Wellness Program Ideas – Nutrition.

Employees ordinarily enjoy sharing nutritional tips and trying new foods. Sponsor a “nutrition cook-off” and/or healthy potlucks.

o  Nutrition cook-off. Teams of employees set a menu in advance and bring in prepared foods for an official competition. A nutritionist from the health department or local hospital or community serves as the judge.

Dishes and foods are examined based on both health considerations and taste. Following the event, a cookbook of the teams’ recipes can be created and distributed to the entire staff.

o  Cholesterol Control or “Down Under” Club. Individuals  with cholesterol over 200 mg.  Are invited to voluntarily participate.  The invitation needs to be extended to all workers as the Wellness Team won’t have (nor should have) access to individual medical information.

Make available a variety of services to assist in lowering cardiac risks. Gordian Health Solutions offers cholesterol management health programs for employees qualifying by cholesterol score.

If an employee gets cholesterol numbers below 200 in six months, provide an incentive like a prize to continue progress. Continue to supply information and reminders for continued cholesterol control.

o  Label reading contest. Designate a particular food or food category. Workers must find the designated products with the lowest/highest fat content in the supermarket. Provide coupons or other prizes for predetermined number of winners or participants.

Or, provide samples of healthier food options based on label information. Show how these compare to less healthy options. Display results of the contest in the staff member break room or at an staff member brown bag event.

Other Wellness Program Nutrition Suggestions -

o  Give freshly brewed decaffeinated coffee and herbal tea.

o  Sponsor a healthful food “bake-off” once a year.

o  Provide sugar and salt substitutes in the lunchroom.

o  At meetings, replace sweet rolls and donuts with bran muffins, wholewheat bagels, or fresh fruit. Consider offering other decaffeinated coffee and herbal teas plus no-sugar fruit juices.

o  Serve free popcorn in the break area.

o  Develop a cookbook featuring healthful recipes contributed by workforce.

o  Fruit or veggie of the week (or month). Display an “exotic” fruit or vegetable in your lunchroom and see when coworkers know what it is. Workers can put their name and the name of the item on an index card.

These may be used to conduct a prize drawing at the end of the week from the cards with the correct answer.  To add fun, encourage individuals  to put down funny answers when in doubt of the real name of the item.

Read some of those names during the prize drawing, and provide a prize for the most creative name. Divide the fruit or vegetable at the drawing and let those interested taste it. Make certain it may be eaten raw.

Unusual food items like star fruit are now readily available in supermarkets work well for this activity as many individuals haven’t tried these types of produce.