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Ultra Processed Foods

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:34:05 GMT

UPFs - how much should we worry?

UPFs! We hear about them everywhere, so how worried should we be? It is a question I am asked about more and more, so I thought I would write a short(ish) blog to help offer my measured view as a registered dietitian and employee health expert.

First we need to look at what even if a UPF. There is actually not really an internationally recognised one simple definition. Most studies refer to the NOVA classification. This ranks foods according to differing levels of processing. The one that is causing most concern is the Ultra Processed Foods category. There are drawbacks around the categorisation as it deals solely with processing and does not take into account the food or nutritional content and as all nutrition professionals know, nutrition is very nuanced.

Essentially it is where the food has undergone significant processing and modification from its original form and contains ingredients not usually found in a home kitchen.

The processing of foods has been around for decades, many foods are processed to a greater or lesser extent. This has benefits in terms of safety (prolonging shelf life and reducing risk of bacteria) and is a helpful addition to make our lives a bit easier (most of us cannot spend all our time in the kitchen! Processing also helps the stability of products (emulsifiers stop foods like mayonnaise splitting).

For example a fresh tomato is un-processed, tinned tomatoes are processed but are considered minimally processed whereas tomato ketchup would be ultra processed (though it may depend on the brand and what ingredients are included).

If we think about what foods we eat that are highly processed, many of these foods would include things like shop bought biscuits, cakes, chocolate, savoury snacks and jars of sauces/ready meals. These are what we consider the High Fat High Sugar foods and may also be high in salt. These are the foods that we should already be trying to eat less of. From this perspective, I think it is good to try and limit these foods as this is already part of healthy eating advice.

I also think it is great that we step back and think about what we are eating, become more aware of the impact of processing and additives but also to look at it holistically. There is some evidence around the role of some of these foods however it is difficult to determine whether it is the foods themselves or the fact that the highest consumption is liked to poorer health outcomes but also poorer diet quality. SO, a diet high in UPFs will often be high in fat, sugar and salt and less nutritious. There is more ongoing work in this area which is great as this is still an emerging area of interest.

As a healthcare professional I have concerns that there is a (particularly on social media among those who do not have nutrition or dietetics degrees) a growing demonisation of ALL foods that are considered UPFS and this leads to a lot of stigma and guilt. It is very difficult to avoid all UPFs and those who berate others for consuming UPFs are not being particularly helpful. Mostpeople cannot afford to buy a lovely wholegrain sour dough artisan loaf or take the time to bake one. Most people have busy lives and may have a family to feed or have limited budget, limited time and access to foods. Health conditions and other demands can further impact, I work with many shift workers and those working on sites with limited facilities and I am very well aware of the challenges they face.

I find it useful to look at UPF in the context of foods and their nutritional profile not just the UPFs. Some of the foods that have recently been highlighted include wholemeal, bread, baked beans, fish fingers and yogurts.

These have some great nutritional benefits. For example wholemeal, and particularly wholemeal seeded bread contains an excellent source of fibre. Some breads will be less processed than others and if you are priviliged to be able to spend the time baking your own, then please go right ahead but please do not feel guilty if you can't (or maybe your children won't eat what you have spent hours baking).

My take home top tips:

�� Where possible cook meals from scratch

��Have less of the high fat high sugar foods (both UPFs and unprocessed)

��Consider the overall quality of the diet (does it include plenty of fruit and vegetables for example)

��Including some UPFs is OK

New Year Focus

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:38:33 GMT

Investing in our health NOW

January is often a time for new year resolutions. A time when many will think about healthier eating, trying to undo the excesses of the festive season of overindulgences.

I want to encourage you to think about your longer term health and focusing on whether there are just small changes that can become lifelong habits. I want to encourage everyone to consider what you can ADD into your diet and Not the foods to limit. I believe if we focus on eating for good health and the foods that nourish us, the less healthy (yes, the biscuits, cakes, chocolates) will naturally be displaced.

That is not to say that these less healthy foods cannot play a part. They are after all pretty yummy and most of us do eat them (even us dietitians!). They can still be included in a heathy balanced diet, just less often or in smaller amounts.

If we look to see how we can include more fruit and vegetables, more wholegrains, lean proteins etc, these will form the majority of what we eat.

At this time of year, there is lots of food noise around and it can be difficult to not feel bombarded. Unfortunately, much of the information on social media is often inaccurate and simply feeds into the "NEWYEAR NEW YOU" dialogue. You probably don't need to make major sweeping changes and in fact, these are unlikely to be achievable in the long term. A few small changes that you can build in to your life are much more realistic and achievable and will leave you feeling much more motivated and positive.

