Remember back to the days when we had to finish all of our fruits and vegetables at dinner in order to receive a sweet treat? It’s been a genius tactic that's been handed down for years — maybe even one you’ve passed along.
But as we get older, we don’t have anyone incentivizing us to get our daily intake of fruits and vegetables. We tend to go right for the sweet treat — which is why 90 percent of the population External Site is failing to get their daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
We all need a bit of encouragement every now and then. Since you care about your employees’ whole health and well-being, you can be the voice of trust and reason when it comes to motivating them to incorporate more fruits and vegetables throughout their day.
You can make simple changes to the office, like offering healthy vending options, limiting sugar-filled beverages and promoting the health benefits of fruits and veggies, that will make a positive impact on the overall health and well-being of your employees. These changes can help employees combat serious and costly conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer.
When employees eat more fruits and veggies, your workplace can experience:
Increased productivity.
Employees who eat healthy diets consisting of fruits and vegetables avoid the 2 p.m. crash, and improve cognitive function. However, when employees eat unhealthy, they experience a 66 percent loss in productivity, decreased mental effectiveness, and fatigue.Enhanced mood.
Foods rich in vitamins and minerals such as fruits and vegetables are linked to a decreased risk of depression. Employees in your office who don't receive the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables can experience irritability, low energy levels, and higher levels of stress and depression.Lower health care costs.
Did you know an overweight employee External Site spends more than $2,741 on health care costs per year than their normal-weight counterpart?Longer life spans.
Chronic diseases can lead to a $19.9 billion loss of productivity due to early mortality. Many chronic diseases could be managed or eliminated when employees switch to a healthy diet. Even if an employee only reduces their body weight by 5–10 percent, they can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Easy-to-share, healthy recipes available for free.
Since your employees will have at least one meal at work (and maybe some snacks, too), we want to give you another reason for your employees to turn to you as their trusted voice of reason. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes from BlueSM Opens in a new window to share the ease (and deliciousness) of incorporating more fruits and vegetables into their daily routine.
“But I don’t have time for breakfast.”
You know mornings tend to put us in a time crunch. Whether your employees hit the snooze button too many times or have a full household to get ready and out-the-door to school, there is always enough time for a quick-fix (or blended) healthy breakfast option to grab on the go. After all, breakfast is the most important meal External Site — it helps set your employees' energy levels for the day and keeps them feeling full and focused until their next meal.
- Broccoli and cheese egg cups Opens in a new window
- Strawberry cauliflower smoothie Opens in a new window
- Almond butter and banana protein smoothie Opens in a new window
- Veggie breakfast burritos Opens in a new window
Let’s lunch!
Lunch is often a favorite time of the day for your employees. It’s a way to step away from the hustle and bustle of the workday. Whether your employees catch up on work throughout their lunch hour, run errands, or hit the gym, opting for what’s quick isn’t going to keep them from avoiding the 2 p.m. energy crash. These easy-to-prep meals are some of the best ways for your employees to sneak in fruits and veggies while in a time crunch.
- Spinach pesto pasta salad Opens in a new window
- Omelet in a mug Opens in a new window
- Strawberry spinach salad Opens in a new window
- Italian sausage and kale soup Opens in a new window
Simple, satisfying snacks.
When your employees have healthy snacks prepared and on-hand during the day, they can help stabilize their blood sugar levels and avoid the temptation for a mid-afternoon chocolate craving.
- Fruit wands with strawberry cheesecake dip Opens in a new window
- Apple salsa Opens in a new window
- Honeycrisp apple sandwich Opens in a new window
- Mango raspberry smoothie Opens in a new window
If you are looking for more office-friendly recipes to share with your employees throughout the year, visit all of the deliciously healthy recipes Opens in a new window on BlueSM online!
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Questions? Contact your authorized Wellmark account representative, or email us at blueatwork@wellmark.com Send Email.
