Promoting healthy eating practices in every aspect of our lives is an important step in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, says Minister of Health and Wellness, Carolyn Bertram.
“Initiatives such as the Workplace Healthy Lunch Challenge during Healthy Eating Week are a great way to get Islanders involved in creating a healthier and more active province,” said Minister Bertram. “I would like to thank each participant for their support of healthy lifestyles and congratulate each team for making the pledge to increase workplace wellness.”
The Workplace Healthy Lunch Challenge had over 400 participants representing 43 work places from all across Prince Edward Island. The Challenge included each participant having at least three out of four food groups as part of their daily lunch, opting for a healthy beverage choice such as water, milk or 100 per cent fruit juice and keeping track of each workplace’s performance.
At the end of the week, each team that successfully completed the challenge was entered into a draw with the winning team receiving a catered lunch and healthy snacks for the day. The winning team was the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s X-Ray Department.
“The Healthy Eating Challenge is a fun and educational way to help Islanders take steps to improve their eating habits,” said go!PEI coordinator, Laura MacPherson. “The tips and tools that these participants learned during the challenge can be passed on to family and friends and will raise awareness for the importance of a healthy life style which includes eating properly and being active.”
A partnership between the Department of Health and Wellness, PEI Healthy Eating Alliance and go!PEI, Health Eating Week included other initiatives such as a Rethink Your Drink campaign in Island schools to promote healthy beverage options and daily online healthy eating tips.