Healthy Options Award
Eating out has never been so popular or so easy and accessible. Research shows that just under a third of all money spent on food and drink in the UK was on that eaten outside the home. More than 1 in 5 of us eat out at a restaurant, fast food outlet or takeaway once a week or more. The Staffordshire Healthy Options Award acknowledges food business' efforts in providing and promoting healthier options for customers to enjoy. The award recognises the efforts made to provide healthier food for customers by using healthier cooking methods and providing healthier options on the menu.
What is the Staffordshire Healthy Options Award?
Businesses will be scored on how healthy their cooking methods and menus are.
Areas that will be looked at include…
- How many portions of fruit and vegetables are provided
- Use of healthier oils and fats,
- Use of alternatives to salt and sugar,
- Availability of free tap water
- Promotion of healthier alternatives.
- Healthier meals for children.
The Award is not just about eating healthier foods. It is about providing healthier alternatives to traditional dishes and using healthier cooking methods. All types of restaurant and take-away will be able to gain an award, including those typically seen as only selling fattier foods such as fish and chip shops.
In order to qualify for an award a business must have at least 3 stars in the food safety scheme, Rate My Place, www.ratemyplace.org.uk. Successful businesses will be given a gold, silver or bronze certificate and their Award will be displayed on the business’ page on the Rate My Place website. In order to qualify for the gold award at least one person who works at your business must be have nutrition training at least equivalent to the CIEH Level 2 Award in Healthier Foods and Special Diets. Please visit our training page for more information on this course.
The award is available for most catering premises which serve food including restaurants, cafes, hotels, workplace and hospital restaurants, pubs and takeaways. It does not include places which cater for specialist diets such as care homes, nurseries and schools which have their own standards for providing healthy food.
Interested in getting the award for your business?
For more details you can download the policy document which sets out the details of the award and the assessment form and not applicable guidance which you can use to score your business and help suggest changes. There are also additional guides for Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Indian food businesses.
Why is this award important?
Eating out has never been so popular or so easy and accessible. Research shows that just under a third of all money spent on food and drink in the UK was on that eaten outside the home. More than 1 in 5 of us eat out at a restaurant, fast food outlet or takeaway once a week or more.
However, foods eaten outside the home can make a big contribution to intakes of fat, sugar, salt and calories. Diets high in saturated fats have been associated with a number of health problems, including obesity and coronary heart disease. Therefore, this award will help to encourage food businesses to promote healthy choices. This will help you be able to make better choices of what you eat when you go out.
More information can be obtained by contacting the Food Team on 01283 5088578 or foodteam@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk