Hitchiner Manufacturing Nutritionist Brings Healthy Food to Workers
/
Hitchiner Manufacturing’s New Nutritionist Has Healthy Food on the Menu
Some people love to run every day, while others are strict about getting enough sleep and eating right. While many do what they can to be healthy, most of us know we could do better, especially when it comes to what we eat. It's easy to go for the sweet snacks and comfort food, but poor nutrition can have lasting effects on our bodies, and not just our waistlines. Hitchiner Manufacturing realized this when it began identifying common medical issues among its employees and was looking for ways to encourage better health. As a result, the company has hired a nutritionist to advise patients at the company's on-site health clinic, the Health & Resource Center, as well as develop healthy menu options at the company's on-site restaurant for both breakfast and lunch.
Hitchiner Manufacturing Nutritionist Changing Unhealthy Habits
Hitchiner Manufacturing wanted to encourage people to eat healthier, but it found it was a tough sell when employees are hungry, and high-fat sweet or salty snacks are available. The company started with an education effort, as well as offering some healthier snacking options, but they didn't take off as well as the company had hoped.
"We know the importance of diet and nutrition and its relationship to coronary artery disease, which is a concern within our employee population," said Tim Sullivan, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Services. "We’ve tried things in the past, like offering healthy options in the vending machines, but people often go for the candy bars. We needed to have a combination of more healthy food choices as well as education."
Hitchiner Manufacturing brought on a nutritionist to engage with patients at the clinic and provide coaching on healthy eating habits when that is identified by one of the physicians as part of an employee's treatment. The hope is that this can be yet one more tool for employees with chronic health issues to keep them well and help them to manage their health better.
View Employment Opportunities at Hitchiner
Also, Hitchiner Manufacturing has asked the nutritionist to consult on the menu options available on-site to come up with meal options. The goals are to make it easier for people who have been advised to change their eating habits so that when they go to eat, there are healthy foods explicitly designed for their diets.
"We know improving nutrition and offering healthier foods need to be in conjunction with education. I think there are some true successes possible for changing habits," said Sullivan.
About Hitchiner's On-Site Health Clinic
For nearly a decade, Hitchiner Manufacturing employees have had access to an on-site health clinic, the Health & Resource Center, that provides basic medical care. Run by Southern New Hampshire Health System and Foundation Medical Partners, the clinic offers employee physicals, wellness check-ups, routine testing, and diagnosis of basic medical ailments and injuries, from the flu to a sprained knee.
Arguably the best feature of the clinic is that it is free to employees, spouses, and dependents. The visit does not count against an employee's insurance deductible, which means lower health care costs for employees and healthier employees for Hitchiner.
Recently, Hitchiner Manufacturing expanded the healthcare options available to employees beyond the nutritionist, including a behavioral health physician to treat substance abuse, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. The clinic also added a telehealth program so that employees have access to a doctor even when the clinic's doctor is out of office by connecting the clinic with a Southern New Hampshire Health System urgent care facility.
Click here for more information about Hitchiner Manufacturing's on-site health clinic, general benefits, or employment opportunities.
