Workplaces and Healthy Eating
Workplaces are an ideal place to promote healthy eating. Most full-time employees spend at least 60% of their waking hours at work. 1 They also eat at least one meal or snack at work.1
What are the benefits to employees who eat healthy?
Employees:
- Have more energy
- Are more productive
- Are better able to deal with stress
- Are more likely to have healthy weights
- Have lower rates of chronic disease2
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What are the benefits to employers who have a healthy workplace nutrition environment and reduced chronic disease rates?
Employees:
- Have higher productivity and lower absenteeism
- Have lower rates of injury
- Have lower medical claims, disability and insurance costs
- Have lower rates of employee turnover3
There are risks for chronic disease we can’t change (e.g., family history, age). However, eating healthier is something we can do to reduce our risk.
A healthy workplace nutrition environment encourages good health and supports healthy eating, without leaving it all to the individual to have to make healthy choices. It makes the healthy choice, the easy choice.
Date of creation: January 7, 2013
Last modified on: May 30, 2018
References
1Curitti, E. (2011). Rethinking healthy eating in the workplace: A toolkit for employers. Waterloo, ON: Region of Waterloo Public Health.
2York Region Health Services, Public Health Brand. (2001). Healthy policy = Healthy profits: A guide to implementing wellness policies in your workplace. Richmond Hill, ON: Author.
3Curitti, E. (2011). Rethinking healthy eating in the workplace: A toolkit for employers. Waterloo, ON: Region of Waterloo Public Health.
