You are what you eat at work!

We all know the effect food has on our overall health, but according to research from the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), workers who ate healthful meals on a regular basis had better job performance and lower absenteeism. This means that the key to higher profits may actually be on your employee’s plates. If you’re looking to retain a productive and engaged workforce, it’s time to give away those morning donuts for more nutritious alternatives. In our today’s article, let’s take a look at the real benefits of investing in your employee’s health and find out how healthy meal at work can transform your workers into a dedicated team.

The ROI of a healthy meal at work

The companies that offer a healthy meal at work are not always about offering perks. In fact, there is good business sense behind it. According to a study:

• Workers who ate 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables on 4 or more days in a week were 20% more likely to make higher job performance.

• Workers who eat healthily throughout the day were 25% more likely to have higher job performance

• Absenteeism was 27% lower for workers who ate healthily and exercised regularly. Additionally, their job performance was 11% higher than their peers.

So, if you are planning to start a workplace wellness program soon, don’t forget to keep nutrition in mind.

The composition of a nutritious meal at work

There are actually real advantages of providing your employees with a healthy meal at work. Healthy meal options can not only reduce your healthcare cost but also turn your employees into a performance powerhouse:

Salmon

This superfood, rich with Omega-3 Fatty Acids, is also a good source of Iron. Employees with Iron deficiency have demonstrated as much as 30% impairment in physical work capacity and performance. EPA and DHA have pointed out several other health benefits, such as decreasing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of cancer and improving the function of the cells that line your arteries.

Red Roasted Potatoes

Red roasted potatoes are nutritious and are even full of complex carbohydrates and fiber when eaten with the skin on. In fact, one medium-sized roasted potato (with the skin) provides 25mg of vitamin C, which is more than 40% of the adult recommended dietary allowance (RDA), along with 20% of the RDA of Vitamin B6. They are a good source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, and are almost fat-free.

Glazed Carrots

This amazing source of Vitamin A is necessary for healthy vision and a strong immune system to fight infections. A serving of glazed carrots provides 2 grams of dietary fiber or 8% of the daily recommended intake. Dietary fiber lowers levels of cholesterol in the blood and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

The Right Lunch

A balanced lunch with complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can fill the tummy up without causing a feeling of food coma.

Eat Outside

If possible try to arrange lunch outside of the office, it will refresh your employee’s mind for rest of the workday.

CircleCare is a corporate wellness platform that works with employers to help improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce. Contact our team today to request more info.