As an employer aiming to promote healthier food choices among your employees, it’s essential to approach this initiative with a thoughtful and empathetic strategy. Here are a few ideas we’ve shared with Masterclass participants to help promote behaviour change among their employees. Not all ideas will be suitable for every organisation. Choose the ones that are relevant to your resources and speak to your employees’ needs.
1. Make healthy options easy to access: Ensure that healthy food options are readily available in workplace cafeterias or vending machines. Make these options appealing, convenient, and competitively priced compared to less healthy alternatives.
2. Promote mindful eating: Encourage employees to practice mindful eating. Offer resources on how to savour and enjoy meals, emphasising the importance of paying attention to hunger and fullness cues.
3. Educational workshops: Host workshops or seminars led by nutrition experts to educate employees about the benefits of healthy eating. Discuss the impact of nutrition on energy levels, mood, and overall well-being.
4. Team challenges: Organise friendly team challenges that promote healthy eating. For example, a “Healthy Lunch Challenge” where teams share and vote on the most nutritious lunch choices can create a positive, supportive atmosphere.
5. Incorporate social norms: Highlight the growing trend of health-conscious workplaces. Showcase success stories of individuals or companies that have experienced positive outcomes from implementing wellness programs.
6. Workplace challenges with incentives: Introduce workplace challenges focused on healthy eating, with incentives for participation and achievement. Recognise and reward employees who consistently make healthy choices.
7. Personalised nutritional counselling: Offer one-on-one nutritional counselling sessions for employees. Personalised advice can address individual concerns and preferences, making it more likely for them to adopt healthier habits.
8. Provide resources: Distribute informative materials such as pamphlets, posters, or newsletters that offer practical tips on nutrition, easy recipes, and guidance on making healthier choices when dining out.
9. Continuous communication: Maintain ongoing communication about the importance of nutrition and wellness. Regularly share tips, success stories, and updates to keep the topic relevant and encourage sustained interest.
Remember, the key is to create an environment that makes healthy choices the easy and attractive option. Combining educational efforts with supportive policies and a positive workplace culture can significantly contribute to overcoming resistance and promoting healthier food choices among your employees.
Want more advice and guidance? Join the next Workforce Nutrition Masterclass
The Workforce Nutrition Masterclass is a collaborative initiative of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF). It is designed to support organisations with the planning, development and implementation of workforce nutrition programmes. The curriculum covers Breastfeeding at Work, Healthy food at Work, Nutrition Education and Nutrition-focused Health Checks, in addition to guiding participants in the practical application of such initiatives. During the Masterclass, participants receive various tools and resources to enhance the live virtual training sessions, delivered over 12 weeks. The next one kicks off on 27 March 2024. Enquire or book your spot today.