The report indicates that poor nutrition has played a major role in decreased productivity and absenteeism in the workplace, and that more than half of employees indicate they choose high-fat foods at least as often as they choose low-fat foods.

National Nutrition Month, in March, is the perfect springboard to implement healthy eating programs in the workplace.

"Employees spend 40 plus hours at the office each week," said Tiffany Richards, owner of The Back Rub Company, a valley firm that provides on-site employee health and wellness programs. "Employers play a big role in the health and well-being of their employees."

The Back Rub Company makes it easy for employees to learn to make simple changes in everyday eating habits to create long-lasting life-style changes. The firm offers a variety of nutrition workshops and healthy cooking classes right at work.

The firm's nutrition workshops help employees set nutrition and weight loss goals and teaches them to make small, but significant changes in their eating habits and relationship with food.

The cooking classes are a fun and interactive way to learn how to add pleasure to eating by including a greater variety of foods in an overall healthful eating style.

"Learning to make simple changes like bringing healthy lunches and snacks to work, avoiding the sweets in the vending machine and creating customized meal patterns for personal schedules are easy ways to make a long-lasting lifestyle improvement," said Richards. "The employees have a blast and keep each other motivated."

For information about The Back Rub Company's Workplace Wellness Programs, call 480-330-2066 or visit www.thebackrubcompany.com.