The Eat Well at Work study, funded by the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIH), is designed to improve access to healthy, affordable meals in workplaces where nutritious options are limited. Through this project, Good Bowls—subsidized healthy frozen meals—are provided to employees through vending machines placed in lunchrooms and break areas that might otherwise only offer snacks or sugary beverages.
While our early work focused primarily on rural and blue-collar worksites, we have recently expanded to include additional settings, such as office environments, to better understand how food access challenges affect different types of workers.
Our approach also includes technology-based strategies, such as text message reminders, to “nudge” workers toward healthier choices. These messages aim to reinforce long-term behavior change and support overall well-being.
Study Highlights
Early data show that offering Good Bowls leads to healthier food choices, while text message reminders can reinforce long-term behavior change. Several participating companies have expressed interest in continuing to use the Good Bowls vending machines after the study ends, making sustainability planning a top priority for our team.