Workforce Commitment

Saúde no Prato: Bringing wellness to the workplace with a simple eating plan

We all strive to live healthier lives, but, in reality, it can be a challenge to incorporate better eating habits into our daily routines. The Saúde no Prato program in Brazil gave Dell team members the opportunity to follow a simple eating program that would help them feel better, lose weight and address health concerns.

The voluntary pilot program, launched in August 2009, introduced a food reeducation plan aimed at improving well-being and work performance, as well as reducing absenteeism. Before implementing the new regime, doctors and nutritionists conducted a clinical exam and an analysis of each participant’s daily eating habits. To complete the health assessment, program participants shared their individual wellness goals.

Challenge Solution Benefit
Challenge: Solution: Benefit:
Team members in Brazil
wanted a new, healthier
nutrition program that
could be incorporated
within Dell.  		The Saúde no Prato program
was implemented within
company cafeterias and
bistros.  		There were significant health
benefits for participants. 

The Program

The program has two phases:
  • Alterations in the cafeteria menu to provide healthier options
  • Education on how to eat, such as water consumption, types of fat, eating schedule and portions

Volunteers attended group meetings and received regular reminder emails about what, when and how to eat. Of the 117 volunteers, 54 percent lost weight. There were also decreases in overall cardiovascular risk and in health conditions such as elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, some participants who started the program with a weight or blood pressure problem found that they had other health conditions that they wouldn’t have otherwise known about. As a result, these employees were referred to a doctor to receive appropriate treatment.

Other Benefits

The program also resulted in:

  • 11 percent of participating employees showed increased work performance
  • Absenteeism due to digestive tract problems decreased by 45 percent
  • Health awareness increased even among nonparticipants as entire families became involved

With its success, Saúde no Prato will continue as a full-time program, presenting opportunities to help more employees and to gather additional data on trends and benefits.