The conversation around workday nutrition has undergone seismic changes in the past 2 years. An ongoing shift to remote work means employers have less direct impact on how their employees eat while simultaneously transforming employees’ food options and meal schedules in ways that may challenge them to make sound food choices. These changes have had both positive and negative impacts on the way people eat when they’re on the clock, and the way employees respond can impact their health just as much as how they choose to be active.
In some cases, remote work has reduced employee reliance on fast food and frozen meals in favor of home cooking, which became a larger movement during the pandemic. And while home cooking doesn’t always mean healthy and nutritious, there are signs that healthier meals are becoming the new norm.
On the other side of the ledger, working from home has disrupted eating schedules for many employees who now find it easier to snack throughout the day rather than eat balanced meals. In addition, working from home may remove a level of accountability for the way we eat. After all, when you’re home alone, there’s nobody to see you go back for a second (or third) donut.
These changes present both challenges and opportunities for employers, and the decisions they make have significant implications for everything from employee health to overall productivity. Healthy eating reduces chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, which affect half of American adults and cost employers an estimated $36.4 billion each year. Furthermore, failing to eat right can sap employees’ energy, spoil their mood, and make them less productive. Lost productivity related to illness costs American businesses $260 billion each year, and much of that can be attributed to how employees choose to fuel their bodies. That’s a pretty serious incentive for employers to nurture and expand upon the healthy eating trends that have taken shape recently.
The good news is, there are easy ways to help employees eat healthier. Providing basic nutrition information is one way to educate employees who don’t know a trans fat from a carbohydrate and acclimate them to fueling their bodies the right way. Employee communications around nutrition don’t have to be complicated, though. The message should be simple: The colorful fruits and vegetables on the perimeter of the grocery store are healthier than the processed foods in the center aisles. Here are four ways employers and HR professionals can improve employee nutrition.
Tip #1: Communicate to Educate
Employees may be on-site less than they used to be, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of reach. Employers can use e-mail communication, newsletters, and social media to share information about healthy food options, provide tips for managing cravings throughout the day, and bust nutrition myths, including the idea that being skinny is the same as being healthy. You might also consider creating shopping lists to help employees identify healthy options at the grocery store.
Tip #2: Nurture Interest in Cooking
The pandemic has driven increased interest in cooking at home, and even employees who are dedicated takeout customers may be more interested than usual in preparing their own meals. Nurture this interest by helping employees discover the joy of cooking. If you have dedicated home chefs among your workforce, host live or in-person cooking nights during which coworkers can gather and create meals together to make the act of cooking more relatable. You can also overcome the idea that cooking nutritious food is time-consuming by providing recipes that employees can prepare in 30 minutes or less.
Tip #3: Help Employees Level Up in the Kitchen
Even if employees have become enthusiastic about cooking, many still have room to learn. Consider that as recently as 2 years ago, 21% of millennials didn’t know how to fry an egg, and only 65% described themselves as good cooks. Start with small, attainable steps, and offer building blocks that work for employees, whether they are mastering their knife skills or working on advanced recipes that challenge their abilities. Videos from experienced, engaging nutrition professionals that feature easy, healthy recipes for meals and snacks are an effective way to educate employees about ways to fuel their bodies and get them excited about planning and preparing their own meals.
Tip #4: Make Food as Social as Possible
Office potlucks are out of the question if your workforce remains remote, but that doesn’t mean we have to toil in the kitchen by ourselves. Dining with friends contributes to better self-esteem and reduces depression, cuts stress, boosts mood, and combats loneliness. Communal eating has also been shown to improve digestion, which enhances the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Those are all meaningful benefits in times like these. You can also use Zoom lunches or coffee breaks to give employees an opportunity to eat together even when working remotely. To create a virtual sense of community, you can also share recipes that employees can make on their own, then host virtual dinner parties during which everyone can gather and talk about what they made.
Remote work was a necessity at the beginning of the pandemic, but it has become a way of life for many, and it will likely remain in some form even as companies begin to return to the office in larger numbers. That shift has numerous implications for employee well-being, but with proper planning and strategic communications, employers can help employees develop the knowledge, skills, and good habits they need to maintain good eating habits whether they take their lunch in the break room or the dining room.
Jeff Kennefick is SVP of product at Wellbeats, a scalable, affordable, and easy-to-use virtual fitness solution that empowers habit-forming physical and mental health for its more than 1.9 million members. As a pioneer of the virtual fitness space, the Wellbeats difference lies within the quality and variety of content, security, and innovation. With more than 1,000 exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness classes, there is something for every age, interest, environment, and ability level.