Healthy eating is essential for good health. In the last 10 years there has been a significant increase in the number of people who are overweight or obese in Ireland. Overweight and obesity damages our hearts and our joints and is mainly the result of too many calories in our diet and too little activity.

Happy Heart at Work Healthy Eating Award
The objective of the catering audit is to assist a staff restaurant/canteen to adopt healthier cooking practices and provide healthier food choices for staff, without incurring substantial cost. Recommendations given to the catering manager would meet the Irish Heart Foundation and the Department of Health's 'Healthy Eating' Guidelines.

The catering audit is carried out by a consultant Dietitian in conjunction with a catering manager. This audit is an independent assessment identifying the company's individual needs and includes an assessment of:

• overall food choice
• food counter layout
• food preparation practices
• menus recommendations to reduce fat, sugar and salt and to increase fruit, vegetables and fibre
• employee feedback

When the audit has been carried out, the catering staff are then able to start making changes immediately to implement the recommendations e.g. ordering low fat milk, talking to the butcher or changing food layout.

A follow up monitoring visit by the dietitian to check and assist in the implementation of recommendations will take place 8 - 10 weeks after the audit.

Following successful implementation of our healthy eating goals, the company will be awarded certification stating that the restaurant/canteen provides healthy options meeting Irish Heart Foundation national standards. The customer is then assured that the catering and menus are genuinely healthy!

Cost: €525 to cover two company visits - catering audit and monitoring visit.  Spot check/re-certification audits are €100.  Mileage is not included in this charges. Please fill in this form if you are interested in applying for the Healthy Eating Award



Happy Heart Eat Out is Back!

Hundreds of workplaces nationwide have been encouraged to provide smaller portion sizes and heart- healthy options on their menus for the Happy Heart Eat Out campaign this June. In addition, we suggest you just ask for the healthy option when you visit. Below is a list of workplace canteens who have registered for this healthy eating awareness initiative.
 
Enjoy a healthy option and smaller portion size in your workplace this June!

See a full list of participating workplaces

Disclaimer: The following establishments have indicated their willingness to participate. The Irish Heart Foundation cannot guarantee participation. If you notice that an establishment below is not displaying material and providing the choice of smaller portions please let us know.ldempsey@irishheart.ie