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Pies with less pastry in canteen health drive
Ed Harris20.02.09
CANTEENS in public buildings from council offices to schools may be ordered to serve healthier food.
Pies with less pastry content and smaller portions are among Department of Health guidelines to encourage healthier eating.
Fizzy drinks, crisps and sweets could also be discouraged. And the Guardian claimed that a new regime could demand that half the drinks on offer are low calorie.
Health officials fear obesity will blight the lives of millions and cost the country a fortune in sickness unless people are persuaded to eat more healthily.
A pastry limit on pies could cut the fat content by 40 per cent, qualifying the dish for a bronze health award under proposals to recognise leaner cuisine.
A silver award would go to sandwiches containing at least 40g of salad or vegetables.
A gold medal would go to menus which met targets for low salt content.
A millionaire private equity boss ordered his staff to eat hamburgers after they complained about food in a five-star hotel. Damon Buffini, chairman of Permira, told partners to realise "how lucky they were" during a week at Pennyhill Park in Surrey.
Reader views (2)
Having been a user of Department of Health staff canteens when I worked there I thought they had already introduced this proposal many years ago. I suppose see through pies may catch on.
The best move is to go to a Eel and Pie shop where they steam the pies and for DH staff located at Elephant % Castle Arments shop off Walworth Road is the best place to go for healthy pies. You can even boost your fish intake there with Jellied or Steamed eels..Lubbly Jubbly
We never had any problems when pies were made using suet mixture and it was hard to tell whether you had a pie or pudding.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
So you treat the canteen meal merely as a light lunch. You may want eleveneses before hand, have something with a mid afternoon cup of tea and eat a hearty main meal in the evening.
If they are charging too much for these skimpy snacks boycott them and get something out.
Remember if you are paying for it, don't buy unless it is up to your standard for size and choice.
The buyer should control the market.
- Ca Metcalfe, Essex
