Unilever Food Solutions asks pub chefs to cut calories to help Government reach goal

Chefs can help tackle Britain’s obesity problem by helping to meet health secretary Andrew Lansley’s five billion calorie a day reduction plan.

Unilever partnered with BBC Celebrity MasterChef winner and healthy eating champion Lisa Faulkner to launch Ambu-lunch outside the Houses of Parliament today.

The Ambu-lunch will now visit chefs around the country driving awareness and providing tips on how to reduce calories. Unilever’s latest World Menu Report, Seductive Nutrition, found that more than half of diners want healthier options.

A toolkit by the same name enables chefs to use an online calorie calculator to help them swap some ingredients for healthier options and adjust portion size.

“Since winning Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 I’ve worked in a variety of professional kitchens — and it’s been an eye opening experience,” said Faulkner. “I’ve realised just how much influence chefs have over our diets.

"It’s programmes like MasterChef that have raised the importance and profile of chefs in the UK. Whether it’s grabbing a quick bite to eat at lunchtime or treating your family to a meal out, chefs can have a huge influence by adding a healthier twist to our favourite dishes.”

Tracey Rogers, managing director of Unilever Food Solutions, said: “Eating out should still be a treat for consumers when they want it to be and we don’t want to change this. What we do want to do is raise awareness to chefs that they have the power to make small changes that won’t impact on taste or quality.

"By making these small changes to consumers’ favourite dishes, and giving them a ‘stand out’ introduction on menus, together we can help to make Britain healthier, meet Government targets and benefit our businesses.”