As well as nutrition, we should also consider our sleep, our activity and our mental wellbeing. Let's all be kind to ourselves and each other (and that includes when it comes to food).

Did you know that the British Dietetic Association have lots of facts sheets available to download. There is also a new dietitian-approved toolkit available called "Small Steps to a Healthier You"

This toolkit lots of hints and tips that you can implement to help you focus on your health and wellbeing and implement small simple steps that are realistic for our busy lives.

Do you have high blood pressure?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:13:41 GMT

Do you #knowyournumbers ?

September is #Knowyournumbers week. A week dedicated to raising awareness about high blood pressure (or hypertension).

If you follow my blogs, then you will know that I am really keen to offer advice and raise awareness of all things nutrition and health with a particular emphasis on what we can do to keep our hearts healthy.

Hypertension is sometimes referred to as the silent killer and that is because you do not necessarily get any symptoms from high blood pressure so you may not be aware.

And there is a lot of it about! One in three adults have high blood pressure, so that means several of your work colleagues or perhaps YOU may have high blood pressure.

When it comes to the risks - having high blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes. It can also affect your kidneys and lead to types of dementia.

It is easy to get checked out and you might be able to get it checked at work so take advantage if you can of the opportunity. You will hear about 2 numbers, one on top of the other

A SYSTOLIC number (the top number). This is the blood pressure reached when your heart beats and forces blood about the body.

The bottom number is DIASTOLIC the this is the lowest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart relaxes between heart beats.

Ideal blood pressure for most people is up to 120/80mmHg

Whether your blood pressure is normal and healthy or you have high blood pressure, a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risks of heart disease and stroke. If you have raised blood pressure you will need to see your GP, nurse or healthcare professional for more advice on managing your BP and getting regular testing (you may be asked to test at home).

Some simple lifestyle top tips include:

Having a healthy balanced diet and in particular including a good amount of fruit and vegetables. These are rich in potassium which is helpful in managing fluid balance and blood pressure.

Include regular exercise as you are able. This is great for your overall health, helping manage your weight and make you feel good. Exercise also helps the flexibility of blood vessels so can help lower blood pressure.

You will probably have heard a bit about salt and its impact on blood pressure. Too much salt makes you hold onto water and can raise blood pressure so it is a good idea to limit salt and salty foods.

The current recommendation is to aim for less than 1 teaspoon of salt a day (6g). It is not just salt you may add to food or in cooking. In fact, most of the salt in our diet is hidden in foods like processed ready meals, jars and sauces, cured meats and salty snacks. You don't necessarily have to cut them all out totally, but it is a good idea to try and limit these and cook from scratch where possible.

Checking the label is helpful. Some foods will use a helpful traffic light system to guide you. Remember to bear i in mind the portion size.

Salt is a way of enhancing flavour but that does not mean your food will end up bland. Start by using a little less salt and get your flavour from herbs and spices (fresh or dried) and strong flavours such as garlic, ginger and chilli.

There is a useful sheet on blood pressure and on salt from the British Dietetic Association High blood pressure (hypertension) and diet - BDA

Blood Pressure UK is a helpful organisation for more information Blood Pressure UK

As a BDA WorkReady Employee Health Dietitian I can deliver sessions on Eating well for a healthy heart which covers helpful practical tips for managing blood pressure so please get in touch.

Say Hydrated at work

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:00:03 GMT

Keeping hydrated at work improves how we feel & how well we work!

Keeping hydrated is really important, and even small amounts of dehydration can have a significant impact on our immediate health.
Given how much of our body is fluid, it is vital we keep hydrated. ��
Not having enough fluid on board can make us really irritable and lethargic �� and we have probably all noticed that!
Hydration also impacts concentration, which a vital safety issue in many job roles such as rail safety, working at height and in construction or when driving.

Keeping well hydrated and eating well is the best way to improve concentration, performance and alertness in the long term. ��

How can you tell if you are drinking enough?

Most people should aim for 6-8 large glasses of water (or equivalent) which is about 1.5 to 2L a day. You will need more if it is very warm or you are working in a particularly hot environment or wearing PPE (personal protective equipment).

An easy way is just check your pee! It should be nice and pale. If it’s dark, you are likely not drinking enough so grab that water bottle and take a glug. There are lots of pee charts available, that can help you check! The British Dietetic Association offer pee charts as part of the Work Ready Programme so why not get in touch with me to find out more.

