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We all know that eating right is an important part of wellness and good health. But we also all know that eating right can sometimes be a challenge at the office.

To better understand the ways in which affordable care and wellness are impacting businesses as it relates to food services, we asked three questions of Andrea Ihara, Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist and VP Marketing and Business Development at VendScreen.

WWH: In what ways should wellness plans incorporate nutritional concerns as part of their focus?

AI: Wellness programs place weight management in high rank of first priorities. The cost of obesity in the workplace, with related disorders, is statistically quite high. By offering the employees “healthier choices” they can help to educate the employee population, and offer them better options in their cafeteria and vending machines. There are studies that show when offered nutritional information, many people will make better and healthier selections.

WWH: As companies consider wellness plans, we hear a lot about behavioral impacts. Is employee nutrition an area that companies can influence?

AI: Indeed. Through healthier offers and choices, employees – some of them, will choose wellness, or wellness-facing selections. Most employees will rebel against being forced to make healthy choices, but many will gently alter the way they act, or re-act when given broader options.

WWH: Are there aspects of the Affordable Care Act that businesses should understand when considering their food services plans?

AI: Through Affordable Care, the operators of food concessions, particularly vending operators and restaurant locations are being asked to minimally display calorie content on the snacks and beverages offered. Through new technology, such as VendScreen, this can be done wirelessly on a touchscreen device, at least for vending machines. Through this kind of technology, not just calories, but complete nutrition profiles can be offered. There are lots of people who don’t care, and that’s ok. It is there prerogative to look or not to look. For those who do care, particularly those with nutritional preferences, sensitivities, or allergies; being able to see a full nutrition panel is vital.