New UK Campaign Encourages Consumers to be "Food Smart"

A new TV ad in the UK warns people that consuming too many "hidden nasties" in some foods can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. The new campaign is claimed to give people the tools and information they need – including new tips, advice and recipes – to help them eat more healthily and develop "Food Smart" habits.

8 Jan 2013 --- To help people get smart this January, Change4Life is launching their Be Food Smart campaign, to show people how to recognise the foods that contain hidden sugar, salt and fat, and to find healthier alternatives.

A new TV ad in the UK warns people that consuming too many "hidden nasties" in some foods can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. The new campaign is claimed to give people the tools and information they need – including new tips, advice and recipes – to help them eat more healthily and develop "Food Smart" habits.

The Be Food Smart launch comes at a time of year when we often have good intentions to start eating healthily, and the great news is that this year we don’t have to stop enjoying family favourites to do so. Finding tasty, cheaper and healthier alternatives to popular meals and take-aways is easy – you just need to learn how to be a bit food smart.

To get everyone started, Change4Life is giving away a free Meal Mixer, a healthier recipe tool for the whole family, to all those who sign-up. Packed with ideas and tasty recipes for food smart breakfasts, lunches and evening meals, the Meal Mixer makes it easy to make healthier choices every day. The Mixer allows you to view almost 700 different meal combinations, giving you nearly two years' worth of healthier meals each day, and comes with special offers on food.

Change4Life has developed an interactive Food IQ Quiz so that people can test their knowledge of the hidden nasties that are often found in their favourite foods. Take the Food IQ Quiz.

In addition, so that our busy lifestyles don’t get in the way of healthy eating, there’s a new free Be Food Smart healthier recipe smartphone app, containing more than 120 meal ideas. The app can be used to plan out daily meals for the whole family and even create a shopping list, which makes it even easier to cook healthier and tastier meals on a budget.

Cathy Moulton, Clinical Advisor at Diabetes UK, said, "Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, balancing your diet can be challenging. Making sensible food choices and adapting eating habits are really important in managing the condition and protecting your long-term health.

"No food is forbidden, but making informed choices is not always easy. The good news is that you should still be able to enjoy a wide variety of food with more peace of mind, because you have increased your understanding about what you choose to eat."