You Can Eat and Snack Healthy in the Workplace
THUNDER BAY – Kim McGibbon, Public Health Dietitian at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, spoke with employees at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 about how the food environment influences eating habits.
Although most Canadians agree that nutrition is important, less than 1% of Canadians follow the dietary recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide, putting them at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, obesity and osteoporosis. Increased portion sizes and the widespread availability and promotion of less healthy food choices may be partly to blame.
“We’ve always heard that individuals are responsible for their own health and that if people try hard enough and use willpower, they can follow a healthy diet, but that is not necessarily true,” said McGibbon. Encouraging healthy eating in the workplace also involves offering nutritional foods and providing food education.
Some tips for eating healthy at work:
- remove candy dishes
- resist the urge to bring leftover baking and candy to work
- consider not offering food at a meeting, particularly if it is not during a typical breakfast, lunch or supper time
- think of healthy ways to celebrate
A supportive, healthy eating environment at work can help employees to maintain a healthy life and manage pre-existing conditions.
