Our Nutrition and Dietetic Health Improvement Team works with colleagues and partners from across the voluntary, local authority and NHS sectors and liaise closely with Oral Health and Health Promotion teams. Our work is driven by local and national policy documents. We engage with local communities to empower and support healthier food choices. We use a person centred and asset based approach to improve communities nutrition knowledge and cooking skills and provide access to nutrition resources, food activity grants and accredited training around food and nutrition.
Community Nutrition
- Choose to Lose…and keep weight off for good!
- Choose To Lose @ Work
- Focus on your Family
- Community Food Development
- Maternal, Infant and Early Years Nutrition
- Food and Health Inequalities
- Food in Schools
- Workplace Nutrition
- Multi-Cultural Nutrition
- Nutrition Resources
Nutrition in the News
New Veg Power UK Campaign, hits the screens.
We’re supporting @VegPowerUK and ITV’s #EatThemToDefeatThem Campaign, which took to the screens last week. This campaign from ITV and Veg Power is aiming to encourage kids and adults to eat more vegetables. 80% of kids and 96% of teenagers don’t eat enough vegetables. We want to get them eating more. This fun campaign aims to do just that, by turning it into a game. After all, we all learn through play.
- Visit VegPower to watch the advert.
- Download free resources – posters, charts and more to help spread the word.
- See our recipe sheet How to – Veggies..
- Vegetarian Kids Recipes – BBC Good Food
- Vegetarian and Vegan Babies and Children – NHS
Community Food Activity Grants 2018-2019 – Still Available!
Our Health Improvement Team’s small grant scheme is still open to applicants. Grants of up to £200 are available for short term pieces of work and £400 for larger projects.
Closing Date : 25th February 2019.
These grants are to support local food activities and initiatives across Forth Valley.
Help For Low Income Families – Best Start Grant
The Best Start Grant – Pregnancy and Baby Payment has been launched in Scotland. From the 10th of December, you’ll be able to apply online, find out more here or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. The Pregnancy and Baby Payment will replace the Sure Start Maternity Grant in Scotland. The Best Start Food Scheme will replace the UK Healthy Start scheme in Scotland, this will be introduced during 2019.
- Best Start Grant – Flyer
- Best Start Grant – Q and A Sheet
Nutrition and Dietetic Health Improvement Team
Find out more about our nutrition agenda, who we work with and our main work strands:
Find out more about the work our team has been involved in over the past year:
World Breastfeeding Week – 1 – 7th August 2018 – Thinking about breastfeeding your baby?
Find out more about breastfeeding support groups running throughout Forth Valley:
- Local Breastfeeding Groups – NHS Forth Valley
- Breastfeeding – BDA Factsheet.
- Visit feedgood.scot a mobile friendly website for parents and health professional to find all the information they need about breastfeeding and other feeding options. From step-by-step ‘how to’ guides and experiences of real mums, to video clips and pictures to help with feeding.
- Parent Club – This website is crammed full of the latest toddler hints and tips from real parents and health professionals. Get tips on feeding, sleeping, playing and more…
- National Breast Feeding Helpline – 0300 100 0212
For further information on the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme or to order resources such as window stickers or posters to display email Lesley Hetherington Community Dietitian / Infant Feeding Co-ordinator.
Nutrition Resources
Vitamin D Recommendations In Scotland
New vitamin D recommendations have been developed by the Scottish Government for parents and healthcare professionals.
It is recommended that EVERYONE (all adults and children) age 5 years and above in the UK should take a 10 microgram vitamin D supplement daily, particularly during the winter months (October – March).
However there are groups who should take a vitamin D supplement all year round.
These groups include:
- breastfed babies.
- children aged 1 – 4 years.
- pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
- People from minority ethnic groups with dark skin as those of African, African – Carribean and South Asian origin.
- People who are not exposed to much sunlight , such as frail or housebound individuals or those that cover their skin for cultural reasons.
- People over 65 years.
Read more about Vitamin D – Scottish Government.
Vitamin D recommendations – information for new parents
Breastfed babies from birth up to one year of age should be given a supplement of 8.5 to 10 micrograms vitamin D per day.
Babies who are fed infant formula do not require vitamin D if they are having 500ml/day of infant formula or more, as infant formula already has added vitamin D.
- Vitamin D and You – NHS Health Scotland Leaflet, also available in Polish, Chinese and Urdu.
- Vitamin D – Professional Leaflet – NHS Health Scotland.
- New Vitamin D recommendation information for parents – This leaflet explains the benefits of getting enough Vitamin D for infants from birth to six months and provides advice and support for parents.
- Vitamin D recommendations for Health Professionals
- Healthy Start vitamins are recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women and infants.
- Healthy Start Leaflet – Leaflet highlights where to get Healthy Start vitamin supplements locally. Alternatively ask your midwife or health visitor.