Policies
Active Living by Design staff members are committed to modeling active living and healthy eating in our personal lives and in the workplace. Our organizational policies reflect the many ways in which we put active living and healthy eating into practice.
Active Living by Design:
Increasing routine physical activity and healthy eating through changes in community design
I. Background
As leaders in the national healthy eating and active living (HEAL) movement, Active Living by Design (ALbD) believes that “walking the talk” is integral to our credibility as an organization and to our integrity as professionals. As such, ALbD’s principles, policies and practices help ensure we present consistent messages and model the changes we are trying to create in the communities and with the clients we serve. ALbD posts our principles, policies and practices regarding active living and healthy on our website, shares them with prospective staff members and partners, regularly assesses individual and organizational commitment to them, and seeks opportunities for continuous improvement.
II. Principles
A. ALbD is committed to creating and supporting environments in which choices related to active living and healthy eating are the easier ones.
B. ALbD embraces the idea of continuous improvement. We recognize and respect that individuals and communities are at different points in their readiness and ability to make changes. We do not subscribe to a “one size fits all” approach but rather strive to meet individuals and communities where they are to help them move along a continuum toward better health.
C. ALbD works with a variety of clients, each of whom have unique objectives and goals. Our principles, policies and practices related to active living and healthy eating are broad enough to accommodate various perspectives (e.g., “healthy, sustainable communities” and “reduction of childhood obesity”).
D. ALbD recognizes that the science with respect to active living and healthy eating continues to evolve. We are committed to grounding our work in the best evidence available from the most credible sources.
E. ALbD understands that issues such as global warming, air quality, water quality and sustainable agriculture may not be fundamental to our work. However, each can support our active living and healthy eating missions, and all have synergistic benefits.
III. Our Definitions
ALbD acknowledges that active living and healthy eating can occur throughout the day: before leaving home, traveling to and from work sites, during the workday and after returning home.
A. Active Living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines.
- How much activity: The recommended amount of activity is based on age and the goal to be achieved. For general health benefits, adults should strive to accumulate at least 30 minutes and youth should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity each day.
- What activities: Individuals may achieve this in a variety of ways, including but not limited to walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure; walking or bicycling to and from public transit; playing in a park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreational facilities.
B. Healthy Eating is a way of life and is influenced by what we eat, how much we eat and how it is prepared.
- What we eat: Healthy food should be moderate in calories and nutrient dense (rich in vitamins and minerals). Examples: fresh, frozen and canned (in fruit juice or water) fruits and vegetables; low-fat and fat-free dairy products; lean and extra-lean meats, poultry and fish; whole grains; foods low in sugar, sodium and fat.
- How much we eat: Healthy eating includes eating appropriate portion sizes and balancing how often foods are eaten.
- How it is prepared: Healthy eating involves choosing foods that are prepared using healthy cooking methods, and without the addition of extra calories, fat, sodium and sugar. Examples: baking, broiling, grilling, poaching and steaming; limiting full-fat or high-fat dressings, gravies, sauces, spreads and syrups.
Specific dietary recommendations should be tailored to individual needs, which may be influenced by factors such as gender, activity level, ideal weight, health status and more. Although there are many sources of conflicting nutrition information, the basic dietary principles for healthy eating are not in dispute:
- Balance food and beverage choices with physical activity;
- Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products; and
- Avoid too many empty calories (food of minimal nutritional value, highly-processed sweets and snacks that are high in sodium, sugar and saturated fat).
Locally-grown foods and/or those grown using organic methods are not lower in calories or more nutrient dense. However, local foods grown under environmentally-friendly conditions and/or those grown without pesticides and/or hormones may be more beneficial to individual health, to the environment and to the creation of sustainable communities. For these reasons, ALbD supports purchasing foods grown using these approaches when possible.
IV. ALbD Policies and Practices Regarding Active Living and Healthy Eating
ALbD’s organizational policies and practices related to active living and healthy eating provide a foundation for modeling the strategies, interventions and behaviors we seek to influence in the communities in which and the clients with whom we work.
A. ALbD locates its office in an environment that offers accessible options for routine physical activity and healthy eating.
B. ALbD chooses vendors and meeting sites that offer accessible options for routine physical activity and healthy eating.
C. ALbD provides supports to encourage routine physical activity, including but not limited to: maintaining a fleet of bicycles; subsidizing gym memberships; providing flex time for physical activity; offering up to two hours weekly of paid work time for physical activity, including one hour as part of scheduled team building; providing access to safe and inviting stairwells; encouraging walking meetings and physical activity breaks during extended meetings; using public transit for transportation when possible; and providing an on-site shower.
D. ALbD identifies and offers options to accommodate individuals with varying levels of ability so all employees can fully participate in group physical activities.
E. ALbD provides supports to encourage healthy eating, including offering healthy snacks and beverages in reasonably-sized portions at ALbD-sponsored meetings and events; providing healthy choices for celebrations, such as birthdays and holidays; encouraging non-food related celebrations such as those incorporating physical activity and the arts; and providing an organizational membership that individuals can access for discounts at the local food co-op (Weaver Street Market).
F. ALbD commits to a “no dumping” policy in which we avoid bringing candy, cookies, cakes and other foods and beverages of limited nutritional value into the office for group consumption.
G. ALbD accommodates individuals with food allergies or other dietary restrictions so everyone has options for healthy eating.
H. ALbD encourages moderation in the consumption of alcohol and limits it to 1-2 drinks at ALbD-sponsored meetings and other events at which employees are representing or may be perceived as representing the organization.
I. ALbD encourages good stewardship to the environment by avoiding the purchase of bottled or canned beverages when healthy options are available in bulk (e.g., pitchers of water rather than individual bottles); selecting food and beverages packed in recyclable containers when possible; choosing locally-grown food when healthy, affordable options exist; and reducing, reusing and recycling in order to generate less waste.
J. ALbD encourages the use of language that is positive, encouraging and supportive of healthy attitudes and behaviors (e.g., referring to the “bike rack” rather than “parking lot” when identifying issues to be discussed at a later time).
K. ALbD does not offer food or physical activity as a gift, prize reward or penalty (e.g., while food may be provided at meetings, we do not use it as an enticement for attendance; we do not routinely cancel or delay planned breaks for physical activity due to work-related interruptions).
Sources:
1. Eat Smart North Carolina: Guidelines for Healthy Foods and Beverages at Meetings, Gatherings and Events. NC Department of Health and Human Services.
2. Guidelines for Offering Healthy Foods at Meetings, Seminars and Catered Events. University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
3. Setting the Bar: Recommendations for Food and Beverage Industry Action. Strategic Alliance.
4. MyPyramid.gov. US Department of Agriculture.
5. Physical Activity and Health: A Report from the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
