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Indian Spices, Legumes, and Employee Wellness
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Indian Spices, Legumes, and Employee Wellness
In the area of health, companies and employees are on the same page--both groups want employees to get healthier. Obesity-related health problems are costing American companies billions of dollars annually in medical expenditures and work loss. Two comprehensive scientific reviews identified 83 peer-reviewed research studies that all came to the same conclusion: Employees with unhealthy habits have higher medical costs. In the current economic crunch, HR needs to find creative and cost-effective ways to solve this problem.
At the same time, the struggling economy is having a powerful impact on the way Americans spend money during the workday, according to a new survey by Vault.com. It found that an estimated 80 percent of workers have changed their workday habits when it comes to food and drink in order to save money. Nearly two thirds of workers (61 percent) are now bringing lunch from home.
A number of smart companies and HR professionals are seeing the convergence of these two health and money-saving trends as an opportunity to expand their corporate wellness programs--by offering programs known as "lunch and learn" or "brown bag seminars."
The Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs
Employers, whether they are large corporations or small businesses, have realized that making employee health a priority will also make their companies financially healthier by reducing absenteeism and health care costs. In fact, 13 research studies that calculated benefit/cost ratios all showed the savings from employee wellness plans are much greater than their cost, with medical cost savings averaging $3.48 and absenteeism savings averaging $5.82 per dollar invested in employee wellness programs.
When my company, Alamelu`s Culinary Enterprises, began offering culinary consulting and wellness seminars to businesses as part of their employee wellness plans, it soon became apparent to us that blending cooking and eating with health education was an effective way to get employees engaged in new ways of thinking about their diet and fitness. Americans get drilled with health messages all the time in the media. We know what we`re supposed to eat, but the message becomes especially compelling when you prepare healthy ingredients, participate in the cooking of interesting dishes, and then eat them.
Our company`s focus is South Indian cuisine. Not only is it my area of expertise, but it is also one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Many cancer rates in India are lower than those in the U.S., and Alzheimer`s disease is four times lower in that country. A growing body of research suggests that the spices used every day in Indian food--including turmeric, curry, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne--may have protective benefits against a host of common diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer`s.
We show employees how to prepare flavorful and aromatic foods that include a broad array of vegetables, legumes, Indian spices, and lean meats. Along the way, employees learn about portions, variety, fats, fiber, nutrients, and a new way to eat.
New Ideas for HR
An effective employee wellness program should include a section on food and eating. Here are some elements to consider:
Do a culinary culture assessment. Have a culinary health consultant assess your corporate culinary culture. Have him or her visit the company`s lunchroom, vending machines, and local eateries to get an idea of what your employees consume on a regular basis.
Present recommendations that hit home. Your employees have already heard their eating habits are bad. They already know poor health leads to lower productivity, reduced performance, and higher absenteeism. Instead, ask your culinary health consultant to make specific recommendations to your employees, based on their habits, nearby restaurants and take-out joints, and in-house vending machines.
Engage them in hands-on activities. Studies show that learning while engaging multiple senses makes the learner more likely to remember and use the information. That`s why hands-on cooking is such an effective way to teach employees about changing their diet. It`s one thing to tell people they need to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It`s quite another to show them brand-new, interesting ways to enjoy such vegetables as eggplant, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower.
Give them something they can use. Cooking--especially in a different culinary tradition--encourages teambuilding and gives employees a new skill. In our seminars, even novice cooks learn to prepare vegetables, lean meat, healthful legumes, and flavored rice dishes using a variety of spices. They learn about the health benefits of different ingredients. And they learn to prepare and enjoy a broad variety of vegetable dishes and discover that vegetable dishes do not have to be bland and boring.
The results? We`ve found that employees report they are more motivated to cook at home, bring healthy lunches to work instead of relying on convenience snacks or fast foods lunches, and they have a new awareness of their dietary habits and the ramifications of making poor dietary choices. Culinary education seminars are part of a growing new trend in corporate wellness offerings to employees, and a smart option for HR professionals to consider.
Source:
http://www.
At the same time, the struggling economy is having a powerful impact on the way Americans spend money during the workday, according to a new survey by Vault.com. It found that an estimated 80 percent of workers have changed their workday habits when it comes to food and drink in order to save money. Nearly two thirds of workers (61 percent) are now bringing lunch from home.
A number of smart companies and HR professionals are seeing the convergence of these two health and money-saving trends as an opportunity to expand their corporate wellness programs--by offering programs known as "lunch and learn" or "brown bag seminars."
The Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs
Employers, whether they are large corporations or small businesses, have realized that making employee health a priority will also make their companies financially healthier by reducing absenteeism and health care costs. In fact, 13 research studies that calculated benefit/cost ratios all showed the savings from employee wellness plans are much greater than their cost, with medical cost savings averaging $3.48 and absenteeism savings averaging $5.82 per dollar invested in employee wellness programs.
When my company, Alamelu`s Culinary Enterprises, began offering culinary consulting and wellness seminars to businesses as part of their employee wellness plans, it soon became apparent to us that blending cooking and eating with health education was an effective way to get employees engaged in new ways of thinking about their diet and fitness. Americans get drilled with health messages all the time in the media. We know what we`re supposed to eat, but the message becomes especially compelling when you prepare healthy ingredients, participate in the cooking of interesting dishes, and then eat them.
Our company`s focus is South Indian cuisine. Not only is it my area of expertise, but it is also one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Many cancer rates in India are lower than those in the U.S., and Alzheimer`s disease is four times lower in that country. A growing body of research suggests that the spices used every day in Indian food--including turmeric, curry, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne--may have protective benefits against a host of common diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer`s.
We show employees how to prepare flavorful and aromatic foods that include a broad array of vegetables, legumes, Indian spices, and lean meats. Along the way, employees learn about portions, variety, fats, fiber, nutrients, and a new way to eat.
New Ideas for HR
An effective employee wellness program should include a section on food and eating. Here are some elements to consider:
Do a culinary culture assessment. Have a culinary health consultant assess your corporate culinary culture. Have him or her visit the company`s lunchroom, vending machines, and local eateries to get an idea of what your employees consume on a regular basis.
Present recommendations that hit home. Your employees have already heard their eating habits are bad. They already know poor health leads to lower productivity, reduced performance, and higher absenteeism. Instead, ask your culinary health consultant to make specific recommendations to your employees, based on their habits, nearby restaurants and take-out joints, and in-house vending machines.
Engage them in hands-on activities. Studies show that learning while engaging multiple senses makes the learner more likely to remember and use the information. That`s why hands-on cooking is such an effective way to teach employees about changing their diet. It`s one thing to tell people they need to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It`s quite another to show them brand-new, interesting ways to enjoy such vegetables as eggplant, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower.
Give them something they can use. Cooking--especially in a different culinary tradition--encourages teambuilding and gives employees a new skill. In our seminars, even novice cooks learn to prepare vegetables, lean meat, healthful legumes, and flavored rice dishes using a variety of spices. They learn about the health benefits of different ingredients. And they learn to prepare and enjoy a broad variety of vegetable dishes and discover that vegetable dishes do not have to be bland and boring.
The results? We`ve found that employees report they are more motivated to cook at home, bring healthy lunches to work instead of relying on convenience snacks or fast foods lunches, and they have a new awareness of their dietary habits and the ramifications of making poor dietary choices. Culinary education seminars are part of a growing new trend in corporate wellness offerings to employees, and a smart option for HR professionals to consider.
Source:
http://www.
