A common theme of this newsletter series is that wellness programs and campaigns must do more than simply present information. However, the intention has never been to say that a company should completely avoid or abandon the practice of disseminating health and wellness information. To the contrary, it is particularly imperative for employers to provide understandable and actionable information to fill gaps in the driver nutrition knowledge base. Furthermore, it is very likely that many of the companies that already distribute great nutrition information could benefit by further explaining foundational terms necessary to understand some nutrition labels and ingredient lists.
Like all other business communications, in order for health and wellness information to make an impact, those receiving it must understand it to the point they can use it. Understanding involves more than simply recognizing words; it means that the receivers must have at least a functional understanding of the various terms and concepts. Specifically, employees must know how their nutrition choices impact the way their bodies function. Too often, very general and / or generic nutrition tips are given to employees who lack a foundational understanding of the terminology necessary for them to most effectively use and apply the well-intentioned tips. For example, drivers may be told – possibly in a few more words – to “watch” their carbohydrate intake. However, in order for a driver to make the most of a tip such as this, he or she should first understand what carbohydrates are, how the body uses them, the various forms of carbohydrates, how to distinguish good carbohydrates from bad ones, etc. Consistent with what we know about adult learning, when individuals understand why they make certain food choices, they are more apt to buy-in to a suggestion and act in the desired fashion.
It is not the intention of the author to say that drivers should become dieticians or food scientists in order to improve their nutrition. However, in order for drivers to see remarkable change in their nutrition, they will have to have a little more detailed understanding of why certain foods are good choices. Knowledge is power, and having a more detailed understanding of how something works makes managing any task much easier.
There are many terms used in the world of nutrition, and there are just as many philosophies on how to approach educating a workforce on those terms. However, it this author’s suggestion for trucking companies to identify a few, key terms (approximately five or six) that are high-impact (most important for seeing visible and objective results such as weight loss, cholesterol reduction, etc.) and then focus on getting drivers proficient with those terms. This approach is preferred to that of providing just a little information on a litany of topics. While each company should evaluate the type of nutrition information it is providing, and customize its list of priority terms, the following are some suggested, foundational terms for trucking companies to consider in their efforts to increase their drivers’ nutrition IQs: caloric intake, serving size; carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and fats.
Next month, Part II of this article will detail some key components of each of these terms that should be communicated to employees, and provide some internet resources to aid in providing drivers with a foundational understanding of nutrition label terminology. Beyond the Cab readers may even want to distribute Part II to all their drivers. Keep in mind that this article is, by no means, taking the focus off of action and putting it back on information. It simply is shedding light on an information foundation that should exist in order for drivers to properly use the nutrition information that is provided to them.
Remember to email success stories and best practices to bsspurlock@miains.com.
