Residents with an interest in tasty food and healthy eating are being asked to nominate their favourite food businesses for a Heart of Derbyshire award.
Whether it’s a burger bar, takeaway, café or restaurant, if they offer healthier meal choices, then Derbyshire County Council wants to hear about them.
The council launched the Heart of Derbyshire scheme as a way of letting people search for healthier options when dining out.
Businesses in the scheme have signed up to a range of pledges ranging from using less salt, sugar or fat in foods to offering smaller portions or providing allergen free meals.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Dave Allen said: “We’re working to make healthier eating choices the easy choice and that’s why we set up the Heart of Derbyshire scheme.
“It lets customers make simple, informed decisions about what they are eating and allows businesses to showcase their healthy eating credentials.”
Over 170 businesses are already signed up to the Heart of Derbyshire scheme.
People nominating a business will be entered into a free prize draw to win a healthy eating prize.
Councillor Allen added: “A growing percentage of people are now classed as overweight or obese and this is impacting on the health and economy of the country.
“Because of the negative financial and health impact that obesity has on communities, businesses, local authorities and the NHS, we need to act now to help address the problem.
“We’re encouraging residents to make small changes to the way they eat in order to make big differences to their health.”
Nominated businesses will be contacted by Trading Standards for a discussion about the scheme and the benefits of joining up.
To nominate a business, just download and fill in a short nomination form and email it to trading.standards@derbyshire.gov.uk
Forms can be downloaded from www.derbyshire.gov.uk/aboutheartofderbyshire
Alternatively print off the form, fill it in and post to Heart of Derbyshire Nomination, Derbyshire County Council, Trading Standards, Chatsworth Hall, Chesterfield Rd, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3FW.
The prize draw closes Monday 31 July and a winner will be selected from all completed nomination forms.