Water is of course the best fluid for hydration, but other fluids do still count! A small glass of fruit juice can count but stick to just 1 small (150ml) glass in total.

Even tea and coffee counts. Although it is best not to have too any drinks with caffeine though.

If you can, aim for less than 400mg caffeine (no more than 4 regular coffees) then swap to non caffeinated drinks.
It is a good idea to limit drinks containing sugar as we know too much sugar is not good for our teeth and can lead to weight gain.

If you are not so keen on plain water, making sure it is nice and cold . I love using a metal water bottle as I find it keeps my water nice and cold all day!

If you want, you could try add ing some sli ces of fruit to add a bit of extra flavour.

Mint leaves and lime works well or add some different citrus fruits.

You could try some flavoured diluting squash if you prefer something that has more taste.

Whilst fizzy drinks will provide fluid, it is best to limit (even the non sugar ones) as the acids have an effect on teeth.

The importance of supporting employee health

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:15:15 GMT

Expertise of a dietitian to support employee health programmes

As a registered dietitian and accredited BDA WorkReady dietitian I offer expertise and experience to support employee health.

Why a dietitian?

Dietitians are independently regulated registered health professionals. The term dietitian is a protected title so only those registered can legally call themselves a dietitian! All dietitians will have completed a BSc Hons degree/Masters in dietetics as well as period of supervised practice in NHS settings.

We use the science of food and nutrition and translate the evidence based science into simplified practical ideas and advice to support health change. I completed my degree many years ago and as part of my registration I am required to demonstrate that I have kept myself up to date through continuous professional development (CPD). I have clinical experience in a wide variety of areas of nutrition and dietetics and have spend the last 7+ years of my freelance career focusing on employee health which I love.

There is unfortunately a LOT of misinformation out there these days, especially on social media platforms when it comes to food and nutrition. So, I believe it is worth investing in the expertise of dietitians; as a reassurance that you are hearing unbiased evidence based information with a chance to ask for clarifications, I often get the question "I heard about..............is there any truth in this?"

Importance of Employee Health

Up to 25% of the UK's working age population are living with a long term condition. Many more may be at risk.

Employee health programmes can support productivity and improve physical and mental health and resilience. The need for a joined up approach to wellness initatives is supported by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Work Ready is a programme designed to keep the workforce healthy and well at work through needs-based nutrition programmes.

Nutrition has a key role to play in good health, afterall, around 60% of food is eaten during working hours!

Finding simple changes that are sustainable in the longer term can have a significant impact in terms of physical health and mental wellbeing. As a dietitian I use my clinical knowledge and skills together with behaviour change practices to support education and lifestyle changes.

Managing cholesterol through diet and lifestyle

LN012862 — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:29:17 GMT

Managing cholesterol

When I first qualified as a dietitian, I would often have referrals for individuals with raised cholesterol and I have always loved being able to help someone reduce their cholesterol through diet and lifestyle. At the risk of demonstrating how long ago that is, the introductions of statins really took off as a significant and positive impact in managing cholesterol, and dietary referrals reduced, in part because of how well statins work and also the clinical demands on dietetic services and limited number of dietitians to cope with everyone who had raised cholesterol was not possible.

Let's fast forward a bit then. These days, we know even more about how important and significant dietary changes can be to help manage cholesterol. There has also been lots of research looking at how different foods can help support heart health. This is an area I am really passionate about and due to having family history of heart disease, I have to manage my own cholesterol through dietary changes.

The sciencey bit:

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. It is naturally produced in the liver, and we do need some cholesterol and it is used to make some hormones, vitamin D and is an important part of cell structure. Cholesterol is carried around the body by 2 main carriers (HDL and LDL). HDL is the healthier one as it collects cholesterol in the blood and takes it back to the liver where we get rid of excess. LDL is the less healthy carrier as carries cholesterol to the cells but on the way will often deposit some of the cholesterol in our arteries. When cholesterol is deposited in our arteries it makes them narrower meaning it is harder for the blood to get through and can sometimes cause complete blockages (leading to a heart attack or stroke).

We know that too much cholesterol (and too high LDL) is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Reducing our circulating blood cholesterol levels will significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Reducing saturated fats will help to reduce cholesterol.

So here are some of the key changes that you can consider:

❤️ Swap saturated fats for healthier fats such as rapeseed oil, olive oils, oily fish, nuts and seeds, avocado

❤️ Reduce foods such as pies, pastry and biscuits which are high in fat and tend to use saturated fats.

