According to Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey, 26.7 percent of Canadians are obese. What’s more, 52 percent of Canadians are actively trying to lose weight. The two most common weight loss strategies are healthy eating and exercise. Whether your patients or staff are trying to shed some weight or eat better as part of a plan for a healthier lifestyle, we have some nutrition tips (plus a side of health giveaways) for you to share.
4 tips for better eating
Meal planning
Planning meals and using a grocery list are key to healthy eating success. When nutritious food is readily available, patients and staff will be more likely to eat it. Encourage them to keep fresh fruits and veggies, dried fruit, lean proteins and nuts on hand. You can help them prepare for a healthy shopping trip by providing a grocery list organizer. Promote healthy recipe sharing—this could be through internal email or externally on your social media pages. Encourage participation by entering those who share into a draw for a lunch bag with portion cups.
Remember breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what they eat is as important as the meal itself. Encourage patients and staff to start the day with a protein-packed meal. Breakfasts that include Greek yogurt, eggs, whole grain peanut butter toast or a high-protein smoothie will provide the fuel they need and keep them fuller, longer. This portable juice blende is the perfect giveaway to promote healthy living. The Yogurt To Go cup is great for smoothies or yogurt, and it keeps food separate until mealtime rolls around.
Choose high-quality foods
While monitoring calories is an essential part of healthy eating, not all calories are created equal. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health®, the quality of food is just as important as the number of calories it contains. High-quality foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and yogurt, are associated with weight loss. Low-quality foods (refined grains, starches, fats and sugar) can increase weight gain. In other words, improving the overall quality of food can help individuals lose weight. Help them make healthier choices with a food journal. This nutrition promotional item helps them easily track and monitor food and calorie intake.
Change your dishes
Did you know that plate size matters? Research shows eating from larger plates can trick the brain into thinking the body is still hungry. Dining from a smaller plate can make people feel fuller, faster. What’s more, colour affects the appetite, too. People will eat less when there is a high colour contrast between the food and serving dish. These portion plates and bowls are great nutrition promotional items that not only reinforce balanced eating, but also come in a variety of colours.
Share these four tips and healthy giveaways with patients and staff to help those trying to live a healthier lifestyle. A new and improved organization is just a few smart choices away.