4 Nutritional Fitness Problems That Ruin Employees’ Well-being

Nutritional fitness problems need natural solutions to improve your employees’ well-being

Does your company’s employees have nutritional fitness?

First, know that there is a difference between eating healthy through nutrition and rebuilding your body with the right foods.

The absence of disease is not the definition of a healthy person. Please read that one more time.

Let’s define what you or your employees may need for the healthiest workforce possible.

Nutritional Fitness and Nutrition in Fitness:

Both terms seem the same…but actually, ‘nutritional fitness’ and ‘nutrition in fitness’ are the two sides of the same coin. I want you to understand the importance of both.

Nutritional fitness refers to the overall quality of your diet in terms of quantity, proportion, and variety. It focuses on consuming the right macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) to meet your body’s specific needs. You are nutritionally fit when you provide your body with the optimal fuel for overall health and well-being. It’s not just physical performance.

Nutrition in fitness is a more specific aspect of nutritional fitness that focuses on how diet directly impacts your exercise or physical activity. It considers factors like meal timing, macronutrient ratios for energy during workouts, and recovery foods to rebuild muscle. Nutrition supports your fitness goals, whether weight loss, muscle gain, or improved endurance.

Although I can help with both of the defined needs, in this blog I will focus on nutritional fitness. You will read about the problems and challenges corporate workplaces face when it comes to a lack of nutrient-full diets and how they impact their work productivity.

Keep reading until the end; it will help your company and employees 8x the ROI.

Nutritional fitness and employee’s well-being

Your employees may not be your family, but they are still important to you. They are the backbone of your company. Their nutritional fitness is a part of your responsibility if you need a high-functioning, productive, healthy team. Junk foods and irregular meal times can be ruining their health.

Do you think physically weak and mentally exhausted employees would perform their tasks optimally? Of course not. Consequently, your company’s operations will suffer, medical expenses will soar, and retention will be gone.

Unfortunately, most companies and businesses ignore proper nutrition protocols for their employees. They consider it an expense, but actually, it’s an investment with a huge ROI. Your employees are facing nutritional challenges, and you need to take action immediately.

Nutritional problems that employees face every day

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), poor workspace nutrition affects workers’ health and productivity. Poor nutrition also weakens the immune system, impacts sleep, and can exasperate stress. It may also ruin your employees’ mental and physical health over time which causes diagnosed diseases or syndromes.

Here are the 4 problems and challenges that your employees may be suffering from;

They are eating junk food.

Employees frequently resort to quick, processed snacks, and meals that are loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and empty calories. Think of the meetings filled with pastries, pizza, or catered sandwiches with cookies. These choices may temporarily boost energy but lead to energy crashes, reduced cognitive function, and long-term weight gain.

Regular consumption of junk food contributes to chronic health issues like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which decreases productivity and increases healthcare costs for both employees and employers.

They have tight schedules and no exact meal times.

The demanding nature of corporate jobs often results in erratic schedules. Skipping meals or eating irregularly can wreak havoc on the body’s metabolism and energy levels. Without consistent nourishment throughout the day, employees experience fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which leads to mood swings, decreased concentration, and reduced productivity.

You may have employees who are “hangry” or having a 2-4pm afternoon crash after eating the wrong food choices at lunchtime. Moreover, prolonged periods without food can trigger excessive hunger, leading to overeating or making unhealthy food choices when the opportunity to eat arises.

They have peer and social eating pressure.

Workplace culture plays a significant role in employees’ dietary habits. Peer pressure and social norms often influence food choices, leading employees to indulge in unhealthy eating habits to fit in or bond with colleagues. We won’t even touch the subject of alcohol today.

Office celebrations, team lunches, and vending machine snacks contribute to a culture where unhealthy food options are readily available and normalized. The fear of being judged or ostracized for making healthier choices can deter employees from prioritizing their nutritional needs.

They lack nutrition education.

They may not have the knowledge of good nutrition or lack the confidence to choose a healthy lifestyle amidst co-workers. Picture the alcoholic who want everyone to partake. It makes drinking (or eating) acceptable if the group is doing it and takes the guilt from those who know they need smarter choices.

Despite the abundance of information available on nutrition, many employees lack the knowledge and skills to make informed dietary choices. They don’t have time for proper portion control or balanced nutrition education. This gap in knowledge leaves employees vulnerable to marketing tactics promoting unhealthy food products and fad diets, further exacerbating their nutritional challenges. This is where I can guide them in a short span along with their Hair Mineral Analysis.

4 Nutritional solutions that make your employees healthier

Here are just 4 solutions you can implement to tackle the above-mentioned problems.

Offer fruits and vegetables during the lunch break.

Fruits and vegetables in the workplace encourage employees to make healthier food choices. You can provide a variety of fresh produce during lunch breaks. It promotes satiety, boosts energy levels, and enhances overall nutritional intake. By offering a food with natural fiber, it will take longer to digest to extend satiety and cut back on overeating as well.

Swap snacks with a similar healthy option.

To support employees’ nutritional goals, replace traditional vending machine snacks with healthier alternatives. Options like nuts, seeds, whole grain crackers, and fresh fruit offer satisfying alternatives to sugary or high-fat snacks.

A local hospital in Minnesota has a vending machine with ready to eat salads in premade jars for about $10. When you purchase $100 they give you $9 back! The Farmer’s Fridge ingredients are local and organic as possible. They have at least 50% vegetarian choices and Good Animal Partnership to ensure animal products were treated fairly. The jars are 100% recyclable glass and chemical free so you can re-use them or return them at the machine.

When nutritious options are readily available, employees are more likely to make positive food choices throughout the day.

Let them take food from home to improve nutritional fitness.

Encouraging employees to bring homemade meals to work promotes healthier eating habits and allows for greater control over food choices. Packing meals from home lets employees prioritize nutrient-dense ingredients, control portions, and customize meals according to their dietary preferences and requirements.

You can even hold healthiest meal contests! By encouraging them to control their choice of food they will feel empowered and encouraged with a team mentality to eat well. This alone may result in weight loss. Others will enjoy sharing their cultural foods with co-workers.

Provide them with nutritional fitness education.

Equip your employees with the knowledge and skills to make informed dietary choices. It is essential for promoting long-term health and well-being. I hold bi-monthly online masterclasses to teach how to choose clean foods, read labels, and the “why”. This gives employees the education on a live meet up to understand the importance of balanced nutrition and meal planning.

It’s Your Time to Take Action Now.

Hair Analysis and Nutritional Fitness

I know some of the solutions I listed above (like ditching the snacks and providing the fruits) sound strange, but believe me, they benefit your company and employees in the long term. By having a healthy choice available in meetings or in the vending machine, you will steer them toward a better quality of health and lifestyle.

When you take care of your employees’ health and well-being, you are not only setting a good example, but you also increase the workforce strength. With more energy and mental clarity you will get an even higher ROI.

Corporate wellness is a team sport where all participating win!

Contact me if you need to consult about improving your company culture and help your employees with natural health solutions.

Read more on 6 ways to 6x your wealth through your wellness.