Healthy Eating at Work
Recent studies have shown that most Canadian adults are not meeting the minimum servings from Canada's Food Guide on a daily basis. On average most of employees spend 60% of waking hours at work, it stands to reason that the workplace is a good place to encourage healthy eating.
Poor eating habits are associated with increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. It is also associated with obesity. Any organization, large or small, can make plans to promote healthy eating. Action can be dependent on size of workplace and facilities available. Healthy eating programs can be a great first step. These programs can bring many individuals together to learn how to improve health both at work and at home. These programs should be part of a complete workplace health program.
- Workplaces with Vending FacilitiesHere are some suggestions for healthy choices for refrigerated, non-refrigerated and beverage vending machines:
- Refrigerated Food Vending Machines (healthy choices)
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Veggie sticks with dip
- Cheese and crackers
- Tuna and crackers
- Fruit salad
- Green salad with low fat dressing
- Sandwiches made with whole grain bread, vegetables, lean meats, fish, lower fat cheese and little or no mayo, margarine or butter
- Crispy rice squares
- Nature squares
- Pretzels
- Grain bars
- Fruit bars
- Almonds - nuts
- Tinned Fruit
- Non-Refrigerated Vending Machines (healthy choices)
- Crispy rice squares
- Nature squares
- Pretzels
- Grain bars
- Fruit bars
- Almonds - nuts
- Tinned Fruit
- Beverage Vending Machines (healthy choices)
- Water
- 100% fruit juice
- Vegetable juice
- 2%, 1% and skim milk including chocolate milk
(Source: Region of Peel Public Health)
- Refrigerated Food Vending Machines (healthy choices)
- Workplaces that have On-Site CafeteriasA workplace cafeteria should support a healthy eating environment through the provision of a dining venue that has safe food handling, healthy food choices and a smoke-free environment.
If your workplace has a cafeteria, you can participate in the Eat Smart! Healthy Workplace Program. This provincial program is designed to enable workplace cafeterias to provide and promote healthy eating and food safety. The Eat Smart! Healthy Workplace Program can enhance the image of your company by promoting your cafeteria as a healthy establishment. Learn More About Eat Smart! Healthy Workplace Program
- Healthy Eating at Meetings and EventsWe know that 60% of an employee's waking hours are spent at work. It is not uncommon to find an employee in lunch meetings or staying a little late and order in food to meet a deadline. It is clear that it is important to pay attention to what is being eaten throughout the workday as healthy eating is essential to the overall well-being of an employee.
A workplace that provides healthy foods at meetings and functions demonstrated its commitment to encouraging good health amongst its employees. Workplaces are in a position to significantly influence food choices, lifestyle and environments by increasing healthy eating options and decreasing barriers. As an organization, the employer has an opportunity to assist employees in making the healthy choice the easy choice.
Learn how healthy eating can be incorporated into your workplace:
Guidelines for Offering Healthy Foods at Meetings and FunctionsMany Canadian adults are trying to loose weight by dieting. For many, the pursuit of the "ideal" size and shape fails over the long term, especially when we're looking for a quick-fix dieting method. In fact, most people usually regain one- to two-thirds of the weight lost through fad diets within one year, and almost all the weight is back within five years 2004 Chief Medical Officer Report Remember the key to maintaining a healthy weight is following Canada's Food Guide and Canada's Physical Activity Guide.
- for more information consider
- Be a champion in your workplace- start a healthy eating challenge
- Create challenges between departments through out the year and to celebrate Canada's Healthy Workplace month
- Promote healthier food choices at meetings (when and if it is necessary to serve food)
- Distribute healthy eating tips as paycheque inserts
- Learn to read food labels
- Plan healthy lunches
- Consider Community Food Advisor's presentation or Lunch and Learn (905-688 8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext 7395
- Develop a healthy eating policy in your workplace
