A healthy and nutritious meal can nourish us. When shared with colleagues, it can also give us a moment to pause, connect, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. This is exactly one of the benefits of workforce nutrition.
This week, as we mark the International Week of Happiness at Work, much of the conversation will rightly focus on what helps people feel good and thrive at work. And while many factors shape that experience, there is one everyday part of the workday that can easily be overlooked: food.
For many people, work is where they spend a significant part of their day, and where they eat at least one meal. What is available, whether healthier choices are accessible, and even whether there is a comfortable space to sit and eat can therefore become part of the everyday workplace experience.
This matters for health. Access to safe and nutritious food can support employee health and wellbeing, and healthy food at work is also associated with benefits such as morale, engagement and productivity.
A meal can offer more than nourishment
Mealtimes can provide a natural pause in the working day, a chance for colleagues to step away from their tasks, sit together and connect. Even something as simple as providing a clean, dedicated space where employees can eat, access drinking water, and take a break can help them relax and feel energised for the rest of the day. So employers have an opportunity to make employees’ experiences healthier and more supportive.
With a workforce nutrition programme, a workplace environment that makes it easier for employees to eat well and care for their health is created. Workforce nutrition alone does not create a happy workplace. But it makes it easier for people to eat well, feel well, and connect with others. This is a meaningful way to support people to thrive.
So, during this International Week of Happiness at Work, employers should make it easier for people to eat well, connect, and thrive. Download our guidebook series to design and implement your workplace nutrition initiatives.