Intervention 1 Spicy Salt What is it? An alternative to traditional salt. It is a mixture of salt and other herbs and spices such as thyme, marjoram, cloves and cayenne pepper. Why? The customer will be able to add a great tasting seasoning to their food, but with less salt in it than normal. Less salt will increase the healthiness of the meal. Intervention 2 Flagship Business What is it? A healthy alternative to the traditional takeaway shop offering reasonably priced healthy food. The business will provide similar benefits to other takeaway shops in terms of convenience, value-for-money and a home delivery option. Why? To offer greater choice to customers by providing a new, alternative takeaway shop, rather than changing the food in the established shops. Other nearby established takeaways may also start to serve healthier food to compete with the new business. Intervention 3 People power/Consumer advocacy What is it? Local community health champions or community groups will visit takeaways and ask about, and request, healthy options. Health champions using a simple traffic light system (based on availability of fruit and vegetables, water, etc) will score each takeway as green, amber or red. Organising a way of disseminating the scoring of local takeways (e.g. user generated ‘Healthy Food Finder’, scores on the doors). Why? Takeaways operate in a very competitive business environment. It is thought that takeaway owners are more likely to make their food offerings healthier if requests originate from their customers, in order to stay one step ahead of their competitors. Intervention 4 Portion control through packaging What is it? Reducing the portion size of a meal by serving the food in a box. Traditionally fish and chip shops serve food in paper/polystyrene; which is poor at regulating the portion size resulting in excessively large portions, which in turn provides excessive calories. It is thought that controlling the size of the packaging will reduce and regulate the size of the meal. Why? One of the main causes of obesity is consuming too many calories. Related problems include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain cancers. Takeaway foods are notoriously high in calories, partly because of the excessively large portions. There is potential benefit to public health if portion size were reduced and controlled. Intervention 5 Health services intervention What is it? Detailed information provided to individuals receiving weight loss treatment regarding how to identify healthy/healthier options within takeaways and restaurants. This would include a database of local independent takeaways that are known to provide healthier options. Why? The information provided will enable those who are considering a healthier meal to choose healthier options from existing menus. This approach targets those who need and want help the most. Intervention 6 Takeaway scoring What is it? A simple scoring system (e.g. traffic light system or stars) that would rate OHFOs on their provision of healthy food. The criteria would take the form of a short check list (greatly reduced from what is currently delivered as part of the numerous healthy eating awards) that could be delivered by an EHO during an inspection. Why? The customer will be able to easily identify those businesses that are taking measures to make their food healthier and provide healthier options. This will enable those who maybe considering a healthier meal to choose healthier options. Intervention 7 Online portal What is it? An online portal that provides a form of certification/indication of cuisine ‘healthiness’ (could be an addition to an existing one e.g. Just-Eat, TripAdvisor, bitappy). In its most basic form it might be an identifiable seal of approval logo or more detailed information as to specific healthy meals. Why? The customer will be able to easily identify those businesses that are taking measures to make their food healthier and provide healthier options. This will enable those who maybe considering a healthier meal to find and so choose healthier options.
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