Coronavirus Helpline

If you don’t have symptoms and are looking for general information, a free helpline has been set up by NHS Inform (open everyday 8:00am – 10:00pm): 0800 028 2816

Useful National and Local Websites

• NHS Inform – Find the latest information and guidance about Coronavirus (COVID-19) information available in different formats and languages.
• Scottish Government – Regular updates on Coronavirus in Scotland.
• NHS Forth Valley – Find out information on restricted visiting hours and updates from key services.
• Parent Club – Coronavirus Information Parent Club has useful information on how to protect yourself and others, advice on what to do if you have to stay at home with the kids or self-isolate, and tips on talking to the kids about the virus. Twitter @ParentClubScot
• World Health Organisation – Coronavirus advice for the general public in various different languages.
• Health Protection Scotland – Protecting Scotland’s Health.
• Ready Scotland – Helping in your community and advice for community groups.
• Volunteer Scotland – Coronavirus advice for volunteers.

Local Authorities

• Falkirk Council – Coronavirus updates about local services and information for Falkirk Council Employees. Twitter @FalkirkCouncil. Support for People Team – 0808 100 3161 – Open 7 days a week.
• CVS Falkirk – CVS Falkirk has pulled together different guidance, resources, and amazing efforts by our local communities to support each other, in order to make them as widely available as possible.
• Stirling Council – Coronavirus updates about local service disruptions and closures. Twitter @StirlingCouncil.  Community Support Line – 01786 40 40 40 – open 7 days a week.
• Clackmannanshire Council – Latest information and news on the coronavirus. Twitter @ClacksCouncil. Community Helpline – 01259 45 22 75 – Open 7 days a week.
• Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface – CTSI are continuing to work with local partners to ensure that the needs of the third sector and local Clackmannanshire community is being met. They also have a Facebook page and Twitter account @clacksCTSI.

Importance of Hand Washing!

• Food Standards Scotland Happy Hands Activity – Learn how to wash hands effectively with videos to show you how.
• Fed up singing Happy Birthday why not try a different song – Try it to the tune of Frere Jacques or Brother John – Watch how to here.
• National Infection Prevention and Control Manual – Hand Hygiene – Has some great information on hand hygiene, how to videos ….and more…

Food Hygiene

• Food Standards Scotland – Has useful information on food safety, allergens and information and guidance on Coronavirus.
• Food A Fact of Life – Has some great information on food safety and online quizzes to try– anyone working with food or providing food for others to consume must be aware of good food safety principles – storing, preparing and cooking food safely and hygienically is paramount.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Posters and resources to download – Wash your hands posters in different languages.
• World Health Organisation – Posters and Leaflets to download around hand hygiene and they have food safety advice – 5 keys to safer food manual and a poster that could be printed off.
• QueerCare – Delivering or collecting shopping, food parcels and prescription to those in self isolation – QueerCare has produced some clear guidelines.

Coronavirus and Medical Conditions

• British Dietetic Association – Dietitians and the BDA have been asked many questions about nutrition and dietary issues related to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic.
• Coeliac Disease – Frequently Asked Questions – Coronavirus and Coeliac Disease.
  Need to talk? Call Coeliac Disease Helpline on 0333 332 2033
• Diabetes UK – Coronavirus advice for people living with Diabetes.
• Choose To Lose – Wanting to lose weight and keep it off for good! – At Choose To Lose you’ll find self monitoring worksheets to help support you on your weight loss journey. From diaries to keep a track of what your eating and what exercise you are managing to fit in, goal sheets and links to apps and useful websites and much more….

Coronavirus and Food

Nutrition in the Early Years

• Infant Feeding during the Coronavirus – information from Unicef – How to protect you and your family, what parents should know.
• Breastfeeding and Coronavirus – La Leche
• National Breastfeeding Helpline – 0300 100 0212 from 9:30am to 9:30pm, 7 days a week.
• Parent Club – Has information on Coronavirus and feeding your baby – whether it be breastfeeding or formula feeding and also tips helping your children learn from home.

COVID-19 – Information to support children and younger people

For Parents, Carers or those working with children and young people the Universities of Oxford and Reading have produced this resource with helpful advice around supporting children and young people with worries or anxieties about COVID-19.

• Supporting Children and Young People with Worries about COVID-19
• Young Scot website
• #ClearYourHeadChallenge – Take part in daily challenges across social media and check back here to see how others have taken them on!

Nutrition in Older Adults and Malnutrition

• Food First – NHS Forth Valley Leaflet
• Eating and Drinking with Dementia – NHS Forth Valley Leaflet
• Nutrition and Palliative Care – NHS Forth Valley Leaflet
• Supporting your Nutrition – Recovering from COVID-19  – NHS Forth Valley Community Dietitians.  This resource can be used by people living at home recovering from COVID-19 or by staff in residential care home to support individuals needing nutritional support.
• Nutrition in Residential Care – During COVID-19 – NHS Forth Valley Community Dietitians.  This resource can be used by staff in residential care homes to support individuals needing nutritional support.
• British Dietetic Association – The Malnutrition Pathway have created some patient leaflets for those with COVID-19  – Eating Well During and After COVID-19, Improving your Nutrition during and after COVID-19 Illness, Nutrition Support during and after COVID-19 Illness.
• Managing Adult Malnutrition – COVID-19 and Good Nutrition
• British Dietetic Association – Food Factsheets for Older Adults including information on Malnutrition.
• British Dietetic Association – Older People Specialist Group – Guiding Food Principles
• Age Scotland – is for older people, their families and carers wanting more information and guidance on Coronavirus they also have a Helpline – 0800 12 44 222.
• Eat Well Age Well – Great tips and resources on a wide variety of food related issues including preventing malnutrition. They also have a Free Malnutrition Advice Line – 0800 13 88 220 – this is available for older people, their families and carers. Follow them on Twitter @EatWellScot.

