It’s no secret that healthy eating is a necessary component of good health. A diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables helps protect against heart disease and colon cancer. [1]

What’s healthy eating? It includes selecting fruits and vegetables regularly during the day, choosing low-fat food and beverages whenever possible, and consistently offering healthy choices to employees during meetings and/or celebrations. For employers, it also can include offering smaller-sized portions at a reduced price, providing whole grain items, and offering a variety of options for employees’ consumption.

As an employer, you have a unique opportunity to influence the healthy eating selections offered to employees. A workplace environment that promotes and supports healthy eating can support your organization’s overall strategy for managing employees’ health.

Employers will need to identify what constitutes a “healthy choice” for their population. For example, this could mean a focus on fruits and vegetables, low-calorie beverages, portion sizes or a combination of items. The important thing is to be clear and consistent in all communications.

The key components of creating and sustaining a workplace that promotes healthy eating are to provide healthy choices, make them financially attractive for employees and set expectations about food served at meetings and events.

This toolkit provides a variety of effective options that can fit different workplaces and employee populations. You may choose to implement all the pieces of the toolkit or focus on one or two particular areas that best fit with your unique situation.

Endnotes
[1] The Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables: A Scientific Overview for Health Professionals by Dianne Hyson, Product for Better Health Foundation (2002).