Objective: Environmental strategies at worksites may help consumers change
dietary behaviour towards a more healthy diet. The present study aimed to
evaluate the availability of healthy meal options at Danish worksite canteens and
to identify predictors of worksite canteens providing healthy meals.
Design: A self-administered questionnaire was randomly mailed to 1967 worksite
canteen managers. Besides information and characteristics about the canteen and
the worksite, the canteen managers specified the menus available. Two different
health groups (Healthy and Less Healthy) were defined in three different meal
categories (Sandwiches, Hot meals and Salads) as well as a combined category
(Combined) combining all the three meal categories. The characteristics of the
worksites were compared with regard to the different health groups.
Setting: Randomly selected Danish worksite canteens.
Subjects: 553 Danish worksite canteen managers replied, resulting in a response
rate of 29 %.
Results: Only 12% of the canteens applied to the Healthy group combining all
the three meal categories. In particular, worksites with more than 75% female
employees served healthy menus on a frequent basis. The size of the worksite was
positively correlated with more healthy meal options. Furthermore, the present
study suggests a positive relationship between corporate financial support and the
availability of healthy meal options.
Conclusions: Among the selected variables studied, workforce gender, company
size and corporate financial support were significant predictors of the availability
of healthy meal options in worksite canteens. More research is needed on the role
that variance in organisation environment plays for the potential of worksite
intervention, to make a difference in terms of healthy eating.