Nutritional Training for Residential Care Homes

Our NHS Forth Valley Community Dietitians worked in partnership with Speech and Language Therapists to produce this webinar Nutritional Training for the Residential Care Setting.

Coronavirus and Vitamin D

• Vitamin D : Advice for all age groups – The Scottish Government have issued new guidance around Vitamin D recommendations during Coronavirus.  This advice is especially important for people who are self isolating or shielding and for those that are indoors all of the time.

Coronavirus, Food Information for the General Public

• British Dietetic Association – Advice for the General Public – Coronavirus – Some great advice and frequently asked questions section about Coronavirus and it’s like to link certain conditions as well as information for during pregnancy and feeding your baby.
• Food Standards Scotland – Coronavirus information in relation to food. There is currently no evidence that food is a source of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and it is very unlikely it can be transmitted through the consumption of food, according to EFSA (European Food Safety Authority).
• Food and nutrition tips during self-quarantine and self isolation – World Health Organisation.

Easy and Quick Family Recipes

Delve deep into the back of your kitchen cupboards and you’ll be surprised you might even be able to create a healthy meal for the family in minutes with what you already have. Here are some great recipes – why not give them a go?

• How To… Recipe Sheets – Visit Nutrition Resources and scroll down to How To Recipe sheets.
• BBC Food – Store cupboard dinner ideas on a budget.
• Love Canned Food – Have a great range of recipes to try.
• Eat Better Feel Better – This is a brilliant website featured on the Parent Club site. It is packed full of useful information on healthy eating for the family. From quick and easy family recipes to handy meal planners and also Cook A Long videos to help you get started in the kitchen.
• Change4Life – Recipes – Looking for easy, quick meal ideas, get inspired on the Change4Life website or download the Meal Mixer App to help plan your meals. Please note that some services on this website are restricted to people living in England and Wales, as this is a Public Health England Campaign / Website.

Plan Ahead and Reduce Food Waste

It’s a good idea to sit down and plan ahead – what meals you’re going to have and what ingredients you need to buy, the next time you get to the shops. Having a plan or list written down can help you save money, keep you focussed and help take some stress out of your shopping experience.

• Visit Focus on your Family and scroll down to the My Weekly Meal Planner – write down the meals you plan to have then create a shopping list based on that. When shopping try to buy the essentials that you need for your weekly meals.
• Love Food Hate Waste – Visit for more information and tips on how to reduce food waste – a great portion planner and some great recipes too.

Healthy Eating on a Budget

• Local Forth Valley Food Banks – Visit our Food, Health and Inequalities page and Scroll down to information on Local Foodbanks.
• NHS Forth Valley – Community Nutrition Resources and scroll down to Shop Cook Eat Resource is a great resource that is packed full of easy recipes also has a list of essential store cupboard items too.
• NHS – Tips on Eating Well For Less
• British Dietetic Association – Have a range of free food factsheets including ones on Healthy Eating – Eat Well Spend Less and many more.

Things to do with the children indoors around food

Looking for of ideas of things to do with the children to keep them occupied and entertained. Here are a few ideas of things you could try:-

• Change4Life – Fun ideas to help your kids stay healthy – from online recipes to some great online Disney games to try that encourages indoor activities for all the family.
• Focus On Your Family – can help you and your family take small steps to become more active, eat better and feel healthier. At the bottom of this webpage you will find useful links, games, apps, recipes and family monitoring worksheets including My Daily Thinking Diary and My Weekly Meal Planner/Shopping List.
• Let’s Get Cooking At Home – Excellent website with easy recipes, videos illustrating basic techniques eg chopping, peeling, mixing….also has tips on what items to keep in your store cupboard and information on Food Safety.
• Eat Better Feel Better – Have a number of Cookalong Videos that can help you get started in the kitchen – even if you’re unsure what equipment or ingredients you need – these videos are a step by step guide of how to start cooking from scratch…From stir fries, soups, 5 ways to cook eggs and much more…
• Food A Fact of Life – Free resources for teaching young people aged 3-16 years about where food comes from, cooking and healthy eating.

Online Food Games For Children

• Cookin Castle – This online aims to teach primary school children about the main principles of a healthy, balanced diet, including what the main food groups are and what kinds of foods should be increased and limited in their diet.
• Food Standards Scotland – Interactive Eatwell Guide
• Food Standards Agency – A number of online food related Educational Games – for children to test their nutritional knowledge.

Setting Up a COVID-19 Feeding Programme

This video produced by MadeIn Hackney has details of all the things to consider while delivering meals/shopping to community members. It includes some great advice for community groups setting up to deliver food and shopping to those vulnerable in the community.