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Good nutrition, health and wellbeing at work
Dalhia Campbell • May 24, 2021
Top tips for good nutrition at work
In general, we consume around a third of our daily calories at work.
We all know that what we eat and drink has an effect on our health both long term and short term. It also has a significant effect on our performance at work.
If you are feeling sluggish and can't concentrate at work, take at look at what you are eating and drinking. As well as getting some fresh air and exercise, what we eat and drink during the working day is really important.
A healthy intake at work can boost activity, improve concentration and can improve how we deal with stress in the workplace. Remember to keep fluids up too as dehydration can lead to dizziness, poor concentration, headaches and fatigue.
Many companies are recognising the importance of good nutrition (and activity) for their employees in the knowledge that it is a win-win! As an employee, you feel supported and valued and as an employer, staff sickness can be reduced and productivity improved.
• Make time for breakfast before you start working
• Plan to have some fruit with your tea break instead of a few biscuits
• Make vegetable-packed soups for your lunch
• Include veggie sticks and cherry tomatoes at lunch time
• Choose wholegrain breads, pitta or crackers for a packed lunch
• Encourage your staff canteen to offer healthier choices and apply for the Healthy Living Award
• Make a plan to keep a water bottle on your desk at all times
Food and Nutrition Central can provide Healthy Eating webinar sessions via your preferred platform.
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In general, we consume around a third of our daily calories at work. We all know that what we eat and drink has an effect on our health both long term and short term. It also has a significant effect on our performance at work. If you are feeling sluggish and can't concentrate at work, take at look at what you are eating and drinking. As well as getting some fresh air and exercise, what we eat and drink during the working day is really important. A healthy intake at work can boost activity, improve concentration and can improve how we deal with stress in the workplace. Remember to keep fluids up too as dehydration can lead to dizziness, poor concentration, headaches and fatigue. Many companies are recognising the importance of good nutrition (and activity) for their employees in the knowledge that it is a win-win! As an employee, you feel supported and valued and as an employer, staff sickness can be reduced and productivity improved. • Make time for breakfast before you start working • Plan to have some fruit with your tea break instead of a few biscuits • Make vegetable-packed soups for your lunch • Include veggie sticks and cherry tomatoes at lunch time • Choose wholegrain breads, pitta or crackers for a packed lunch • Encourage your staff canteen to offer healthier choices and apply for the Healthy Living Award • Make a plan to keep a water bottle on your desk at all times Food and Nutrition Central can provide Healthy Eating webinar sessions via your preferred platform.
The Work Ready programme has been developed based on evidence-based research so that employers commissioning this programme can be confident that it will achieve the stated outcomes and return on investment. The comprehensive programme comprises of key elements: Identifying the nutritional concerns and needs of the company and employees Working with the company and putting in place suitable measurable interventions Evaluating the outcome to ensure that identified goals have been met. Dietitians work as partners with the company to achieve positive wellness outcomes. For more information see BDA Work Ready
The food choices that we make can have an effect on mood, energy levels, concentration and even how we deal with stress. Therefore it is really important to consider food choices within the workplace. If employees have a low mood, poor concentration, low energy levels and are not coping so well with the stress of work then this has the potential to ultimately influence the productivity of a workforce. Up to 10% of sick leave can be put down to lifestyle behaviours and obesity. Employees that are obese take an average of 4 extra sick days a year. Longer term the food choices we make affects our health, in particular weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important diet and lifestyle related factors that we can change. There is a wealth of evidence that shows being a healthy weight can help to preventing a range of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease related to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 25 % of the working age population suffering from a long term condition which can be weight-related. Workplace health interventions are an excellent avenue to help address this. After all we spend a significant part of our week at work and consume a large part of our total food intake in an average working day. Any work place health initiative requires some investment so it is really important to spend wisely and companies are always looking for a good return on investment. The British Dietetic Association published a White Paper in 2015, reviewing the evidence on wellness initiatives and offering best practice recommendations. The paper identifies how good nutrition and hydration alongside being active keeps the UK workforce healthy and how initiatives can be integrated into positive programmes for health promotion. Dietitians are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional programmes at an individual and wider public health level. Dietitians are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and must have a recognised degree(BSc Dietetics or similar), in addition they have the skills to effect positive behaviour change and only recommend evidence based nutritional advice. The BDA Work Ready Programme The Work Ready programme has been developed based on evidence-based research so that employers commissioning this programme can be confident that it will achieve the stated outcomes and return on investment. The comprehensive programme comprises of key elements: Identifying the nutritional concerns and needs of the company and employees Working with the company and putting in place suitable measurable interventions Evaluating the outcome to ensure that identified goals have been met. Dietitians work as partners with the company to achieve positive wellness outcomes.{{}}