Our Safety Training Tips editor says that now, as we near the middle of National Nutrition Month, is a good time to talk to employees about the importance of good nutrition.
We all know we should “eat right,” “watch our diet,” “go easy on the grease and sugar,” and so on. But even though your employees may know what they should do nutritionally, how many of them are really doing it? Probably not many. What your employees are eating has a direct effect on their energy levels throughout the day. That being the case, and March being National Nutrition Month, maybe a few well-chosen words at a wellness safety meeting about good nutrition would be a good idea this month.
Make sure employees understand “why” good nutrition is so important. Benefits of good nutrition include:
- Preventing disease
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Providing energy for work and leisure activities
- Promoting healthy aging
Of course, that might not mean much to some employees, especially to some of the young ones who seem to be managing just fine on a diet of junk food. They probably think, “Disease? Not me!” “Healthy aging? You’ve got to be kidding. I’m only in my 20s/30s.” “Healthy weight? I can eat anything I want and not gain weight.” Of course the answer to all this is, “Yeah, maybe not now, but just wait. When you get into your 40s and 50s, disease, weight gain, and healthy aging are all issues that can come out of nowhere and hit you like an 18-wheeler. You need to start eating nutritious foods now to avoid problems later.” Your middle-aged and older employees will know what you’re talking about. But they’ll still need to hear about the “how” and “what” of good nutrition.
Also talk about “how.” Healthy eating habits include:
- Eating three meals a day
- Consuming reasonable portion sizes
- Being sensible about snacking
- Watching what you eat when you eat out or buy take-out
- Avoiding fad or crash diets
- Balancing calorie intake with physical activity
- Making sure you get the most from the calories you consume every day
- Getting most of your calories from low-fat, low-sugar foods
- Checking food labels for nutrition information
And don’t forget to mention the “what” as well. Nutrition experts say that for good nutrition, people should follow a meal plan that provides:
- 45 to 65 percent of calories from carbohydrates
- 10 to 35 percent of daily calories from protein
- About 14 grams of dietary fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed daily
- Less than 10 percent of daily calories from saturated fat-and most that should come from unsaturated fat
- Less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day
Nutritionists also advise avoiding added sugars. Some natural sugar, such as that found in fruit, is good for you, but the added processed sugar isn’t. Your employees also need vitamins and minerals. But experts say that if they eat right, they can usually get all the vitamins and minerals they need from the foods they eat. To find out how much of all this stuff is in foods, employees should read the food label, which will tell them all they need to know nutritionally about just about anything they eat.
Why It Matters…
- Good nutrition is one of the cornerstones of good health.
- Employees who eat poorly are more likely to develop diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
- Nearly all of these diseases are preventable, and preventing or controlling them not only can add years to employees’ lives, it can save you big bucks in healthcare costs.
- Employees who eat properly will have more energy for their work activities.
- It’s never to late-or too early-to start taking good nutrition seriously.
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