The Nutrition team work 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, using a person centred approach and aim to improve knowledge, skills and access to resources and 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
Find out more about the work our team has been involved in over the past year:
Nutrition in the News
What does 100 Calories look like? The British Heart Foundation
Counting calories can help you maintain a healthy weight, but 100 calories looks very different depending what foods you eat. What 100 calories looks like .
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.
A Healthier Future: Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan
The Scottish Government have recently published a Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan, to help create a healthier Scotland for everyone. Giving children the best possible start in life and restricting promotion of unhealthy food are a few of the governments key priorities to improve healthy weight and cut childhood obesity in Scotland.
Read the Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan
New Nutrition Resources
Community Food Activity Grants 2018-2019 – Now Available!
Our Health Improvement team are pleased to open this years small grant scheme. Grants of up to £200 are available for short term pieces of work and £400 for larger projects. Closing Date : 31st December 2018.
These grants are to support local food activities and initiatives across Forth Valley.
New How to…Recipe sheets
Our new set of ‘How to…’ recipes sheets have been launched and are available to download below. They are packed full of tasty, simple and cheap recipes that are easy and quick to prepare. You only need a few basic ingredients to make these healthy and 
tasty meals. The recipe sheets also have useful tips and a notes section which can be used to plan your shopping list.
- How to – Soups..
- How to – Lunches..
- How to – Mains..
- How to – Veggies..
- How to – Fish..
- How to – Puddings..
Managing my weight during my pregnancy – Leaflet
This leaflet is aimed at pregnant women with a BMI of 30 or over. The leaflet encourages pregnant women to start thinking about making healthier food and lifestyle choices. It reinforces key healthy eating messages and encourages women to self record and make small changes that can be built easily into everyday routine. Weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy, however it is important you don’t gain too much weight during pregnancy.
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.
Community Nutrition in the Spotlight
Find out more about our nutrition agenda, who we work with and our main work strands:
