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Why is healthy eating at work important?
Good nutrition is a key to well-being. When you are well nourished and healthy you can be productive in your workplace. Many adults spend a lot of time at work, eating snacks and at least one meal during the workday. Therefore, what you eat at work matters.
How to make healthy choices at work
- Plan ahead
- Packing your own food and beverages instead of buying meals and snacks can help you spend less money on food
- For more information on planning what you eat check out Plan What You Eat from Canada’s Food Guide.
- Keep healthy options available
- Keep a small amount of healthy foods available at work.
- For healthy snack ideas check out: Healthy Snacks from Canada’s Food Guide.
- Choose healthier menu items
- If you purchase meals or snacks from your work cafeteria, vending machines or from a nearby restaurant try to choose healthier options.
- Check out this link for tips on making healthy choices when eating out: Choose healthy menu options – Canada’s Food Guide.
- Choose healthy beverage options
- Water (plain, carbonated or naturally flavoured)
- Unsweetened tea and coffee
- Take time to eat
- If possible, eat your meal away from your desk or place of work.
- For more information on taking time to eat visit Take Time to Eat from Canada’s Food Guide.
- Be mindful of your schedule
- Shift work can impact your eating and sleeping patterns and make it difficult to make healthy food choices. Think about your work schedule and plan when you can have regular meals and snacks throughout the day.
Workplaces are also encouraged to promote healthy eating, physical activity and overall wellbeing to support the health of all employees. You can advocate for your workplace to offer healthy choices at cafeterias, canteens, meetings and other events.
Services related to this information:
- Contact your Public Health Nurse
- 811 Dial-a-Dietitian/HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555