Looking Good Enough To Eat

Looking Good Enough To Eat Inspire your dietary services staff members to stretch the limits of their imaginations. Challenge them to dress up as their favorite food items. Don’t give any suggestions on how to accomplish this. Be prepared to take pictures of their creations. On costume day, hand out “Dietary Services: Seasoned With Excellence” Deluxe Lunch Bags to everyone who has dressed up. If you want to turn the activity into a contest, offer a “Dietary Services: Seasoned With Excellence” Deluxe Denim Apron as the prize.

Testing Their Memory

By spending a few more minutes preparation time for your National Healthcare Food Service Week event, you can add lots more fun. Gather two or three dozen small items from around your facility (measuring spoons, spices, etc.). Place them on a tray and cover with a cloth. Give each employee some paper and a pencil. Uncover the tray for 60 seconds, allowing everyone a chance to study the items. Then, with the tray covered, ask participants to write down as many items as they can remember. Award a “Food & Nutrition Services One Mission: Good Nutrition” Navy Micro fleece Blanket or a “Food & Nutrition Services One Mission: Good Nutrition” Tote Bag & Water Bottle Combo to the winner of the game.

Moving Gifts

Every year, find a unique way to distribute gifts of appreciation during your recognition week. In 2008, try playing a version of musical chairs called “musical gifts.” Start by gift wrapping items that aren’t too bulky, such as “Great Staff, Great Team” Ceramic Mug & Stationery Sets and “Great Staff, Great Team” Baseball Caps. Hold a mini get-together, complete with snacks, decorations and music. Instruct everyone to pick out a wrapped gift and stand in a circle. Play a song as you have your employees pass around the gifts; when the music stops, each person keeps the gift in his or her hand.

Finding Pyramid Potential

Make National Healthcare Food Service Week enjoyable and educational. Adorn your facility with the posters and balloons from the Food & Nutrition Services Decoration Pack . They feature our “One Mission: Good Nutrition” logo, which shows the USDA’s food pyramid. Plan an activity each day that involves the food pyramid. For example, see who can separate real food into the food groups the fastest. Also, have your employees list as many foods in each food group as they can. Give them time on a computer with Internet access so they can go to www.MyPyramid.gov to learn how much they should be eating. Use the items in the Food & Nutrition Services Deluxe Gift-A-Day Packages as daily rewards for participating.