Good food helps pupils' results

By eating healthy food children can help themselves achieve better examination results, new research has revealed.

The New School Trust has investigated the role diet plays in kids' education and revealed many are turning to the wrong types of foods when studying.

Diet "has a direct impact on a child's ability to study", says the trust. It also noted pupils are turning to fast food and sugary treats to help them study longer.

Prue Leith, celebrity chef and School Food Trust chair, advises that choosing a healthy diet and "sticking with it, especially come exam time, could be the difference between success and failure".

The trust revealed that despite understanding the benefits of brain foods such as oily fish, pupils prefer to stay focused by sipping energy drinks. They also like to feast on chocolate (42 per cent) and biscuits (31 per cent).

Teachers and teaching assistants can help pupils with their diet, although it is the responsibility of parents to decide what is eaten outside of school hours.

The Department of Health recommends children try to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

At Hawksby & Dickens – The Business Caterer, we understand the importance of a balanced diet. Meeting catering in the past has been limited in variety and nutritional value. We have worked hard to change this and are proud to unveil our Healthy options range of sandwiches. We have blended a selection of products to meet strict nutritional criteria yet maintain the same high standards in quality. Complement the sandwiches with a fresh fruit platter and crudités, and you have a tasty meal that is bursting with ‘goodness’.

or more information on our Manchester catering, why not call us today on 0844 561 6846 or visit us at www.hawksby.co.uk

Bangers and mash most popular comfort food

Bangers and mash is the most popular comfort food during the credit crunch, according to a survey which claims most Britons are putting on weight because of the recession.

The traditional British dish got 16 per cent of the vote, beating fish and chips into second with 15 per cent and beans on toast into third with 10 per cent.

The survey was commissioned by TV channel Good Food, which quizzed more than 3,000 British adults about their current eating habits compared with last year.

It showed British people eating more during the financial downturn with 77 per cent of consumers saying they have upped their food intake since the recession started.

More than half of those surveyed revealed that they had put on weight in the last six months as they ate comfort food to get through the recession.

Eating habits are also changing with 38 per cent saying they prefer to socialise with friends at home instead of being in a pub (22 per cent) or going to a restaurant (19 per cent).

Richard Kingsbury, head of the Good Food channel, said: "It's heartening to know that even if people can't afford to go out they are still having fun with good food and the friends they've invited round.

"Food programmes have played a part in giving people the confidence and creativity to have a go at cooking for friends whether it be bangers and mash or Thai green curry."

The average spend on groceries has increased by £35 compared with last year, with 39 per cent saying they are now more budget-conscious.

Luxury foods such as steak did badly, with 52 per cent deciding not to buy it in the current economic climate.

Chocolate cake, however, did well in the study, featuring in the top five comfort foods with eight per cent of the vote.

Celebrity chef Brian Turner said: "At a time when we are getting less for more when we buy food, comfort deserts such as chocolate cake, fruit crumble and custard and treacle sponge with custard are helping to put a smile back on our faces.

"It's feel-good food for Britain at its best."

Most popular comfort food

Bangers and mash (16%)

Fish and chips (15%)

Baked beans on toast (10%)

Chocolate cake (8%)

At Hawksby & Dickens – The Business Caterer, we understand the importance of a balanced diet. Meeting catering in the past has been limited in variety and nutritional value. We have worked hard to change this and are proud to unveil our Healthy options range of sandwiches. We have blended a selection of products to meet strict nutritional criteria yet maintain the same high standards in quality. Complement the sandwiches with a fresh fruit platter and crudités, and you have a tasty meal that is bursting with ‘goodness’.

or more information on our Manchester catering, why not call us today on 0844 561 6846 or visit us at www.hawksby.co.uk

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Make your own healthy sandwiches - Spreads

The spreads: While many people can forego the usual mayo on a sandwich, most have a hard time giving it up. So you can opt for the light mayonnaise and go easy on portions. Of course, mustard is another standard option - and there are so many varieties of mustard to try. You can also try mixing light cream cheese with some dried or fresh herbs and use that as a sandwich spread. Light salad dressings are another option for some sandwich variety. Try ranch, thousand island and honey mustard, or any of your favorites. Some other unique sandwich spreads are salsa, horseradish, or vinegars.

At Hawksby & Dickens – The Business Caterer, we understand the importance of a balanced diet. Meeting catering in the past has been limited in variety and nutritional value. We have worked hard to change this and are proud to unveil our Healthy options range of sandwiches. We have blended a selection of products to meet strict nutritional criteria yet maintain the same high standards in quality. Complement the sandwiches with a fresh fruit platter and crudités, and you have a tasty meal that is bursting with ‘goodness’.

