Healthy Eating Supports

The following suggestions show how a workplace can support employees in their efforts to improve their eating habits. We recognize that all workplaces are unique and that not all suggestions will apply. Consider those that may be suitable to your workplace environment.

Healthy Food Policy

Develop a healthy eating policy for your workplace that identifies healthier foods to include in the cafeteria, in vending machines, and for catered meetings and events. Start with a single policy, for example, to increase fruit and vegetable options at workplace sponsored events (e.g., meetings, catered lunches). One hundred percent fruit juice could be an option in addition to the other beverages offered at meetings. The policy could then be expanded to include other healthier food choices. Consider how criteria for healthier food choices can be incorporated into the tendering process for choosing cafeteria operators and caterers for business events. Sample policies are available from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, including a Healthy Meetings Policy and a User’s Practical Guide for choosing heart healthy foods and beverages, selecting a smoke-free venue, and providing “active” breaks for workplace meetings or related events.

Food Storage and Prepation Equipment

To support employees in their efforts to increase their consumption of healthier foods, ensure that staff have access to a refrigerator, a microwave, and a toaster in break areas. Lunches brought from home are typically lower in fat, salt/sodium, and calories than lunches purchased at restaurants, cafeterias, or from vending machines. For example, the refrigerator could be used to keep milk, sandwiches, vegetables and low-fat dip, or yogurt cold.

Food Safety

Ensure that employees have access to all of the tools to ensure safe food practices are maintained at work.  These may include having hand-washing facilities available, a refrigerator for food storage, and a clean area for staff to eat their meals and snacks.

At Work Vegetbale Garden

Consider converting any available green space at your workplace into a vegetable garden. Employees can volunteer to plant and care for the garden. The vegetables can be shared among the staff. If a garden plot is not available, consider other options like container gardening. Some vegetables, like tomatoes, herbs, and peppers grow well in containers.

Healthy Eating Point of Purchase Messaging

Post nutrition information for products available in the cafeteria and include signage indicating healthier choices and messaging.  The messaging can be taken from Canada’s Food Guide. Contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at 519-258-2146 ext. 3100 for resources to help with this.

Healthier Vending Machine Selections Program

Identify healthier vending machine selections with the use of stickers on healthier products or labels on the product rows that indicate to employees what the healthier choices are. It is also possible to have rows or columns in vending machines identified as healthier selection areas.

Nutrition Information Kiosk

In the staff eating area, keep nutrition information (e.g., brochures and booklets) handy for all employees to look at during their lunch or breaks.  Also consider having a cookbook share where employees are invited to bring in their cookbooks from home with some of their favourite recipes highlighted to share with their co-workers.  A workplace library of cookbooks with healthier recipes can also be made available for employees to sign out. The worksite could highlight Dietitians of Canada’s new Simply Great Food cookbook.

Cafeteria and Vending Machine Options