Work Your Way to a Healthier Life
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has launched a brand new innovative service called Nutrition in the Workplace Workshops.
The aim is to help support businesses throughout the UK to improve employees' health and wellbeing, in addition to improving employee absenteeism.
By looking at nutrition and wellbeing in the workplace, this can help boost employees' health and improve their performance, which is fundamental to any business.
The new service includes a number of elements, but can be adapted to meet the needs of individual companies and tailored to meet agreed objectives.
On average, a full time employee will spend around 60% of their time in the workplace and eat and drink at least a third of their daily calorie allowance during this time. Too often, the stress and time constraints while at work means healthy food choices are often over looked in favour of fast and convenient food. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Our brand new Nutrition in the Workplace Workshops offer employees and employers alike a unique opportunity to look at what they are eating, the eating patterns they follow and offer fantastic opportunities to follow a healthier diet and lifestyle while at work.
Alison Clark, spokesperson for the BDA
The BDA has also pulled together some top tips that readers can start following immediately today:
- Snack on fruit during the day. If you don’t have access to fresh, try dried fruit and keep a supply in the top drawer of your desk e.g. dried apricots or tinned fruit even.
- Take the stairs instead of the lift.
- Oatcakes are great snacks, full of slow release energy and individually wrapped, so you don't overindulge.
- Take healthy packed lunches, perhaps using leftovers from your tea the night before.
- Check labels for lower fat alternatives.
- Stay hydrated and be conscious of calories from sugary drinks. An easy way to check you're well hydrated is if your urine is a pale straw colour.
- Vegetable soup can make you feel fuller and can add to your 5-a-day.
- If you're stressed try to keep your blood sugar levels stable by eating regular, healthy meals.
The British Dietetic Association, founded in 1936, is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 
It is the nation's largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with over 6,000 members.
More information about this new service can be found at: www.bda.uk.com/workplacehealth