We are what we eat and if we eat fresh, nutritious foods, then we’ll be healthier and happier employees. With the stresses of many modern workplaces, eating healthy isn’t always a priority, but it should be.
Why should you eat well at work?
The answer may seem obvious, but how you eat at work could have more of an impact than you think. Opting for foods high in sugar or saturated fat at lunch might give you an immediate energy boost, but this will be shortly followed by a serious crash, leaving you lethargic, unproductive and ready for 6pm.
In addition, you might be eating two or three meals a day, five days a week at work, so your nutritional habits in the workplace will have a significant impact on your physical appearance, weight and wellbeing. Getting used to choosing healthier, balanced options will reduce the likelihood of weight gain or illness and will keep you feeling confident in yourself and your work.
There are a number of ways you can promote healthy eating at work
Lunch Roulette
Healthy nutrition at work requires a top-down mentality and this is certainly the case at Freeletics; what the boss does, we all do! One of these initiatives is lunch roulette. This means that once a month, employees from across the company are randomly sorted into groups and have to go out for lunch or cook together one day. Not only does this promote shared healthy eating habits across the company, but it means that people who would never usually speak get to spend time together and find common interests over a salad or summer roll.
Membership cards for local healthy restaurants
Another way to encourage employees to eat well is by partnering up with local healthy restaurants to offer employee discounts. Not only does this encourage healthier habits, but it also helps support your local economy.
Keep healthy snacks on hand
We all need a pick-me-up later in the day, but this mid-afternoon energy boost doesn’t have to come at the expense of good nutrition. Instead of candy, chocolate or chips, keep dried fruit, nuts and seeds handy for employees. These keep you full for longer and provide a slower, longer energy release, eliminating the post-sugar crash.
Cook together
Cooking together doesn’t just bring people together. It also inspires them to eat healthier as they’re aware of what’s going into the food they’re eating. Don’t have kitchen facilities at work? No problem. Foods like summer rolls, wraps and salads are all healthy meal options that don’t require cooking equipment.
Prepare your lunch the night (or the weekend) before
Prepare your food in advance by organizing the right portions in single containers for each meal. This way, you know exactly how much you’re eating. Itmight seem simple, but meal preparation equates to meal awareness, which makes all the difference between adequate nutrition and mindful nutrition.
If you do eat out, choose the healthier option
Convenience doesn’t always have to be unhealthy. Whether your company offers membership cards or not, when going out for lunch, try to choose healthier, more nutritious options, as tempting as that greasy kebab might be!
Let’s recap:
A little effort can go a long way. Making small changes to your workday nutrition could improve your energy levels, increase productivity and keep that mid-afternoon slump at bay, no caffeine needed. Whether you’re an employer or employee, try implementing some of these ideas into your daily working life and see the difference for yourself.
