Spring Into Wellness

The spring season won’t officially start until March 20th, but it’s never too early to motivate employees to do something great for their health.

And for many people, spring signals a new beginning which equals a great time to give employees the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Encourage employees to turn over a new (healthier!) leaf with the following wellness program suggestions that will inspire a healthier work environment, and a healthier bottom line, too.

Take advantage of National Nutrition Month. This campaign by the American Dietetic Association can help employees realize the importance of making good food choices. (Not sure if you’re eating right? Take this quiz from the American Dietetic Association.)

Encourage employees to skip the drive thru this month and bring some of the following goodies to work:

• Fruits and vegetables (try organic!) from the produce aisle.
• Whole-grain rolls, bread, and pita from the bakery.
• Low-fat milk products like mozzarella cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
• Lean proteins like grilled chicken, or fish including salmon.

Offer something new. Do you have a walking program in your office? If you don’t, a simple exercise program can help employees achieve a healthy BMI and decrease healthcare costs. Walking is low-impact, free, and almost any employee can participate.

Even if your walking program is successful, look to local exercise studios and organizations for discounts and suggestions on new ways to burn calories. Offering free or discounted classes for dance, yoga, Pilates, or boot camp may be a great source of exercise inspiration.

Encourage education for lunch. Employees have to eat, right? Try scheduling a brown bag educational lunch where employees can learn from a chosen speaker during their lunch hour.

Subjects that may interest your company and employees include seminars on budgeting and saving, social networking, work/life balance, and handling stress in the workplace.