Nibbles

Calling new assessors in rural areas

With a growing number of caterers in the more far-flung parts of Scotland applying for the award, we need to expand our team of assessors.

If you live in the Highlands, any of the Islands, Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway or the Scottish Borders you could join our team. We need people to carry out assessment visits in their local area as and when required.

You should have a good knowledge of cooking and catering practices and a keen interest in healthy eating. Background knowledge of nutrition would also be useful, but formal qualifications are not essential.

We will provide full training, and you will be paid a fixed rate for each assessment visit completed.

To find out more, please get in touch with our assessment co-ordinator Patricia McCartney on 0141 226 5261, or email patricia.mccartney@consumerfocus.org.uk.

News bites

Latest Scottish Health Survey published

The Scottish Health Survey provides a detailed picture of the health and lifestyles of ordinary Scots. Commissioned by the Scottish Government, the survey is designed to make a major contribution to monitoring the health of the population over time.

The latest report is based on interviews carried out in 2010 with over 9000 adults and children from all over Scotland. Some of the main findings are:

  • The proportion of adults who are overweight or obese has continued to increase since 1995, and now stands at 65 per cent. Most of these increases occurred prior to 2008, with little change seen over the last three years.
  • Almost 30 per cent of children aged two to fifteen are overweight or obese. The figure for girls has remained relatively steady over recent years, with the figure for boys fluctuating more.
  • In 2010, only 22 per cent of adults and 12 per cent of children consumed the recommended daily intake of five or more portions of fruit and vegetables. These figures have not changed significantly over time.

The latest report also includes a new chapter on multiple risk factors, which highlights the importance of taking an integrated approach to improving health. The report looks at the interactions between five risk factors:

  • alcohol consumption
  • smoking
  • low fruit and vegetable consumption
  • physical inactivity
  • obesity

In 2010, 59 per cent of adults in Scotland had three or more of these behavioural risk factors, while 24 per cent had four or five.  The research found that only 2 per cent had none of these risks.

For more details, and to download the full report or a summary of the main findings, please visit http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/scottish-health-survey/Publications#a1

Table talk

Keeping it fresh

A council workplace restaurant is working hard to continuously improve the healthier items on offer to their customers. East Lothian Council’s Peffers Place has held the award since 2007 and has recently renewed for a third term.

The healthyliving award assessor was highly impressed, and commented that the award gets stronger and fresher each time she visits. The staff continue to develop new recipes and new menu options, all tailored to customer feedback.

They also work closely with Healthy Working Lives representatives, as well as with the council’s sustainability officer, and use local suppliers whenever possible.

Peffers Place is just one shining example of the fantastic work that is being done by award holders all across the country.

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issue twenty:
November 2011
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The healthyliving awardNHS Health Scotland - Scotland's health improvement agencyHealthier Scotland - Scottish GovernmentHealthier Scotland - Scottish Government