OWC Health Awareness Series: Healthy Eating Awareness (March National Nutrition Month)

OWC Health Awareness Series: Healthy Eating Awareness (March National Nutrition Month)

March is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign coordinated by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The 2026 theme is “Food Connects Us” – a recognition that what we eat is not just a matter of individual health, but of culture, community, and shared wellbeing.

For most people, eating well is not a knowledge problem. Most people know that vegetables are better than ultra-processed snacks. The challenge is structural: long working hours, unfamiliar food environments, limited access to quality ingredients, and the sheer convenience of processed food make healthy eating genuinely difficult – particularly for internationally mobile employees navigating food cultures that are not their own.

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Understanding the Impact

Poor nutrition is not a minor inconvenience. It is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers globally. For international employers, it is also a significant and largely invisible driver of healthcare cost and productivity loss.

• Poor nutrition is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers globally (Global Burden of Disease study).
• Ultra-processed foods now account for more than 50% of caloric intake in many high-income countries (British Medical Journal).
• Vitamin D deficiency affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide and is one of the most commonly missed items in annual health check-ups.
• Obesity rates have tripled globally since 1975, driven largely by the shift toward energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets (WHO).
• The cost to employers: Poor nutrition contributes directly to the chronic disease burden that drives the highest-cost claims in international health insurance portfolios.

💡Did you know? Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies in expat adults – particularly those living in regions with limited sunlight or spending significant time indoors in air-conditioned offices. It is associated with fatigue, impaired immune function, and increased risk of depression. A simple blood test can confirm status, and supplementation is inexpensive. It is also one of the most commonly missed items in annual health check-ups.

What You Can Do

• Build meals around whole foods: Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and lean protein should form the foundation of most meals – regardless of which country you are living in.
• Limit ultra-processed foods: If the ingredient list is long and contains items you would not find in a kitchen, minimise it. Convenience is not worth the long-term cost.
• Stay well hydrated: Aim for 6-8 glasses of water daily – more in hot climates. Many people confuse mild dehydration with hunger.
• Consider a vitamin D supplement: Deficiency is extremely common in populations that spend significant time indoors. A simple blood test can confirm whether supplementation is needed.
• Use your annual health check-up: Ask your doctor to check nutritional markers including vitamin D, iron, B12, and cholesterol as part of your annual screening.

READ MORE >> National Nutrition Month: What International School Leaders Should Be Asking About Food and Faculty Wellbeing

How Employers Can Support Healthy Eating Awareness

National Nutrition Month is a useful prompt for HR and benefits leaders to consider whether the organisation is making healthy eating easier or harder for its people – and whether nutrition is reflected in benefits design.

• Review catering options: For schools and organisations with on-site catering, March is a practical moment to assess whether healthy options are genuinely accessible and affordable.
• Include nutritional screening in annual health check-ups: Vitamin D, iron, B12, and cholesterol checks are inexpensive and highly informative. Ensure they are part of your employees’ annual screening.
• Promote EAP nutrition resources: Many Employee Assistance Programmes include access to registered dietitians or nutrition counselling. Make sure employees know this is available.
• Communicate what is covered: Some international health insurance plans include nutrition consultations as a preventive benefit. Check and communicate this to your team.

Resources: Employee Toolkits/Educational Materials

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics National Nutrition Month >>

World Health Organization Healthy Diet Factsheet >>

American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations >>

# Common social media hashtags for healthy eating awareness

#NationalNutritionMonth #FoodConnectsUs #HealthyEating

Why Healthy Eating Awareness Matters for Employers

Poor nutrition is a slow-moving risk that rarely generates a single dramatic claim – but it quietly underpins some of the most expensive conditions in any health insurance portfolio. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity-related conditions are all significantly influenced by diet. They are also largely preventable.

The employers who take nutrition seriously are the ones who will see lower chronic disease prevalence over time, a workforce with better energy and cognitive performance, and a benefits programme that is genuinely valued. These are not abstract outcomes. They show up in claims data, in absenteeism rates, and in the long-term sustainability of health insurance costs.

At One World Cover, we help international employers build benefits programmes that address the foundational drivers of employee health. If you would like to discuss how nutrition support and preventive screening fit into your current benefits design, or how to communicate this resource to your employees, our team is here to help.

** Important Note: While we help guide members to high-quality options, OWC Care does not act as a medical referral service. The final decision on where to seek care rests with the individual. We are not liable for any decisions made by the member or the medical provider.