Eat Out, Eat Well
A new scheme is to be launched across Hampshire to reward food businesses that provide their customers with healthier eating choices.
According to the Food Standards Agency, in the UK one in six meals is now consumed outside the home.
The ‘Eat Out, Eat Well’ scheme will help consumers make healthier choices when buying takeaways or eating out at cafés, sandwich shops and restaurants. Eating more healthily is one of the simplest changes most of us can make to improve our health.
Eat Out, Eat Well will encourage food businesses to make small changes such as reducing the fat, sugar and salt levels of dishes and offering other healthy options.
Winchester City Council’s Health Protection Team will give successful businesses either a bronze, silver or gold award based on the type of food on offer, cooking methods, and how healthy choices are promoted to customers.
The scheme, which was initially developed by Surrey County Council, has been well-received by food businesses and consumers in other areas of the country.
Portfolio Holder for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Frank Pearson, has welcomed the launch of the scheme in Winchester.
He said:
Each year many of us will set ourselves a New Year’s resolution to be healthier but find it hard to stick to it. Eat Out, Eat Well is part of a wider approach to supporting people to make changes to their lifestyle and be healthier. We have a large number of great places to eat out in Winchester and this award gives them an opportunity to offer healthy choices and demonstrate that they put their customers first.
The launch of Eat Out, Eat Well coincides with a new ‘Sugar Smart’ campaign from Change4Life which encourages families to cut back on sugar. Official recommendations state that 4- to 6-year-olds should consume no more than 19g of added sugar per day. This rises to a maximum of 24g per day for 7-10 year olds and 30g per day from 11 years and up. However children in the UK are eating three times more sugar than the recommended amount, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey.
Businesses interested in signing up to Eat Out, Eat Well should contact EHealth@winchester.gov.uk or telephone 01962 848186.