250 Nottinghamshire food outlets have now signed up to a healthy food scheme run by the County Council. Lady Jayne’s Tearoom in Broxtowe has signed up to the Healthier Options Takeaway (HOT) scheme and have committed to offering healthier ways of preparing, cooking and serving food and drink to customers.
The scheme was launched in 2015 and is run in partnership with local district and borough councils and Everyone Health. Karen Townsend, owner of Lady Jayne’s said: “We are proud to be the 250th outlet to be signed up to the Healthy Options Takeaway scheme in Nottinghamshire. We signed up to the scheme to make people aware that we offer a wide variety of healthy alternatives including low fat spread, soya milk and only using rapeseed oil on the griddle.
We make everything fresh to order so we can suit all dietary requirements. We make our own soups and full salads and we don’t do chips!” Councillor Steve Vickers, Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, at Nottinghamshire County Council said:
“More than two thirds of adults in Nottinghamshire are currently overweight or obese which can have a negative impact on their health. Meals eaten outside of the home tend to be associated with higher fats, sugars and salt, and portion sizes tend to be bigger, so this scheme is an important step to offering healthier choices.
“We are delighted to reach this milestone of 250 businesses signed up to the HOT scheme. Together with our district and borough council partners, we’re aiming to increase the amount and variety of healthier options in takeaways across Nottinghamshire to help consumers maintain a more balanced diet.”
Councillor Hannah Land, local councillor from Broxtowe Borough Council, said: “I am really happy that the 250th business to sign up to the HOT scheme is here in Broxtowe and it’s great to see that healthy options are firmly on the menu.
We’ll continue to work closely with Nottinghamshire County Council to encourage more local businesses to sign up and communities to take advantage of these options to improve their health and wellbeing.”
There are lots of simple steps businesses can take to make their food healthier without compromising on taste, for example:
• Offering to grill, bake, poach or steam food instead of frying
• Removing salt from tables and counters so customers don’t just add it automatically
• Switching to wholegrain pasta, brown rice or wholegrain bread
• Offering a vegetable side or salad as a part of a meal option
• Switching from double cream to single cream, yoghurt or half fat crème fraiche
• Promoting water or low sugar drinks, or
• Offering smaller portion options for adults.
The scheme forms part of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy which promotes healthy food and environments. It is part of the strategy aimed at delivering healthy and sustainable communities. Businesses who sign up to HOT also benefit from free marketing material to help promote the scheme.
In order to sign up, businesses must have a Food Hygiene Rating of three or above and must make three healthy pledges.
They need to contact the local Environmental Health Food team at their local district or borough council. To find a HOT approved takeaway near you or sign up to the scheme visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/HOT