Helping your staff be healthier will result in less sickness absence and higher productivity. The outcome of promoting healthy eating in the workplace is having more energetic employees with better focus and concentration at work and an improved diet overall

Eating well is important as it can help reduce the development of cancers, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and other illnesses.

People consume at least a third of their daily calorie intake whilst at work. What we eat and drink affects not just our health but our work performance too. If employees fail to eat regular well-balanced meals or drink enough water, they may get headaches, feel sluggish or have difficulty concentrating.

Evidence suggests that improving access to healthier food and drinks at work can benefit both employers and employees (Source: British Heart Foundation, 2013).

A poor diet can result in:
  • Fatigue
  • Lower energy levels
  • Reduced immunity
  • Reduced ability to think clearly
  • Higher levels of stress and depression
  • Decreased productivity
  • Obesity with more likelihood of suffering from back and joint issues and sleep disturbance
  • Long term health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, stroke and others)

This can result in more sickness absence and presenteeism (when a person is at work but not performing effectively).

Simple actions to promote healthy eating can gain significant results.

Consider some of these small changes to support your staff:
  • Work together with your staff and engage them in the challenge to eat a healthy diet
  • Encourage and support people to introduce healthy eating into their day – this can help improve moods, reduce stress levels, and reduce risk of serious illness
  • Try a range of different ways or supporting schemes to help staff to eat healthier in work, as well as out of work
  • Encourage employees to bring in healthy foods
  • Provide a supportive environment, separate from work areas, available for lunch time and breaks with safe storage for food, with information and posters promoting healthy eating
  • Ensure there are facilities for hand washing and washing up utensils
  • Consider if the facilities available to night and shift workers are adequate
  • If you provide food and snacks at work, make healthy options easily available
  • Ensure drinking water facilities are available throughout the workplace
  • Take a look at the support, resources and toolkits on this page to expand your knowledge of what makes a healthy diet and where to seek and signpost to further support
Alongside a healthy diet, it is important for your employees to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated keeps our minds working faster and improves how we feel. It is recommended that we drink 6 -8 glasses of fluids every day.

Changing eating habits and taking part should be voluntary as not everyone will want to participate.

The benefits of improving health in the workplace include:
  • Increased motivation of employees and a better working atmosphere, leading to more flexibility and better communication
  • Increased quality of products and services, more innovation and creativity, and a rise in productivity
  • Improved public image of the business, making it more attractive as an employer
  • Less absenteeism and presenteeism leading to increased productivity

With the right education, motivation, skills/tools, and social support, people can change behaviours and benefit their health.

Support

Always suggest a person contacts their GP if they have any concerns regarding their health
  • Healthy Us – is a free weight management and healthy lifestyle programme available to anyone living in Wiltshire (with a Wiltshire postcode), aged 18 years or over, with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or above (Enter your weight and height into the NHS healthy weight calculator to check your BMI). Book you place here
  • Health Coaches – will work with you to improve your health and make positive lifestyle changes. Your coach can assist you every step of the way to achieve and maintain your goals. The service is free and available for adults aged 18 and over. Group sessions supporting weight management are also available
  • Active Health – is a Wiltshire Council scheme for physical activity opportunities for those referred by a medical professional. There can be a range of medical reasons for referral, and a range of exercise programmes available across the county in Leisure Centres and other local facilities at a reduced rate
  • Talking Therapies – for support on managing your own mental wellbeing as part of your weight loss journey

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Resources

  • MECC Link – is an online signposting tool available to everyone in B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire to help find out where support can be accessed for health and wellbeing
  • British Heart Foundation – for advice, ideas, tips and resources to help you promote healthy eating at work
  • Lose weight – Better Health – guidance from the NHS to support weight loss. If you’re overweight, losing weight has many health benefits. Making small, simple changes to what and how much you are eating and drinking can really help you lose the pounds. Free weight loss plan app is available to help
  • NHS Eatwell Guide – shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet
  • Food for healthy bones – NHS – information on how a healthy balanced diet will help you build healthy bones from an early age and maintain them throughout your life
  • NHS – Water, drinks and your health – information about how to achieve the daily recommended fluid intake. It’s easy to overlook, but choosing healthier drinks is a key part of getting a balanced diet
  • British Dietetic Association – has a developed food fact sheets to help you learn the best ways to eat and drink to keep your body fit and healthy
  • Diabetes UK – find out more about diabetes, signs and symptoms and recognise if you are at risk
  • British Nutrition Foundation – access to reliable information on nutrition. Grounded in science; working with experts; supporting anyone on their journey towards a healthy, sustainable diet
  • Food Standards Agency – for food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies
  • Reading Well – Wiltshire Libraries have focused reading lists of books (physical and on-line) to help with specific issues including healthy eating, stress, anxiety and depression available for free. The books on the Reading Well lists have been recommended by health professionals to help people to understand and manage their health and wellbeing using self-help reading
  • The free Midlife MOT website – encourages people to review their skills and brings together trusted services to help you start thinking about your work, health and money with future planning in mind
  • Wiltshire Together – a free community platform that connects people, charities, community groups and organisations in Wiltshire to their community. You can search for local events, volunteering opportunities, and nearby support

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Toolkits

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Learning and Development

  • Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is about making the most of every opportunity you have with the people you come into contact with. MECC is a reflective skills-based free training opportunity that encourages a different way of interacting to address health and wellbeing issues. Course and booking information can be found at MECC-training-dates-2025-July-Nov-002.jpg
  • Wiltshire Training – provided by Wiltshire Council offers a wide variety of workplace health courses designed to meet your needs with bespoke training programmes also available. View the Wiltshire Training brochure
  • Diabetes UK – Learning Zone – a free to use learning zone for advice on what to eat and tips for managing diabetes day-to-day
  • Workplace Wellbeing – Wiltshire Wildlife Trust – offer workplace wellbeing workshops to support a happier, healthier and more productive workforce, whatever the size of your business

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