Healthier choices

FOOD-TO-GO: FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND

Healthier food-to-go: the easy way

WITH FOOD-TO-GO LIKELY TO BE IN GROWTH OVER THE COMING MONTHS AS COVID RECEDES, A NEW SERIES OF HANDY, PRACTICAL GUIDES OFFERS RETAILERS SOME QUICK, EASY TIPS ON IMPROVING THE HEALTH CREDENTIALS OF THE FOOD AND DRINK THEY SERVE TO ON-THE-GO CUSTOMERS

The stellar growth of food-to-go in convenience was more or less stopped in its tracks by the Covid-19 pandemic but with restrictions largely now lifted, it’s like that the market will pick up where it left off in early 2020.

As more customers turn to their local convenience store for tasty, convenience on-the-go food, this represents a great opportunity for retailers to do themselves and their customers a favour by making some quick, easy changes to the food and drink they serve that will help improve the health credentials of their food-to-go menu.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has published a series of short new practical guides to support with sourcing, preparing, promoting and serving healthier options for customers as part of the industry’s reopening and recovery from the pandemic.

The guides provide advice on general healthier catering and children’s menus, as well as sector-specific tips for everything from Indian takeaway food to stores selling pizza and sandwiches.

The sandwich guide, for instance, includes useful tips on everything from portion sizes and choosing the right breads to advice on spreads and fillings as well as guidance on linked purchases such as soft drinks and cakes or confectionery. It also offers advice on managing promotions to encourage shoppers to make healthier choices.

Many customers are looking for healthier choices, as a recent FSS consultation on improvements to food eaten out of home found. The vast majority of respondents (79%) were supportive of reducing excessive calorie contents by changing recipes. A further 73% were in favour of reducing portion size, and 95% thought that consumers should be able to access small or half portions.

The current pandemic has made many think more about their health and wellbeing, and what steps they can take to improve it. These guides help retailers nudge shoppers along in the right direction and can also help businesses save money too; for example, reducing portion sizes can cut down on waste as well as calories.

FSS Head of Nutrition Dr Gillian Purdon said: “These sector-specific guides are a good foundation to support food and drink businesses to make small, simple changes to the food they provide which will in turn help customers make healthier choices.

“We would urge businesses to adopt as many of these tips as possible, as when made on scale these can add up to make a big difference. Eating too many calories can lead to weight gain, which in turn increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Even small reductions at each meal can contribute towards a positive change.”

Quick links

General healthier food-to-go advice

Indian and South Asian food-to-go advice

Italian food-to-go advice

Pizza-to-go advice

Sandwiches-to-go advice