Award honours for healthy restaurants

The county-wide scheme, run by local councils' environmental health departments together with the county council and NHS, is given to caterers that show a continued commitment to providing healthier food for their customers. The awards are renewed annually to make sure that high standards are maintained.

There are 5 new Heartbeat award holders this year in the Wellingborough and Kettering area, and they join 76 businesses who maintain their awards for another year. They will all be honoured in the ceremony on Thursday, and will receive their awards from the Mayor of Wellingborough, Cllr Lora Lawman, and the Mayor of Kettering, Cllr Shirley Lynch.

Amanda Wilcox, Wellingborough Council's Health Protection Manager, explained more about the award: "The UK has one of the highest rates of heart disease and the most rapidly increasing rates of morbid obesity in Europe. It's really important that when people eat out they have the opportunity to chose a healthy, tasty option from the menu. The Heartbeat award recognises catering businesses that are making the effort to give this option - for example making sure that things like boiled potatoes are offered as well as chips, that food is cooked in unsaturated fat, that fruit is on the dessert menu, and that brown bread is offered for sandwiches. Businesses must also have an understanding of allergens, and need to have high standards of hygiene.

"The Heartbeat awards give customers the knowledge that they will have the option to make a healthy choice in a quality establishment."

Heartbeat awards can be given to any type of catering business, including pubs, sandwich bars, workplace restaurants, nurseries, schools and residential care homes. The annual award ceremony takes place this year on Thursday 28 April at Swanspool Pavilion, Wellingborough, from 2-3pm.