Making Wellness the Easy Option

Turning Education into Motivation

At DDR, an owner and manager of 459 value-oriented shopping centers, education is one of the three pillars of its employee wellness program dubbed “Live Well.” Te other pillars are application and motivation.

“We want to create a satisfying approach to health and nutrition,” says Venditti. “Tat idea is infused throughout the dining experience here. You see it in our locally sourced ingredients, our menus tailored to the tastes of our customer base, our emphasis on scratch preparation and in our commitment to offering vegetarian, vegan, heart-healthy, lower fat and other 'better-for-you' choices at every meal. Our goal is offer healthier options, build a good understanding of nutrition and encourage a move to healthier lifestyles."

Venditti and his team work closely with DDR’s Wellness Center Program Manager to promote wellness through annual health fairs and other special events. These efforts also carry over to DDR’s catering program. Live Well has been in place at DDR for nearly three years, and while many changes have been made to keep it on-trend, the core principles have remained the same. They include:

• Application: Live Well choices are are clearly identified and are promoted before guests even set foot into the facility.

• Education: Te operation seeks to present nutrition and wellness information in engaging, easy-to understand ways, via flyers and brochures, recipes, wellness tips and resource guides from national and local organizations.

• Motivation: DDR sponsors free cooking classes for employees in which chefs share tips on what to look for—and avoid—when grocery shopping, along with techniques to enhance flavor and nutrition at home. Metz also partners with preferred suppliers to hold Farmer’s Market Days.