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Launch Toolkit for Employers to Create Healthy Dining Programs for Workers WASHINGTON and GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Every day, millions of U.S. workers are eating at least one meal at their company's cafeteria or dining facility, where food choices often range from healthy salad bars to not-so-healthy snacks, entrees and meals. Now, two of the nation's leading organizations committed to developing solutions to address obesity in the workplace have joined forces to help companies create healthy dining programs. The National Business Group on Health, which represents more than 240 large employers, and Sodexho USA (NYSE:SDX), the nation's leading food service and facilities management provider, today announced the launch of a toolkit designed to help employers create and implement healthy, on-site dining programs. The toolkit follows several months of research into how employers can provide a healthy dining environment and educate workers on the importance of pursuing and maintaining healthy eating habits. The toolkit, "Promoting Healthy Weight through Healthy Dining at Work," is the latest in a series of initiatives led by the Business Group's Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity, launched in 2003 to find solutions for employers to battle obesity in the workplace. Sodexho is a founding board member of the Institute. The Business Group, working in conjunction with Sodexho, created the toolkit, which has four major components: -- Cafeteria, Vending and Catering Assessments that enable employers to determine whether they are now offering appropriately healthful options to their employees. -- Consumer Brochures which employers can post or distribute offering tips on how to eat healthy meals not only at work, but also at home and on the road. The brochures include tips on how to navigate the various food stations in the company cafeteria and make healthy decisions, as well as helpful hints on understanding cooking terms and techniques and deciding on portion sizes. -- Training Guide to help corporate food service managers educate cafeteria workers about the basics of nutrition and portion control. -- Sample RFP and Contract Negotiation Guidelines to help corporate managers review their food service providers' ability to create and maintain a healthy options dining facility, and ensure that the contract supports and promotes corporate goals. "Obesity continues to be a major challenge and looming crisis in this country and one that requires lots of parties to find solutions together," said Helen Darling, President of the National Business Group on Health. "With workers spending so many hours on their job each week, the company cafeteria can truly be a great benefit. However, it's critically important that workers understand the importance of eating healthy foods and, more importantly, that companies create a healthy dining environment and offer tasty, nutritious affordable food choices. That's one of the main reasons we partnered with Sodexho and created this innovative toolkit for employers." "The ultimate goal for employers is to operate a health-promoting dining facility that encourages employees to consume healthy foods at work. As the food service provider to more than 1,600 dining facilities across corporate America, we feel strongly about this issue. That's why we're sharing the expertise gained in developing our Your Health Your Way(SM) (http://www.yourhealthyourwayonline.com/) wellness program in an effort to promote wellness throughout the industry," said Michael Norris, Market President and COO, Sodexho USA. "With this toolkit, we are able to work directly with employers to create an environment that improves employee health. This requires several steps including designing a facility, offering educational programs and incentives and training staff properly. Employees value this type of program as a significant benefit of working for the employer." "We are pleased to be able to offer employers this toolkit, especially at a time when they are stepping up their efforts to promote wellness and health lifestyles among their workers," said LuAnn Heinen, director of the Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity. "When companies are able to educate and encourage workers to eat healthy meals and snacks at work, at home and on the road, it's a win-win situation for everyone." About Sodexho USA Sodexho USA (http://www.sodexhousa.com/) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 110,000+ employees. Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps. About the National Business Group on Health The National Business Group on Health, representing more than 240 large employers, is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to employers' most important health care and related benefits issues. The Business Group identifies and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues. National Business Group on Health members provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information about the Business Group, visit http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/. DATASOURCE: National Business Group on Health; Sodexho USA CONTACT: Ed Emerman, Eagle Public Relations, +1-609-452-5967, , for the National Business Group on Health and Sodexho USA; or Tara Baten, Sodexho USA, +1-301-987-4324, Web site: http://www.yourhealthyourwayonline.com/ http://www.sodexhousa.com/ http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/

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