6 ways to help your employees eat (and drink) healthier

October 18, 2021

Most of us spend at least eight hours a day at work, or a third of each day. That means that we may consume at least one meal and perhaps a snack at the worksite. So often, many of us just grab whatever we can get and get back to our busy workdays.

We may claim that we can’t get started without the first cup of coffee in the morning, but the truth is that the food that we consume gives us the energy we need to put in a full day of work. Sure, a piece of candy or a sugar-filled energy drink may give us the immediate “get up and go” that we need to stay alert but it may not be the best choice for your overall health. If you want energy throughout the day, the best choice is a balanced diet made up of a variety of unrefined carbohydrates, proteins and fats, with an emphasis on vegetables, whole grain and unsaturated oils.¹

Combined with an active lifestyle, a healthier diet may also contribute to:

• Reduced risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer
• Improved mood and energy
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• A healthy self-management behavior for those with diabetes or prediabetes

How can you help your employees to get the nutrition – plus the energy and hydration – that they need to thrive? The following steps are a great way to get your employees started on the path to better dietary health:

Make Eating Healthy Simpler

If you don’t have a microwave and refrigerator in your breakroom, your employees are limited in the food that they can eat while at work. If you have the space, consider adding these amenities. If not, put together a binder of restaurants that have healthy eating options close to the workspace for your workforce to consider.

Does your office or business site have vending machines? Another way to encourage better eating is to add more healthy options. You don’t have to remove every unhealthy snack, but just giving your team more variety can go a long way. Consider options that are lower in sugar, calories and fat, as well as drink options that aren’t just sugary sodas.

If your company or organization provides meals to your employees, you should also work to offer meal options that feature fresh fruits and vegetables, along with healthier options like salads, wraps and lean proteins like grilled chicken. You could also offer your employees access to a supported agriculture (CSA) program that may reduce the cost of fresh produce.

Be Part of the Solution

We all love getting a breakfast pick-me-up or a free lunch, right? However if you’re explaining the value of eating healthy to your team one day and then bringing in doughnuts the next, you’re sending a mixed message. You may want to provide fresh fruit for a breakfast treat and if you’re in charge of ordering lunch, consider providing options that include healthier salads and sandwiches, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables on the side.

Another consideration is the snacks that you leave in the company breakroom or jobsite. Instead of salty snacks like potato chips, why not try a fresh veggie tray or some apples?

Keep Them Hydrated

In addition to a healthy diet, staying properly hydrated is incredibly essential. Improper hydration can lead to reduced cognitive abilities, slower reaction times and even reduced productivity. In fact, being dehydrated by just 2% may impair the performance of employees in tasks that require attention, psychomotor skills and memory.²

Encourage your employees to stay properly hydrated by offering access to a water cooler or bottled water on job sites. Remember: excessive consumption of highly caffeinated or sugary drinks may lead to dehydration.

Experts say that we should drink at least four-to-six cups of water a day. However, certain health conditions, such as taking antidepressants or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or having thyroid disease or kidney, liver or heart problems may limit the amount of water you can drink daily. Check with your doctor to find out the right amount for you.

MedExpress Pro Tip: Want some more ways to keep your workforce fully hydrated? Check out 7 Ways to Stay Hydrated (That Don’t Involve Drinking Water) blog.

Try a Healthy Team Lunch Event

When everyone works together toward eating healthier, it gets easier. One way to encourage better food choices is to plan a lunch where each attendee brings in a different healthy dish. You may want to offer some suggestions so that you don’t end up with an entire table of salads but encourage creativity and discussion about what options tasted best. You should always keep the dietary restrictions of others in mind, so that you have options that maintain inclusivity for everyone.

Here’s a recipe to get you started from Lindsay Nelson, a nutritionist at MedExpress:

Energy Balls

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rolled oats
• ½ cup peanut butter or any other kind of nut butter
• ½ cup of ground flaxseed
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2. Refrigerate at least one house.
3. Form into balls.
4. Serve or freeze in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 2 months.

Offer a Healthy Eating Group Program

Create a team and place for a voluntary group to support one another as your team works toward a healthier diet. This group could come up with recipes, discuss different foods and perhaps even plan the food for your next major event. Don’t put any pressure on your employees to join and make it voluntary.

You may also want to create a bulletin board area where members of your team can post tips and healthy recipes to encourage one another. Here are some suggestions from our nutritionist:

• Hold weekly challenges for your team. Give them 6 ingredients to make a meal out of and at the end of the week each person posts their receipt that they came up with.
• Challenge each team member to come up with a healthy recipe that everyone can make in under 30 minutes.
• Transform a typical “kid” meal like chicken fingers or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich by making a healthy version of it.

Get Your Team Talking

Sometimes, it takes an outside speaker to get your employees thinking about healthier eating choices. They can explain the health benefits that come with cutting out sugars and fats, as well as provide some great tips for staying on track.

However you choose to encourage your employees, leave the choices up to them. It isn’t your job to regulate what your employees eat and drink. Instead, guide them by offering choices, suggestions and help. By making it simpler for your workforce to eat healthy – and giving them plenty of encouragement along the way – you just may find yourself with happier and healthier employees.

References:

1 Harvard Medical School: Eating to boost energy. Last updated July 26, 2011. Accessed August 2, 2021.

2 National Library of Medicine: Cognitive performance and dehydration. Last updated April 31, 2012. Accessed August 2, 2021.