Grantham cafe signs up to councils' 'Healthier Options' scheme

A Grantham cafe has signed up to a council-run scheme which encourages healthier changes to menus.

Knightingales, in Guildhall Street, has joined Healthier Options, which aims to help local small and medium-sized food outlets and businesses reduce unhealthy ingredients and raise awareness of healthier eating.

The scheme is a collaboration between the public health department of Lincolnshire County Council and district councils, including South Kesteven.

SKDC’s cabinet member for communities, health and wellbeing, Councillor Jacky Smith, said: “Rather than telling people what they should eat, Healthier Options aims to help customers make healthier food choices with little effort – or even without them realising.

“Businesses could, for instance, make tasty vegetarian options, offer sugar-free and low-fat drinks, create a healthy children’s menu, or source healthier foods and ingredients. It doesn’t mean the whole menu has to be healthy – just that the business ensures some of the options are healthy.”

Healthier Options is free to join and open to takeaways and food outlets with a hygiene rating of three, four or five.

The scheme calls on food businesses to consider introducing healthier options to the menu, reducing the amount of sugar, fat and salt used in cooking, and promote healthier drinks.

Hayley Pulfrey, of Knightingales, said: “We are proud to be part of the Healthier Options initiative. I was particularly pleased, particularly as our membership is based on the menu we already offer.

“I’m always looking at new recipes and ways to improve the menu so I look forward to offering healthier options to our customers in the future.”

Food outlets which make the pledge get support from SKDC for three months and once successfully completed, they receive a window sticker and promotional material.

Information: visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/healthieroptions or email HealthierOptions@lincolnshire.gov.uk