Café Services Helps BIC Combat Rising Healthcare Costs With FitPicks Healthy Meals and Education
The North American headquarters of BIC Consumer Products in Shelton, Connecticut has long made employee health and wellness a focus. But when healthcare costs took a big jump last year, the company made it a mission; and enlisted Café Services to help rally employees behind the cause.
In January, Café Services, a corporate food services company serving Massachusetts and the greater northeast, helped BIC launch a comprehensive health and wellness program to encourage healthy eating choices and nutrition awareness. Developed jointly by BIC and Café Services’ registered dietitians and culinary experts, the FitPicks™ program at BIC rewards diners for making healthy choices with free FitPicks meals for frequent buyers and discounts off FitPicks vending snacks.
To appeal to different tastes, Cafe Services has also expanded the variety of healthy options throughout the BIC café, with 50% of the menu meeting FitPicks criteria for calories, fat, sodium and cholesterol. To help diners make informed choices, Café Services uses labels and signs to highlight FitPicks options and provide details on nutritional content.
Café Services led small group tours of the Café in early January to give employees the lay of the land and answer questions about the cuisine, healthy cooking techniques and nutrition. The corporate food services company is also working with BIC to offer quarterly, onsite nutrition awareness events on a range of food and health-related topics. Last fall, Café Services corporate dietitian, Rebecca Cunningham, addressed a group on the benefits of limiting sodium.
Café Services chef/manager, Tim Foley, says the education events and tours are a big reason the FitPicks program at BIC is getting off to such a strong start. “Helping diners develop healthier eating habits it all about giving them better choices and making sure they’re aware of their choices. This is where the Café Services FitPicks program really stands out.”
I’ve been born and bred corporate dining and corporate catering from the very beginning of my career in the Silicon Valley and now, since 2001 in the Boston Metro Area. While working my way up through the ranks, all the experience has led up to my current position as the Corporate Executive Chef for Café Services, based out of Manchester, NH. I have the privilege to be able to utilize creativity, research and technology to dream up our company’s new culinary programs and custom menus for corporate cafeteria clients and bring them to life. Café Services supplies the resources to ensure success of our ever-evolving companywide culinary initiatives and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Seeing the success of new programs in the field is my motivation. It’s a win win.