❤️ Include wholegrains (source of fibre) such as brown rice, quinoa, porridge.

❤️ Choose beans, pulses and lentils, these contain a fibre that is helpful in reducing cholesterol. They also provide plant based proteins so can help reduce animal based protein sources.

❤️Including plenty of fruit and vegetables (a source of important antioxidants and fibre)

❤️Have you heard of Beta Glucan?

❤️Oats and barley contain a substance called beta glucan which can help by “mopping up” cholesterol and reducing its absorption

3g oat beta glucan has been scientifically proven to reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 5% (Othman 2011).

Examples could be:

30g porridge oats, 1 oat breakfast cereal biscuit or 30g oat based cereal or 3 oatcakes

So choose porridge or overnight oats for breakfast and have some oatcakes At lunch with some soup is a great way to incorporate. Add barley to soups or swap risotto rice for barley.

❤️Did you know that the humble soya bean can help?

❤️Consuming 15-25g soya protein daily has been shown in studies to lower LDL-cholesterol by 4.3-10%

It partly acts by down regulating LL C synthesis but also having more soya protein means having less higher saturated fat protein foods.

❤️Why not get nutty?

❤️Just a handful of unsalted nuts (30g) have been shown to reduce cholesterol by up to 7.5%.

Nuts also contain lost of healthy nutrients that help reduce coronary artery disease risk, such as monounsaturated fats, minerals,

Try walnuts, almonds, pistachio or whatever is your favourite! Swapping a pack of crisp for some nuts is a great start.

❤️Now for a clever little ingredient called plant stanols (also plant sterols)

These are naturally occurring compounds found in small amounts in some plants, it is difficult to get sufficient naturally, but you can get them in some commercially available fortified drinks or foods called Plant Stanols and Plant Sterols.

1.5-2.4g a day has been shown to help reduce cholesterol.

These should only be used by people needing to reduce cholesterol and should not exceed 3g/day.

There are special spread, yogurts and milks as well as fortified mini yogurt drink bottles containing a daily dose and these are best taken with a main meal

❤️A quick word on exercise

Exercise is another part of the jigsaw. Of course it helps in managing weight and helps us feel good.

Exercise also helps improve blood flow and can help by increasing the elasticity of blood vessels so is good for our blood pressure.

When it comes to cholesterol, exercise has been shown to help increase the "good" HDL cholesterol levels (the ones that take cholesterol off to the liver where it is removed!

I hope this blog helps you with managing your cholesterol. The British Dietetic Food Facts also provide some helpful evidence based advice sheets. It is also worth checking out the British Heart Foundation and Heart UK for more information and in particular check out the CholesterolSmart the Heart UK new plan ©️

New Year, New You, No Thank you

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 11:33:21 GMT

Positive messages around food

At this time of the year there is always a huge surge in interest around dietary changes. Every newspaper and social media post seems full of them.

However, if you are tempted to embark on the latest too good to be true product or plan, just take a moment and consider the evidence and source of information (i.e who is it coming from and what have they got to gain).

Often these diet "fads" can wreak havoc with our relationship with food, leading to use feeling a failure if we cannot achieve the outcome we feel pressured to conform to. Much more important I believe is keeping a healthy relationship with food.

Trying to make small realistic changes such as eating more fruit and vegetables, taking more fibre, drinking more water etc. will be much more achievable ion the long run.

Any suggestions to cut out food groups or severely restrict intake can do more harm than good.

As a dietitian, of course I am always interested in what is going on around food and as a scientist, I am naturally sceptical, always asking for evidence and seeking the source.

Many adverts will often just cite anecdotal claims which can of course be very convincing. Just take a moment to think though, it "worked" for this one person, does that necessarily mean it will work for you? When it comes to evidence, anecdotal evidence is pretty low down the list. We need many studies, randomised controlled trials and meta-analysis (analysing many robust trials) to make sustantiated claims.

There are some red flags that you need to look out for:

They offer a magic bullet to lose weight without making any changes - Really?
They promise rapid weight loss - will tend to be fluid or could be a severe restriction
They talk Detox - you (hopefully) have healthy kidneys and liver which do this very well
They sell you expensive supplements - you will simply lose £££
They severely limit the foods you can eat - you will not get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy

Dietitians train for many years and are closely regulated, only using sound evidence, so if you see these red flags on the latest diet, say New Year, New You.... NO Thank you

New Year Positive Health

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:16:02 GMT

New Year - Positive Health

Dietitians can help guide you through the maze of misinformation and sift out clear, practical messages from sensationalism and quick fixes.

