Forth Valley Public Health Dietitians and Community Food Workers support a number of campaigns throughout the year.
NHS Events
View NHS Events for dates of health events and campaigns.
National Salt Awareness Week – Monday 12th – Sunday 18th March 2018
Many people are aware that eating too much salt is bad for their health, but think that it’s only a cause for concern in our later years. This isn’t true, as eating too much salt during childhood increases blood pressure which then tracks into adulthood and later life, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. That’s why it’s so important to reduce salt intake across all ages.
In the UK we currently eat more salt than is recommended, so we are encouraging individuals to make some small, simple changes to their eating and buying habits and when they can choose foods that are lower in salt.
#6ways6grams
- Drain and rinse canned vegetables and eat more fresh fruit and veg
- Gradually add less salt to your recipes
- Take salt and salty sauces off the table
- Use herbs, spices, garlic and citrus in place of salt to add favour to your food
- Check food labels before you buy and choose less salty options
- Use FoodSwitch and other free health apps to help make healthier food choices.
For more information visit NHS Choices Salt – The Facts
Download:
- Leaflet – Salt Intake and the health of your Children
- Poster – 6 Ways to 6 Grams
- Low Salt Shopping Guide
National Sugar Awareness Week – 30th Oct – 5th Nov 2017
Over the week Action on Sugar will be raising awareness of the health impacts of consuming excess sugar and calories and educating the public to help them consume less. As a nation we are consuming far too much sugar. Eating too much sugar can lead to tooth decay and can cause excess weight gain.
The government recommends that free sugars – sugars added to food or drinks, and sugars found naturally in honey, syrups, and unsweetened fruit juices shouldn’t make up more than 5% of the energy (calories) you get from food and drink each day. So adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day that’s equivalent to around seven sugar cubes. Children should be having even less.
- How does sugar in our diet affect our health – NHS Choices
- How to cut down on sugar in your diet – NHS Choices
- Sugar – BDA Factsheet
- Let’s be Food Smart – Get the Be Food Smart app and see how much sugar, saturated fat and salt is really inside your food and drinks.
Use FoodSwitch to see what’s in your shopping basket, and make better food choices when shopping for you and your family.
If you would like to get involved by running a Sugar Awareness Week event in your area or workplace, visit the ordering page to download and order some posters and leaflets.
#ChooseAHealthyStart Campaign
- Growing Bones Need Vitamin D – Find out more in Vitamin D and You Leaflet.
- Healthy Start – is a voucher scheme for women who have young children or who
are pregnant and are receiving benefits. You can get free milk, fruit and vegetables with Healthy Start vouchers. Check if you qualify here.
Eat Better Feel Better Campaign
The Eat Better Feel Better website by Healthier Scotland has been set up to inspire and support parents and families to make healthier changes to how they shop, cook and eat.
Visit www.eatbetterfeelbetter.co.uk for a first look at the tools, recipes and support on offer.
Folic Acid – Are you Getting Enough?
NHS Forth Valley Community Dietitians have launched a campaign to highlight the importance of folic acid intake amongst women in Forth Valley. The campaign supports World Spina Bifida Day as folic acid is a recognised step taken by mothers to reduce the risk of their baby developing the condition. The ‘Folic Acid-Are You Getting Enough?’ campaign aims to encourage women of child-bearing age, who could become pregnant to take a daily supplement – a 400mcg tablet – of folic acid, particularly those planning a pregnancy or those who are already pregnant.
Briefing packs with posters, information cards and fact sheets are being circulated to all pharmacies, GP surgeries, local colleges, family centres an nightclubs in the Forth Valley area to help promote the campaign and drive the message home.
- Find out more about Spina Bifida – Scottish Spina Bifida Association
Find out more about walks in: Clackmannanshire and Stirling.
