitness plans as part of their working day.

o  Reimburse workers for full or partial club membership fees, fitness class registrations, and fitness equipment buys.

o  Give corporate fitness club memberships to reduce costs of individual memberships.

Keeping It Fresh!

Find a champion to -

o  Organize lunch “n learn sessions to provide information and motivation for healthful consuming and active living.

o  Invite demonstrators to provide cooking lessons or tips for making healthful foods.

o  Post a rotating list in a common room of local restaurants that offer healthful food choices on their menus.

o  Distribute information to educate personnel on portion sizes.

o  Include physical activity and nutrition information in newsletters, pay check inserts, bulletin boards or e-mails.

o  Plan activities that promote healthy eating and exercise. for example, start a year-round lunch-time walking club, and special activities