When employees are healthy, they are productive, engaged, and help create a more dynamic place of business
Most people know that good nutrition and healthy eating help them live longer and live healthier. Good nutrition can help manage weight, improve digestion, promote mental health, and prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancers. But helping employees eat a nutritional diet is also beneficial to businesses.
A study of 20,000 employees by Brigham Young University shows that workers with unhealthy eating habits were 66 percent more likely to slack off in their jobs. Similarly, those who rarely consumed fruits and vegetables were 93 percent more likely to be unproductive at work. From a business perspective, this can have a significant impact on the bottom line.
The study concluded that highlighting workplace nutrition can have a substantial impact on business operations. Healthy eating increases productivity, decreases the number of sick days, increases happiness, and improves employees’ overall performance.
Nutrition is a crucial component of well-being programs
“Understanding the impact of nutrition on employees is a crucial component of effective workplace well-being programs,” says Wesleigh Roeca, director of workplace well-being, Lifesum, a healthy eating platform. She gives some insight into how nutrition impacts employees.
“Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by providing essential nutrients necessary for proper bodily functions, preventing diseases, and fostering good health. Additionally, the impact of food on hormonal balance is significant, influencing metabolic processes, mood regulation, and responses to stress. Achieving a balance in hormones is pivotal for one's overall well-being.
“Moreover, the relationship between food and energy levels is notable, as different foods with varying glycemic indexes and nutritional profiles can affect blood sugar levels, influencing the stability of energy throughout the day. Weight management is also influenced by food with different foods impacting metabolism and appetite, crucial elements in effective weight control.”
She adds, “Mental health and cognitive function are further aspects affected by nutrient-rich foods, supporting brain health and overall mental well-being. Stress management is another dimension, with certain foods contributing to or alleviating stress and impacting cortisol levels and overall health.”
Even life expectancy is influenced by food intake, as is quality of life if impacted by chronic disease.
Roeca says it is imperative that employers adopt nutritional wellness as a core component of their well-being programs. There are many ways employers can determine the needs of their workforce and even create tailored interventions to promote employee health and well-being.
Employers can conduct employee surveys to understand dietary habits and find out what types of nutrition or food programs they would be interested in. They can track absenteeism and productivity levels. They can also observe workplace behaviours – including what people are eating – and gather feedback.
Employers should also check the workplace for any barriers to healthy eating choices, such as lack of access to refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, and blenders. Many employees say part of the reason they don’t eat as well as they could is because they spend most of their time at work, without access to nutritional foods. Employers can help correct this by offering water, fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods instead of unhealthy drinks and snacks.
Putting the nutritional component into the wellness program
Once they decide to enhance the nutritional component of their wellness program, employers must decide how they plan to implement the strategy. A comprehensive strategy will include programs, policies, and environmental supports. Programs will provide opportunities for employees to begin, change, or maintain health behaviours. Policies, formal or informal, will provide statements, support, and reminders to promote the programs. Environmental supports are the physical factors at work that help protect and enhance health.
There are many types of programs and supports that employers can offer, and they should be determined by the needs of the workforce. Roeca gives some ideas for employers to consider:
- Offer a wellness program focused on nutrition
- Utilizing employee assistance programs (EAPs) for nutrition counseling
- Host regular workshops or seminars led by nutritionists or health experts to educate employees about the importance of healthy eating, balanced diets, and making informed food choices
- Stock the workplace kitchen or vending machines with a variety of healthy snacks, such as fruits, nuts, and yogurt
- Organize wellness challenges focused on nutrition, such as a ‘Vegetable-a-Day’ challenge or a ‘Hydration Challenge.’ Offering incentives or rewards will make it fun for employees to participate
- Provide employees with access to fitness and nutrition apps that offer personalized meal plans, and recipes, such as Lifesum for Work
- Instead of team happy hours, offer team cooking classes as a great way to educate employees about healthy recipes while offering team building at the same time
There are an unlimited number of ideas for employers to use to promote healthy eating. “The key is to make these initiatives engaging, inclusive, and sustainable throughout the year, creating a workplace culture that values and supports holistic health,” Roeca says.
When employee health and nutrition are not maximized, employers have higher health benefit and disability costs and experience more employee absenteeism, safety concerns, and lost productivity. Studies repeatedly show that healthier, less stressed employees are happier, more creative, and ultimately more productive and engaged.
