Living Well at Work
Resource Kit for
Healthy Eating
Madison County Living Well Partnership’s Living Well at Work Resource Kit
www.healthymadisoncounty.org
Healthy Eating Employer Checklist
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Policy and
Education
□
Verbal agreement
between employees
and administration
regarding bringing
healthful foods and
beverages for lunches,
snacks, and meetings
□
□
Bronze Level Plus…
Written healthy eating
and snack policy
□ Lunchtime guest
speakers on healthy
eating
□
□
Facilities
□
Lunchroom area with
table and chairs
□ Water fountain/cooler
□
□
□
Bronze Level Plus…
Refrigerator
Microwave and toaster
oven
□ Sink for running water
□ Replace less healthy
options in vending
machines with healthier
choices
□
□
Resources
□
□
□
□
□
Information on
healthy eating
Bronze Level Plus…
List of local health and
weight management
resources, including
registered dietitians
□ Menus from local
restaurants highlighting
healthy choices
Madison County Living Well Partnership’s Living Well at Work Resource Kit
www.healthymadisoncounty.org
Silver Level Plus…
Offer a weight
management support
group on site
□ Sponsor a healthy eating
challenge
□ Educational packet
about healthy eating
given to all employees
Silver Level Plus…
Make fresh fruits and
vegetables available to
employees at low or no
cost (e.g. Fruit Fridays,
garden sharing, salad
day)
□ Fully equipped kitchen
Silver Level Plus…
Lending library of
health and weight
management resources
□ Establish an employee
wellness committee to
promote healthy eating
Sample Workplace Healthy Meeting and Snack Policy
PURPOSE
It is the policy of COMPANY to provide a safe and healthy environment for all persons
including employees, visitors, volunteers, contractors and vendors.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 1/3 of cancer deaths are attributable to poor
nutrition, sedentary behavior and being overweight. Recent studies have found that obese
people are at higher risk of premature death, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart
disease, high blood cholesterol levels, and osteoarthritis. In addition to the billions of
healthcare dollars spent on obesity it also results in 39 million days of lost work to employers
for obesity-related conditions. This policy demonstrates our commitment to modeling a
healthy lifestyle for our employees by limiting the availability of high calorie, high fat and
nutrient poor food and beverages on site.
POLICY
1. Serve meals at meetings that:
o Avoid processed and high-fat meat products (salami, sausage, etc.)
o Provide a vegetarian option at all meals
o Include at least half of bread products being offered as whole grain options.
o Include fruits and/or vegetables with all meals served
o Provide a low calorie salad dressing when possible.
2. Provide healthy snacks and beverages:
o Such as vegetable platters, fruit plates, and whole wheat products
o Serve 100% fruit juices, flavored seltzers, and low or non-caloric beverages
o Low fat cheeses and other dairy products, low fat and/or low calorie whole grain
baked items
o Vending machine snack items should be under 150 calories and 15 grams of sugar
o Offer smaller portion sizes (e.g. cut sandwiches or bagels in quarters).
3. Offer a healthy option (e.g., fruit) in addition to traditional desserts for meals and office
celebrations when high calorie baked goods are provided.
4. Encourage staff and volunteers to limit shared snacks to those that are consistent with the
guidelines as described above.
Direct your comments or questions regarding this policy to _________________.
Madison County Living Well Partnership’s Living Well at Work Resource Kit
www.healthymadisoncounty.org
Healthy Eating Web Resources for Employers
Information about planning and
Produce for Better Health
shopping, cooking, getting kids
www.fruitsandveggiesmorem involves, recipes and an ask the expert
atters.org
tab
United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA)
www.MyPyramid.gov
Get personalized eating plans with
interactive tools that take into account
your current weight and lifestyle.
Also keeps track of progress for you.
Centers for Disease Control
(CDC)
www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.
gov
Just Say Yes to Fruits and
Vegetables- Eat Smart NY
www.jsyfruitveggies.org
Tips, recipes and an interactive
analyze my plate activity.
USDA
www.DietaryGuidelines.gov
Information about goals to 2010
U.S. Federal Government
www.foodsafety.gov
Everything you ever wanted to know
about food safety including news
alerts
Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fo
odlab.html
Many low fat, low salt, easy and
affordable recipes
Understanding and using food labels
‘Healthy Lifestyle’ for information on
diet, nutrition and low salt, low
www.americanheart.org
cholesterol
recipeshttp://www.3aday.org/
American Dairy Association Recipe and snack ideas, information
on health and fitness, diet and
www.3aday.org
nutrition, and tips and tools to ask the
expert
Healthy Start Partnership and Find recipes, tips, games, and a chance
USDA/ Cornell Cooperative to share your comments and questions
Extension
about recipes and eating together. It
www.Eat3.org
will help you choose, prepare and
enjoy healthy family meals using
locally grown produce.
American Heart Association
Madison County Living Well Partnership’s Living Well at Work Resource Kit
www.healthymadisoncounty.org
Living Well at Work Getting Started Tool
Healthy Snacks
SNACK Foods
Fruits and Veggies
 Bite-sized fruits and veggies like grapes, cherries, strawberries, baby carrots,
cherry tomatoes and broccoli florets
 Whole fresh fruits like apples, oranges, nectarines, plums, kiwi and apricots
 Cut-up fruits and vegetables like melon, pineapple, celery, summer squash,
bell peppers
 Prepackaged fruit cups
 Dried fruits
 Vegetable spreads like hummus and pesto
 Fruit or vegetable salsa
 Top fruits with fat-free yogurt, cottage cheese, granola, chopped nuts or
unsweetened coconut
Whole Grains
 Whole wheat or multi-grain breads, mini bagels, pitas, rolls, muffins, pastas,
cereals or brown rice (look for at least 3 grams of dietary fiber per serving)
 Unsalted pretzels, air-popped popcorn or whole grain crackers
Other Snacks
 Unsalted nuts
 Low-fat cheese (string, cottage, etc.)
 Low-fat or fat-free yogurt
Everything is good with low-fat or fat-free dips, dressings, or mustard.
BEVERAGES




Water or sparkling water
Skim or 1% milk
100% fruit and vegetable juices
Regular and decaffeinated coffee or tea, herbal teas (iced or hot)
Remember when snacking to take smaller portions because calories count.
Madison County Living Well Partnership’s Living Well at Work Resource Kit
www.healthymadisoncounty.org