Sowing the seeds

First class honours for student catering

Now that the new term is in full swing, thousands of new and returning students at Scottish colleges and universities are already tasting success through the healthyliving award. Twenty-nine catering outlets at further and higher education establishments have already achieved the award, with dozens more working towards it.

One of the very first to attain the award was Glasgow Metropolitan College, which has since gone on to gain the award in five of its sites. Elizabeth Smith, Catering Services Manager, explained that the various college sites offer very different courses, attracting a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. Some are very keen to eat healthily, while others just want chips, cheese and curry sauce!

"We have quite a mix of students here," she said. "We serve good home cooked food, but for some of the students it's a bit harder to persuade them to try new things. During freshers' week we took the opportunity to re-launch the healthyliving award to the new students, and gave them each a free green apple. Later on in the term we held a healthy tasting day, to give them the chance to try some of the healthier options on the menu."

"The salad bar is always popular, as are stir-fries, and our pasta sauces have been getting a lot of favourable comments. Our home baking range is also popular - especially our courgette loaf! We don't tell the students what it is at first, but once they try it they usually love it, and it's become a favourite."

The University of Edinburgh holds healthyliving awards at eight of its sites across the city. These outlets range from a small coffee kiosk to a restaurant that provides 2000 students staying in halls of residence with their breakfast and dinner each day. The various eateries cater for students and staff, and some are also open to the public.

Ian Macaulay, Assistant Director of Catering at the University, has seen big changes over the last five years in what students are looking for, as the huge efforts made in the school catering sector filter through. He said, "Students now come in looking for the salad bar and baked potatoes, rather than pizza and chips." He added that the key to success lay in providing choice. "We find that fresh fruit smoothies are hugely popular and also fresh fruit salad and panini with healthier fillings. People want healthier food but they don't want to sacrifice taste, so we have been running training workshops for our chefs to increase their appreciation of how a slightly greater use of certain herbs and spices can further enhance flavour."

David Ross, Catering Manager at Forth Valley College in Falkirk has also been encouraged by students who have become used to eating more healthily in school. David, who holds healthyliving awards for both the student and staff restaurants, said, "We promote the healthier options by running regular theme days, and we hold fresh fruit Fridays when we give away fruit for free. Our sales are buoyant, and uptake of fresh fruit has gone through the roof!"

"We are delighted to have achieved the healthyliving award. Caterers don't normally get a lot of praise, so it's great to get recognition that we are doing a good job."

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issue four: October 2007
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The healthyliving awardNHS Health Scotland - Scotland's health improvement agencyHealthier Scotland - Scottish GovernmentHealthier Scotland - Scottish Government