Menus get a mini makeover

Restaurants across Mendip are being given the chance to give their children's menu a makeover.

Mendip District Council's environmental health team are offering 10 local food businesses the chance to take part in a free project which will show them how to introduce healthier children's menu options - without having to change their budget or customer base.

Businesses that sign up to the project, which will run through 2010, will take part in a free seminar on March 29, where they will be given nutrition and healthier catering advice. Interested businesses can also sign up to one-to-one coaching, in house visits and practical advice to suggest inexpensive but effective changes to their children's menu.

The aim of the project is to significantly reduce Children's consumption of saturated fat, salt and sugar, provide businesses with the tools they need to improve their menu and health awareness and in turn help drive down childhood obesity and bad diet-related illness.

South Somerset was awarded £10,000 from the Food Standards Agency to fund the project through Somerset and is one of only two projects in the entire southwest region to gain funding, in total 50 businesses across Somerset will be given the chance to take part in the project.

Jo Hammonds, senior environmental health officer at Mendip District Council, said; "We are looking for local food businesses to take part in the project, the funding secured for Somerset, gives a great opportunity to support local businesses in making the right choices when designing children's Menus.

"The project and funding will give local business the chance to be on a level with larger chain food businesses that are also making changes to the menus that they provide for their younger customers.

"The seminar and one-to-one follow up will give the businesses a real head start in ensuring that they are offering their family customers excellent healthy choices on their menus."

Department of health statistics suggest that 10% of 6-10 year old boys and girls are obese and England has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe.

Cllr Nigel Hewitt-Cooper, portfolio holder for neighbourhood services, said: "The funding secured for Somerset is great opportunity for us to work with local businesses, supporting them in the choices they make when providing food for children and I hope that Mendip food businesses take up this opportunity to work with the project team.

"As a council we are committed to improving the quality of life of our residence and this does not exclude children."

Businesses interested in taking one of the ten places on the project, should contact Jo Hammonds, senior environmental health officer on 01749 648999 or email customerservices@mendip.gov.uk marking it for the attention of Jo Hammonds.