There is always a media frenzy around weight loss and quick fixes in the new year and many companies too will be embarking on health and wellbeing campaigns to support employees.

I believe that it is important to think about long term health and wellbeing. Quick fixes are just that. They are not sustainable and don’t help us think about our health in the most positive of ways.

I always feel it is a good idea to just let the new year settle in for a bit and then think about positive goals for the year. Embracing health goals overall I find a more positive approach than focussing just on things like weight.

As a dietitian, I have a wealth of experience in supporting individuals with a wide variety of health issues, I have the background expertise in science and nutrition. Understanding behaviour change models and practical ideas that can fit different lifestyles is key to positive outcomes. Once size does not fit all, meaning that as dietitians we do not use a one diet for everyone, we are all individuals afterall. That is also why as dietitians, we do not tend to give prescriptive meal plans as our experience shows that understanding the key messages and how that translates to your own lifestyle is more productive.

Experience in delivering health and wellbeing programmes and working with individuals has shown me that what is valued most is practical take home nuggets (and that is not the fast food variety!).

Key messages for good health and nutrition:

Eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables
Include wholegrains
Choose lean protein sources, including plant based proteins
Include some milk and milk yogurts (or alternatives) for calcium
Opt for healthier fat sources such as nuts and seeds, oily fish and use unsaturated fats like olive oil or rapeseed instead of saturated (hard) fats
Keep a limit on high fat high sugar foods (you all know what I mean here – it’s the biscuits, cakes, chocolates and fizzy drinks!)
Finally keep well hydrated – aim for 6-8 glasses/cups of fluid daily.

Here is to a happy and healthy 2022!

Seasons Greetings

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 12:43:31 GMT

Seasonal eating

This infographic hopefully doesn't need too many words. I'm not one for reading lots of wordy texts so I put together this infographic to give you some of my key messages over this festive season.

I know that some people can find seasonal eating challenging and worrying. It's easy to eat too much and worry about what we should or shouldn't be doing. Remember to look at the source of information and make sure it is evidence based and reliable.

For most people, I would say just keep in mind that it is a celebration and our health is more affected by what we do on a day to day basis throughout the year than what happens on a few days over Christmas.

If you are tempted to have lots of crisps and chocolate snacks around, maybe balance them out with some juicy satsumas, dried fruit and plain nuts too.

Having time off work can also mean we have more time for walking with friends and family or just a walk in the fresh air on your own.

Any activity is great for our physical and mental health.

Good health to you, see you in 2022

Good nutrition, health and wellbeing at work

Mon, 24 May 2021 16:17:25 GMT

Top tips for good nutrition at work

In general, we consume around a third of our daily calories at work.

We all know that what we eat and drink has an effect on our health both long term and short term. It also has a significant effect on our performance at work.

If you are feeling sluggish and can't concentrate at work, take at look at what you are eating and drinking. As well as getting some fresh air and exercise, what we eat and drink during the working day is really important.

A healthy intake at work can boost activity, improve concentration and can improve how we deal with stress in the workplace. Remember to keep fluids up too as dehydration can lead to dizziness, poor concentration, headaches and fatigue.

Many companies are recognising the importance of good nutrition (and activity) for their employees in the knowledge that it is a win-win! As an employee, you feel supported and valued and as an employer, staff sickness can be reduced and productivity improved.

• Make time for breakfast before you start working

• Plan to have some fruit with your tea break instead of a few biscuits

• Make vegetable-packed soups for your lunch

• Include veggie sticks and cherry tomatoes at lunch time

• Choose wholegrain breads, pitta or crackers for a packed lunch

• Encourage your staff canteen to offer healthier choices and apply for the Healthy Living Award

• Make a plan to keep a water bottle on your desk at all times

Food and Nutrition Central can provide Healthy Eating webinar sessions via your preferred platform.

How do I know if a "diet plan" or cook book is any good for nutrition info

Mon, 24 May 2021 16:09:02 GMT

Working out what information to trust is tricky. Here are my tips

Especially at new year, there is a plethora of new diet plans, cook books and fitness DVDs.

The majority of these are written by (at least in part) well known personalities, some have the help of a nutrition "expert".

Some are written in conjunction with registered dietitians or registered nutritionists and others merely give the writers own opinions on nutrition.

