Catering Scotland

Eurest Services at Chivas Brothers in Dumbarton has held the healthyliving award since the HLA’s inaugural year 2006. Group Manager Anne Marie Martin explains how the accolade is now an integral part of their working practice: ‘It’s considerably easier now than when we started, as it has essentially become part of our everyday routine,’ she says. ‘We’ve learned which healthier dishes are likely to be popular, and we pay particular attention to preparing these regularly. For example anything with chunky vegetables such as vegetable Balti and Rustic Vegetable Ratatouille, which we serve with baked potatoes. We also sell a lot of stuffed peppers and large stuffed mushrooms, and the salad bar and deli bar always go down well with the 600 workers who eat here.’

 Anne Marie is using her experience with the award to good use within Eurest Services: ‘When catering managers from other sites ask my advice about going for the healthyliving award, there is often a note of panic in their voices,’ she continues. However I tell them to examine what they are already doing and more often than not they will already be three-quarters of the way to meeting the criteria.

‘The main thing they need to do is give a bit more thought to the marketing of the healthyliving choices and making sure they are prominently displayed.’

The award is valid for two years, after which establishments must pass a further assessment visit to renew their award, or, optionally, to progress to the higher level healthyliving award plus. In recent months, increasing numbers of award-holders have been opting for the plus award, encouraged by the realisation that with just a little bit more effort they could achieve this very special accolade.

 www.healthylivingaward.co.uk