March is Nutrition Month—a great time to focus on making healthy food choices that contribute to your overall health and well-being.
A good way to start is to make food and activity choices based on balance, moderation and to handle food with safety in mind. We can eat very well, given the variety, safety, and wide availability of our foods today.
You can plan your meals to include foods that decrease your risk of chronic health problems like heart disease or cancer. If you watch how much you eat in relation to normal exercise, you will actively contribute to your well-being by maintaining a healthy weight.
Eating well (i.e. a well-balanced diet rich in vegetables and nutrients) is also associated with feelings of wellbeing. A study in 2014 found high levels of wellbeing were reported by people who ate more fruit and vegetables.
Most of us spend more than half of our waking hours at work. It makes sense to start thinking about what we are eating as a part of our workday. Keeping yourself hydrated and fueled up will go a long way to get you through your work shift.
Just like an athlete fueling for a marathon, it’s important to eat the right foods and stay hydrated. Eating the right foods and drinking the right fluids is key to being productive at work, staying healthy and injury-free.
Here are some tips on how to make healthy food choices:
- load up on fruits and vegetables
- choose whole grain foods
- eat less meat
- watch out for processed foods
- limit added sugar
- watch your sodium intake
Food can also bring people together in community. Starting a Bethany Healthy Eating Challenge this month with your co-workers will foster community among your team and beyond the work walls.
There is a different theme each week that you can choose from to help you build those healthy habits.
Below is a theme for each week of March.
WEEK ONE — Paint your plate with vegetables
WEEK TWO — Fill up on fibre
WEEK THREE— Rethink your drink
WEEK FOUR — Hold the salt
ADDITIONAL LINKS AND RESOURCES:
LifeWorks (login : BCS and password: eap)
Continuing Care Safety Association
Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety & Disability Management
Human Resources
Leave a Reply