For more information, why not call us today on 0844 561 6846 or visit us at www.hawksby.co.uk

Make your own healthy sandwiches - Fillings

Most of the usual sandwich fillings can be made in a healthy way, and the options are virtually endless. Here are just a few: turkey, ham, roast beef, tuna, canned chicken, cooked chicken, canned crab, salmon, veggies. Some you may wish to mix with some light mayo and seasonings (canned tuna, chicken, crab, salmon); the rest of you will just want to use in smaller portions (ham, roast beef).

In terms of cheese, there are two rules to keep your sandwich healthy. 1) Forego cheese if your sandwich will still be delicious without it. 2) If your sandwich really needs cheese, use a light or fat-free variety.

At Hawksby & Dickens – The Business Caterer, we understand the importance of a healthy diet. Meeting catering in the past has been limited in variety and nutritional value. We have worked hard to change this and are proud to unveil our Healthy options range of sandwiches. We have blended a selection of products to meet strict nutritional criteria yet maintain the same high standards in quality. Complement the sandwiches with a fresh fruit platter and crudités, and you have a tasty meal that is bursting with ‘goodness’.

For more information, why not call us today on 0844 561 6846 or visit us at www.hawksby.co.uk

Make your own healthy sandwiches

For a healthy sandwich, look for breads that have lots of fibre and are lower in calories. If you use bread, try some of the delicious varieties of light bread that still have lots of fibre, but are much lower in calories than regular bread. If you're sticking with regular bread, whole wheat varieties are the best choices. Remember also that sandwiches don't, and shouldn't, always come on basic slices of bread. Don't hesitate to build a sandwich on wraps, pittas, or flatbreads. Just use the same rules as for bread - look for high fibre content, lower calories, and especially for wraps - lower fat.

At Hawksby & Dickens – The Business Caterer, we understand the importance of a balanced diet. Meeting catering in the past has been limited in variety and nutritional value. We have worked hard to change this and are proud to unveil our Healthy options range of sandwiches. We have blended a selection of products to meet strict nutritional criteria yet maintain the same high standards in quality. Complement the sandwiches with a fresh fruit platter and crudités, and you have a tasty meal that is bursting with ‘goodness’.

For more information, why not call us today on 0844 561 6846 or visit us at www.hawksby.co.uk

Eat yourself slim: Awesome fat burning foods

Fat-burning superfoods

Include these in your daily diet and sizzle off your paunch…

Fat-free yoghurt
Eat three servings of fat-free yoghurt each day to rev up your body’s fat-burning engine. Researchers at the University of Tennessee found that blokes who did this lost 22% more weight and 61% more body fat than people who didn’t eat yoghurt. The yoghurt eaters also lost 81% more fat from their belly than those who shunned this fat-munching superfood. It’s thought that its high calcium and protein content was responsible for the dramatic weight loss.

Whey protein
Protein shakes aren’t just for muscle heads. Grab a low carb tub of whey protein to boost your fat-burning potential. Have two shakes a day. Research by the University of Toronto found that when men were presented with an all-you-can-eat buffet, those who drank a whey protein shake 2 hours earlier ate 200 fewer calories than those who did not. Whey is also reported to increase muscle mass by 8% and burn up to 3% more body fat.

Cottage cheese
Eat at least 200g of cottage cheese a day. Research by the United States Agriculture Department found that this amount of cottage cheese has as much protein as a small steak (about 32 grams) and it also contains casein. These two nutrients make it a very slow digesting food that will make you feel full and less likely to overeat later. It’s also rich in calcium (found in yoghurt) which is reported to be an additional catalyst for weight loss.

Salmon
We all know they boost the brain, but omega-3s also help shift the flab. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a diet rich in omega-3 dramatically helped with weight loss. Fish also alters the level of leptin in your body, which is a hormone that positively influences your metabolism by determining whether you burn or store calories as fat. Eat salmon or trout three to four times a week.

Breakfast cereals
Not the sugar-laden Coco Pops but any cereal rich in fibre such as Weetabix, Shreddies, oats or muesli. A study by the National Weight Control Registry followed people who had lost more than 30lbs and kept it off for more than a year. They found that 78% of them ate breakfast. These are all very rich in fibre which is why it will also work to keep your hunger at bay.

At Hawksby & Dickens – The Business Caterer, we understand the importance of a balanced diet. Meeting catering in the past has been limited in variety and nutritional value. We have worked hard to change this and are proud to unveil our Healthy options range of sandwiches. We have blended a selection of products to meet strict nutritional criteria yet maintain the same high standards in quality. Complement the sandwiches with a fresh fruit platter and crudités, and you have a tasty meal that is bursting with ‘goodness’.

For more information on manchester catering, why not call us today on 0844 561 6846 or visit us at www.hawksby.co.uk

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