I recently picked up an audio book at the library to listen to while walking. The book was Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. Blue Zones is the result of Dan's research to find traits of the longest-lived people on the planet. . It was fascinating to listen to the habits and lifestyle choices in four 
communities in the world (Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda CA). While I certainly don't have any interest or opportunity to be a shepherd like many of the residents of Sardinia, the habits and choices of these centenarians made me pause to think about what it means to have a culture of health.
Culture originates with the farming concept of cultivating. Culture is the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. In all of the cultures described in the Blue Zones, it was accepted in their culture to be physically active - walking to stores, gardening, having stairs in their houses. In each of the Blue Zone cultures, eating a mostly plant based diet was the accepted norm. In Okinawa, eating until you are 80% full, helped maintain a healthy weight. The norms of the community encouraged and expected behavior that is the healthy choice.
Where we live, work, play and pray we are exposed to the culture and norms of our respective communities. We can all play a role in helping create and support healthy norms in these communities. In the workplace, a wellness program helps to create these norms by making the healthy choice the default choice. Taking the stairs or taking a walk at lunchtime are norms. Serving healthy food options or reducing the high calorie/low nutritional value items in the vending machines, provide nudges to making healthy choices. I often hear clients tell me the fruit bowl in the office has replaced the candy bowl.
What's one norm you can change in your workplace that will support and encourage healthy choices?
Mari Ryan, MBA, MHP, CWWPC
