Jamie Oliver may have spearheaded the healthy eating campaign when it comes to school meals, but who is taking the lead in the pub sector? Is it the managed operators, or are independents making the running?
We aim to find out as The Publican, in association with Brakes, launches the Healthy Children¹s Menu Competition 2007. The winning pub will have up to £5,000-worth of outdoor adventure play equipment professionally installed.
With families dining in pubs more often, and the impending smoking ban making pubs an even more attractive destination to take the children to eat, many publicans have already made changes in order to take their share of this lucrative market.
Simple moves such as replacing chicken nuggets and ketchup with 100 per cent chicken breast in breadcrumbs and a home-made tomato sauce, or introducing family-only dining areas, can make a big difference to the way parents think about kids¹ food in pubs.
Eileen Steinbock, Brakes¹ head of nutrition, says: "The changes to school food, combined with recent government initiatives, mean parents are better educated on what a healthy meal consists of.
"They are now becoming more aware of what they are feeding their children in other parts of the market, in particular the pub sector, which is fast becoming the most popular destination for families eating out. With obesity doubling among six-year-olds and trebling among 15-year-olds in the past ten years, it is important that publicans give a healthier focus to their children¹s menus. The Publican and Brakes will be keeping fit and healthy, travelling the nation to find out which pub is the most committed to offering a healthy children¹s menu and the most proactive in ensuring family dining is an enjoyable experience.
Win a £5,000 outside play area!
Brakes has teamed up with leading supplier of children¹s adventure play equipment Home Front (www.home-front.co.uk) to offer an all-timber club house and installation worth over £5,000. Complete with two towers, bridge, slide, ladder and rock wall, it will totally revamp the winners¹ outside space and maximise the pub¹s family appeal and happy children make for happy parents, who stay in your pub for longer!
Two runners-up will win £500-worth of Brakes Healthier Choices products.
Winning will bring with it the opportunity to promote yourself as a finalist to your local community, thereby generating valuable PR.
To enter, fill out a simple questionnaire detailing the changes you¹ve made to your children¹s menu in order to make it healthier, and how you¹ve ensured your pub is the number one destination for families. From child-sized adult portions to the introduction of children¹s activity books, we want to hear all about it.
Entries will be judged by a Brakes development chef, Brakes¹ head of nutrition Eileen Steinbock and The Publican¹s food editor John Porter. The top three entries will then receive a site visit by the judges as well as those all-important critics children. Yes, we¹ll be bringing three children with us to put your menu and facilities to the test.
Download your questionnaire at www.brake.co.uk/healthyeating.htm by clicking on the link on the right. Alternatively, call Brakes Customer Service on 0845 606 9090 or email customer.service@brake.co.uk, putting 'Healthy Children¹s Menu Competition' in the subject box. Closing date for entries is Thursday May 31 2007. Terms and conditions apply, see website for details.
Healthier solutions
Brakes is committed to supplying publicans with a complete healthier eating solution, providing the products, knowledge and support needed to create healthier children¹s menus while maintaining excellent profit margins. The Healthier Choices range meets strict nutritional criteria and can be identified on menus as healthy.
All products have restricted levels of salt and sugar, and either contain less than three per cent fat, or have 30 per cent less fat compared with their standard equivalent.
From its Healthier Choices chicken burger, made from Red Tractor Assured British chicken breast, through Marine Stewardship Council breaded salmon nuggets to apple and grape fruit bags, Brakes¹ range helps publicans overcome one of the biggest challenges offering healthy, nutritionally balanced food that maintains its appeal to children.