For many Australian remote workers, living away from home means relying on mine site catering for all their meals, with buffet-style dining being the most common option. While buffets offer a good range of choices and ensure individuals can eat according to their tastes, they can sometimes lead to less healthy choices. This is a growing concern as health issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and fatigue are on the rise among miners.
At Cater Care, we recognise these concerns and the importance of maintaining balanced nutrition, especially for those working in demanding environments. Our team, including expert in-house dietitians, is committed to ensuring the food we provide is not only delicious but also promotes health and wellbeing. Here’s a closer look at how we work with you and your site to achieve that, paired with this downloadable guide to healthy eating: our Navigating the Buffet resource you can use on site.
Our commitment to healthy buffets
As a seasoned mine site catering company, we understand the challenges our clients face when it comes to maintaining a balanced diet. Our buffet offerings are designed to promote healthy eating while still providing the variety everyone craves. We follow evidence-based guidelines, such as the plate model, to guide workers in making nutritious choices—half the plate dedicated to non-starchy vegetables, a quarter for lean proteins, and the remaining quarter for whole grains and other carbohydrates.
Promoting health in mining communities
With the increasing prevalence of health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and fatigue, maintaining a balanced diet is more important than ever. Miners need high-calorie, high-protein options to meet the physical demands of their work, but these must be balanced with clean, nutritious choices.
To tackle these health concerns, Cater Care has implemented the Rise Program, a holistic approach that encourages healthy eating behaviours, better hydration, and overall wellness in the remote sector. You see, when we partner with a company, we’re not just your caterer or your facilities management team. We’re your partner beyond all that, working alongside you to raise the wellbeing of those on your site, so you can focus on your operations knowing your teams are well fed and well cared for, with better health and productivity. Read more on how we do this in our blog dedicated to the RISE Program, RISE-ing to the Challenge.
A balanced breakfast to start the day
Starting the day with the right nutrition is crucial, especially for mine site workers. Our breakfast buffets feature a balance of protein-rich options, such as eggs, lean meats, and plant-based alternatives, alongside whole-grain cereals, oats, and fresh fruit. We avoid processed meats and sugary cereals, providing workers with the fuel they need for a productive day ahead.
Prioritising vegetables
At every buffet, we make it easy to prioritise vegetables by offering a wide variety of colourful, nutrient-rich options. From fresh salads to steamed and grilled vegetables, we ensure that workers have access to the vitamins and minerals they need to stay energised throughout the day. Our commitment to health goes beyond just offering variety; we avoid heavy sauces and butter, allowing the natural flavours and nutrients of the vegetables to shine through.
Smart portions, smart choices
Buffets are notorious for encouraging overeating, but we promote mindful eating practices. We educate workers on the benefits of using smaller plates, eating slowly, and making deliberate choices to avoid overindulgence. Our nutrition team regularly communicates the importance of portion control, providing tips on how to enjoy the buffet without compromising on health. We aim for every worker to leave satisfied, not overly, uncomfortably full.
Expertise behind every meal
One of the key strengths of our catering service is the expertise of our in-house dietitians. Our team works closely with our chefs to ensure that buffet selections reflect current dietary trends and health recommendations. Whether it’s incorporating lean proteins like grilled chicken, fish, and plant-based options or offering high-fibre whole grains like quinoa and brown rice, our menus are thoughtfully curated to provide a balanced, wholesome dining experience. We also believe in offering plenty of options, empowering your team to make the best choices for themselves.
The benefits of a balanced diet on work performance
A well-balanced diet doesn’t just benefit overall health; it directly impacts workers’ performance. When miners eat nutritious, balanced meals, they experience better energy levels, focus, and overall job performance. Proper nutrition also plays a critical role in reducing the risk of injuries and illnesses, helping workers stay healthy and alert throughout their shifts.
Reducing unhealthy temptations
While we believe in offering variety, we also take care to limit less healthy options. Fried foods, sugary desserts, and creamy sauces are offered in moderation. Instead, we focus on healthy alternatives, such as fruit-based desserts and lighter, vinaigrette-style dressings, allowing workers to enjoy their meals guilt-free.
Different from your every day healthy eating
We promote good eating habits through tailored food concepts that make it easy for miners to choose wisely:
Juices and smoothies: to promote hydration and increase vegetable intake, our juice and smoothie stations provide refreshing, nutrient-packed options.
Steamed-to-order vegetables: our “Today’s Steamed-to-Order Vegetables” concept prioritises freshly prepared, nutrient-rich vegetables, allowing workers to enjoy flavorful, healthful sides.
Make-your-own stations: interactive “Make Your Own Tacos” or “Build Your Own Noodle Soup” stations empower miners to control their portion sizes and limit unhealthy options while enjoying the flexibility of customising their meals.
Educating and empowering workers through mine site catering
At Cater Care, our role as mine site caterers goes beyond serving food—we guide workers in making healthier choices. Simple actions like starting with a vegetable-based soup or salad and surveying the buffet before filling a plate can prevent overeating. Through programs like Rise and our engaging dining concepts, we make healthy eating easy and enjoyable, creating lasting benefits for both the individual and the company.
Our buffet philosophy
By partnering with our dietitians and chefs, we create meals that support the health and longevity of those we serve. And, of course, everything fits our mantra: Looks good, tastes good. Whether you’re looking to fill your plate with lean proteins, nutrient-dense vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, or classic Australian favourites, our buffets are designed to help you and your team thrive, both on and off the job.
If you’re looking for ways to enhance the food for your mine site team and bring in a balanced buffet option for improved wellbeing and productivity, you’re in the right place. At Cater Care, we take pride in making healthy eating simple and enjoyable. Our buffet selections reflect our commitment to providing nourishing meals that cater to the unique needs of remote workers.
Reach out to our mine site catering experts, Hayley Steyn or Brad Walther, to discuss how we can tailor our services to benefit your remote site’s dining experience.
