Encouraging Staff Member Healthful Consuming and Exercise.

In today’s corporation environment, the health of staff members is often related to the health of the corporation. Increased job satisfaction, improved morale, decreased disease and injuries, and increased productivity are just some of the advantages of having healthy staff members.

Promoting health in your workplace does not have to be complicated, costly or time-consuming. Any organization, big or small, can promote healthful consuming and active living in the workplace. Here are some suggestions -

Healthy Eating

• for breakfast meetings, in lieu of serving donuts, large muffins, cookies, tea and coffee with cream and sugar, offer healthier alternatives such as bagels, small muffins, fresh fruit, water, 100% fruit juice and milk with coffee and tea.

• for lunch meetings, avoid serving chips, fried foods, rich pastas, and salads loaded with dressing. Instead, offer sandwiches, bagels, whole grain low fat crackers and cheese, 100 % fruit juice, water, salads with dressing on the side, vegetable and fruit trays.

• Reimburse workers for items purchased to improve their health (e.g. healthy consuming cookbooks, consultation with a Registered Dietitian).

• Arrange for the cafeteria or food vendors to offer healthy food choices.

• Arrange to have healthful options like bottled water, 100 percent fruit juice, fruit bars, and raisins available in vending machines.

• Provide a means for people  to share healthful recipes with each other (for example, posting recipes on the Intranet, on posters or by e-mail).

Active Living

• Plan events and group activities to encourage workers to become active, like walking programs, contests and challenge events, stretch breaks, team sports or participation in local or provincial events.

• Offer on-site health experts (e.g. fitness trainers, fitness instructors) or incorporate this service in worker assistance programs to help employees work towards physical activity goals.

• Provide a supportive environment in the workplace that makes healthful options easy -  bike racks, shower facilities, clean, safe and accessible stairwells, walking or running routes close to the workplace, and fitness club facilities.

• Allow for flex time so that staff members have more opportunities to participate in fitness plans as part of their working day.

• Reimburse workers for full or partial club membership fees, fitness class registrations, and fitness equipment buys.

• Give corporate health club memberships to reduce costs of individual memberships.

Keeping It Fresh!

Find a champion to -

• Organize lunch “n learn sessions to provide information and motivation for healthy eating and active living.

• Invite demonstrators to provide cooking lessons or tips for making healthy foods.

• Post a rotating list in a common room of local restaurants that offer healthy food choices on their menus.

• Distribute information to educate employees on portion sizes.

• Include exercise and nutrition information in newsletters, pay check inserts, bulletin boards or e-mails.

• Plan activities that promote healthy eating and physical activity. for example, begin a year-round lunch-time walking club, and special activities