Italian researchers tested a smartphone app called sì.mediterraneo to help 247 company employees make healthier and more eco-friendly food choices at their workplace cafeteria over 6 months. The app provided nutrition education, helped workers order meals, set eating goals, and suggested better menu options. While employees didn’t follow ideal meal guidelines perfectly, their food choices became somewhat healthier and more environmentally friendly over time. The study suggests workplace apps can nudge people toward better eating habits, though improvements in app design and cafeteria options could make them even more effective.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a smartphone app could help office workers choose healthier and more environmentally friendly meals at their company cafeteria
  • Who participated: 247 employees at an Italian company who volunteered to use the app for 6 months
  • Key finding: The app was somewhat effective - workers made slightly better food choices and their meals became more eco-friendly over time, though they didn’t reach ideal healthy eating standards
  • What it means for you: Workplace nutrition apps may help you make better food choices at work, but they work best when combined with good cafeteria options and user-friendly design

The Research Details

This was a real-world test where employees voluntarily downloaded and used the sì.mediterraneo app for 6 months. The app had several features: educational materials about nutrition, the ability to pre-order cafeteria meals, personalized suggestions for healthier menu choices, goal-setting tools for nutrition targets, and engagement features to keep users motivated. Researchers tracked what foods employees chose and analyzed both the nutritional quality and environmental impact of their meals over time.

Testing the app in an actual workplace cafeteria (rather than a lab) gives us realistic results about how these tools work in everyday life. The 6-month timeframe was long enough to see if people maintained behavior changes over time, not just initial enthusiasm.

The study followed a good-sized group of people for a meaningful period. However, since everyone volunteered to participate, results might not apply to workers who are less interested in changing their eating habits. The researchers measured actual food choices rather than just asking people what they ate, which makes the data more reliable.

What the Results Show

After 6 months of using the app, employees made food choices that were somewhat healthier and more environmentally sustainable. However, their meal combinations still didn’t match the ‘Healthy Eating Plate’ guidelines, which recommend specific portions of vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. The nutritional content of their meals was ‘almost adequate,’ meaning close to but not quite meeting ideal standards. Interestingly, when researchers adjusted the data to account for appropriate lunch-sized portions, they found that the environmental impact of employees’ food choices decreased over time. This suggests people were choosing foods that required less water, energy, and resources to produce.

The app’s effectiveness was described as ‘slight,’ indicating that while positive changes occurred, they were modest rather than dramatic. The researchers noted that both the app’s user-friendliness and the available food options in the cafeteria could be improved to get better results.

This study adds to growing evidence that workplace interventions can influence eating habits, though the effects tend to be moderate. The combination of education, convenience features, and goal-setting aligns with successful behavior change strategies from other nutrition research.

Only motivated volunteers participated, so results might not apply to all workers. The study didn’t have a control group for comparison, making it harder to know if changes were definitely due to the app. The researchers also noted that both app design and cafeteria food options could be improved, which may have limited the intervention’s effectiveness.

The Bottom Line

Workplace nutrition apps appear to offer modest benefits for improving food choices, especially when they combine education, convenience, and goal-setting features. However, they work best when paired with good food options and user-friendly design. Don’t expect dramatic changes overnight - improvements tend to be gradual and moderate.

Office workers who eat at company cafeterias regularly and are motivated to improve their eating habits. Employers looking for low-cost ways to support employee wellness might also find this approach useful, though they should ensure their cafeterias offer healthy options too.

This study showed benefits over 6 months, suggesting that consistent use over several months may be needed to see meaningful changes in eating patterns

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Log your workplace meals daily, noting both nutritional quality and environmental impact of your choices, similar to how the study participants used the app
  • Set weekly goals for choosing more vegetables, whole grains, or plant-based options at work, and use the app’s meal planning features to pre-select healthier options
  • Track your workplace eating patterns for at least 3-6 months to see meaningful trends, focusing on gradual improvements rather than perfect adherence to ideal guidelines

This research describes one specific app tested in one Italian workplace. Results may vary for different apps, workplaces, and individuals. Consult with healthcare providers for personalized nutrition advice, especially if you have specific dietary needs or health conditions.