OPM Wants Federal Employees to Develop Healthier Eating Habits

The Office of Personnel Management is celebrating National Nutrition Month by encouraging federal employees to watch what they eat.

The Office of Personnel Management is celebrating National Nutrition Month by encouraging federal employees to watch what they eat.

According to a recent blog post by Stephen Shih, Deputy Associate Director for Senior Executive Services and Performance Management at OPM, federal workers are going to see a stronger push to get them to eat healthier foods during the month of March.

Shih wrote:

This month, you may see an increased focus on nutrition. Throughout the year workplaces across the Federal government encourage employees to make informed decisions about their food choices. To support Federal agencies in developing and maintaining effective nutrition programs, OPM hosted a webinar training that highlighted agency best practices. We also conducted a government-wide assessment of their workplace health and wellness programs called WellCheck, which helps agencies determine the effectiveness of their health and wellness programs.

Shih also listed some examples of programs agencies are pushing to get their employees to watch what they eat. At the National Institutes of Health, for example, there is a “Meatless Monday” option on the menu along with postings of the amount of calories in meals. And the Department of Transportation has a nutritional tips opt-in email list for its employees.

Shih added, “Most importantly, we care about the health of Federal employees. Living a healthy lifestyle can help you be your best at home, work, and in your community. We hope you will take a few minutes to examine your eating habits this month and rejuvenate your health goals — one bite at a time.”

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.