April is Oral Health Month! Did you know drinking 1 small bottle of pop is like eating 20 chocolate chip cookies? Or drinking 1 large iced coffee drink can be like eating 5 ½ doughnuts? In fact, based on the amount of added sugar they are exactly the same!
The extra calories in sugary drinks, such as pop and iced tea, can add up quickly. This can lead to an unhealthy weight, putting your employees at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Other sugary drinks include sweetened iced tea, fruit punch, slushies, sports drinks, energy drinks, vitamin waters, and specialty coffees.
As part of Oral Health Month we are offering all workplaces in Chatham-Kent a campaign that has been designed to reduce the consumption of Sugar Sweetened Beverage called “Thirsty? Rethink Your Drink”.
There are three options to participate – you are welcome to offer/participate in one or a combination that will best suit your workplace and staff.
1. Workplace Supportive Environment
To help create a supportive environment in your workplace, we are asking you to complete a Workplace Nutrition Survey. This survey asks questions related to healthy eating and sugar sweetened beverages in your workplace. It also asks you to consider providing a variety of options to your staff. Any workplace that completes the survey will be entered into a contest to receive one of three cookbooks. The survey should be completed by Friday April 29, 2011 and faxed or emailed to Lyndsay Davidson 519-352-2166 or lyndsayd@chatham-kent.ca to be entered into the draw.
2. Employee Participation
For your employees, we are offering a Sugar Sweetened Beverage Challenge. Employees can fill out the Rethink Your Drink challenge form for the 7 days and either fax or email the completed form to receive a “Rethink Your Drink” water bottle. These challenge forms can either be printed off individually or you can contact Lyndsay Davidson at lyndsayd@chatham-kent.ca or 519-352-7270 ext 2478 and we will mail or drop off the number of challenge forms that your workplace will require. All completed challenge forms should be returned by Friday April 29, 2011 to receive your free water bottle.
3. Workplace Awareness
The following posters are available to help promote the “Thirsty? Rethink Your Drink” and can be sent to your workplace. Please contact Lyndsay Davidson by phone 519-352-7270 ext 2478 or email lyndsayd@chatham-kent.ca with the number of posters required (we have a set of 5 different posters)
Rethink your drink poster-SLUSHIE
Rethink your drink poster-ICED TEA
Rethink your drink poster-FRUIT PUNCH
Rethink your drink poster-POP
Rethink your drink poster-ENERGY DRINK
We look forward to working with you and your staff to help everyone to “Rethink your Drink”.