You can enjoy healthy eating on a budget
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) has today launched a new website, www.enjoyhealthyeating.info to support people in improving their eating habits and help them eat healthily, particularly during the current economic climate.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “We are facing an increasingly obese population, with 64% of men and 53% of women in Northern Ireland now overweight or obese.1 Eating well is one of the most important things we can do to improve and help protect our health, including helping to prevent many of the health problems that are common in Northern Ireland today, such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and dental decay.
“With the rising cost of food many people are trying to cut back and mistakenly believe fast foods to be a cheaper option. In fact by cutting down on ready meals and takeaways and preparing more home cooked meals it is possible to keep the costs down and stay healthy at the same time.”
www.enjoyhealthyeating.info contains information about nutrition through the life stages from infancy through to older life. A recipe section includes a variety of healthy recipes suitable for all types of meals. Visitors to the site will be encouraged to submit their favourite healthy recipes; everyone who submits a recipe will receive an Enjoy healthy eating linen shopping bag and the best recipes will be featured on the site. The website also contains a quiz which visitors to the site can complete to get detailed feedback on their eating habits, and there is an opportunity to ask questions relating to food and health.
Dr Gaffney continued: “Our nutritional needs change throughout our life and it’s important that we take into account the many demands placed on our bodies during each life stage. www.enjoyhealthyeating.info provides clear, easily accessible, up-to-date scientifically-based nutrition information to benefit all age groups. The featured recipes are easy to make, everyday meals that anyone can prepare and cost as little as £3 for a family meal for four.”
The website supports the HPA’s new leaflet Enjoy healthy eating, which will be available from local GP practices and convenience stores. Recipe cards featuring some of the recipes on the website will also be available from community and leisure centres across Northern Ireland.
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
The launch of www.enjoyhealthyeating.info will take place at the HPA, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast on Thursday 19 March 2009 from 11.00am and will include a presentation of the website and a cookery demonstration with several of the recipes included on the site.
For media enquiries contact:
The HPA Press Office on Tel: 028 9031 1611.
1 Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Health and Social Wellbeing Survey 2005/06. Belfast: NISRA, 2007. |
As from 1 April 2009 all Health Promotion Agency responsibilities have been transferred to the