Whilst the title dietitian is a protected title (you must be registered and hold a recognised degree, sadly the term "nutritionist" is not, so anyone can use the term even if they do not have a recognised nutrition qualification.

The recipes may be great however, sometimes the nutrition information is not based on any scientific evidence.

Spend your £££ wisely, there really is no quick fix and positive lifestyle changes are better than a short time weight loss gimmick.

Many of the books are cook books with beautiful recipes. They can be great to kick start you to thinking about some new ways to eat more healthily, often the recipes are a great way to get in more veg so go a long way to getting your 5 a day.

Here are my suggestions when looking at new diet books :

• Opt for tips based around a more healthy lifestyle that you can maintain rather than any fads or short lived eating trends.

• Look for simple recipes, you don't want to be shelling out £££ on expensive "trendy" foods that you only use once.

• Steer clear of any suggestions to cut out certain food groups (there is no need and this can lead you to becoming deficient in some nutrients).

• Check the credentials of whoever has written or been involved in the book. As a dietitian, I frequently spot inaccurate unsupported claims in books and magazines on the subject of nutrition.

Think about your portion size. Plates have got get bigger and so have our portions.

If you are trying to lose some weight, b e realistic, and aim to lose weight slowly.

• Incorporate exercise that you enjoy

• Enjoy your food. Be mindful of what you are eating and don't beat yourself up for the occasional treat.

• It can be really helpful to keep tabs on what you eat as well as activity. Studies show people who have lost weight, and kept it off kept food and activity diaries.

• Include wholegrain carbohydrates which help you feel full and provide important fibre.

• Include fruit and vegetables at each meal and make sure you get your 5 a day

• Make sure that your eating plan is well balanced. See my blog on The 5 food groups and Eatwell Guide

• Limit alcohol - it contains more calories per gram than sugar and can weaken resolve to avoid less healthy snacking.

• Remember, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!!

For FREE advice on a healthy diet, a great source of information written by dietitians is is the British Dietetic Association Food Fact Sheets

•

The BDA Work Ready Programme

Mon, 24 May 2021 15:57:01 GMT

Dietitians supporting health and wellbeing at work

The Work Ready programme has been developed based on evidence-based research so that employers commissioning this programme can be confident that it will achieve the stated outcomes and return on investment.

The comprehensive programme comprises of key elements:

Identifying the nutritional concerns and needs of the company and employees
Working with the company and putting in place suitable measurable interventions
Evaluating the outcome to ensure that identified goals have been met.

Dietitians work as partners with the company to achieve positive wellness outcomes.

For more information see BDA Work Ready

Supporting Healthier Working Lives through Dietitian-led Wellness Initiatives

Tue, 04 May 2021 14:13:57 GMT

Employee Health and Wellbeing

The food choices that we make can have an effect on mood, energy levels, concentration and even how we deal with stress. Therefore it is really important to consider food choices within the workplace. If employees have a low mood, poor concentration, low energy levels and are not coping so well with the stress of work then this has the potential to ultimately influence the productivity of a workforce. Up to 10% of sick leave can be put down to lifestyle behaviours and obesity. Employees that are obese take an average of 4 extra sick days a year.

Longer term the food choices we make affects our health, in particular weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important diet and lifestyle related factors that we can change. There is a wealth of evidence that shows being a healthy weight can help to preventing a range of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease related to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

25 % of the working age population suffering from a long term condition which can be weight-related.

Workplace health interventions are an excellent avenue to help address this. After all we spend a significant part of our week at work and consume a large part of our total food intake in an average working day.

Any work place health initiative requires some investment so it is really important to spend wisely and companies are always looking for a good return on investment.

The British Dietetic Association published a White Paper in 2015, reviewing the evidence on wellness initiatives and offering best practice recommendations.

The paper identifies how good nutrition and hydration alongside being active keeps the UK workforce healthy and how initiatives can be integrated into positive programmes for health promotion.

Dietitians are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional programmes at an individual and wider public health level. Dietitians are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and must have a recognised degree(BSc Dietetics or similar), in addition they have the skills to effect positive behaviour change and only recommend evidence based nutritional advice.

The BDA Work Ready Programme

The comprehensive programme comprises of key elements:

Identifying the nutritional concerns and needs of the company and employees

Working with the company and putting in place suitable measurable interventions

Evaluating the outcome to ensure that identified goals have been met.

Dietitians work as partners with the company to achieve positive wellness outcomes.{{}}