Fruit at work study
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A brand new European study is taking place in Durham to determine whether the provision of free fruit in the workplace is a useful way to improve employee’s health and wellbeing.
The Fruit at Work study will involve 400 employees from Durham county hall and the fruit will be provided by J.R.Holland – a major supplier of fruit and vegetables in the region.
According to research, the two main reasons people do not eat enough fruit is cost and availability. By providing free fruit, these concerns will be addressed and it is hoped that employees will reach for fruit rather than unhealthy snacks.
Half of the employees will receive 2 pieces of fruit, while the other half will receive none; before swapping half way through the study. During that time, weight, blood pressure, waist line measurement, snack behaviour, overall productivity and staff morale will be monitored.
To find out more about eating 5 a day portions of fruit and vegetables, read our article.
I’m looking forward to seeing the results of this. After all; we are what we eat! What about you – Do you eat at least 2 pieces of fruit every day? Does it make a noticeable difference to your wellbeing?
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It’s surprising how many people say they can’t afford fruit when they will happily consume a chocolate bar and a packet of crisps with their shop bought coffee.
So many high streets are lacking greengrocers leaving a poor choice in small shops.
This is a really good experiment – I hope schools are able to participate too. No chocolate, crisps and soft drinks.
There must be studies comparing the school canteen menu’s with school ranking.
Can we have a ranking system for school canteens?
Hi again Jon, you make a great comment about people ‘not affording’ fruit and then going on to buy chocolate and crisps. I guess we can all find the money to buy the things we place the most value on. 😉
It would be wonderful to see this taking place in schools. Around here, in the primary schools, fruit is given at snack time for the first couple of years or so and there is no chocolate or crisps to be put in lunchboxes.
Obviously staff cannot enforce a move, but it’s a good start.
A ranking system for school canteens would be interesting; but in some of the rural schools around here they don’t even have a canteen – meals are bought in from outside caterers on plastic ‘airplane’ style trays!
Do you have much to do with the schools in your area? What are the meals like?