Starchy Foods & Healthy Eating

• Starchy foods (carbohydrates) provide us with energy and help to fill us up.
• Offer larger portions. Choosing higher fibre options and paying close attention to how these foods are cooked and presented can help reduce the total amount of fat and calories in meals. This can help you lose weight if you are overweight and also protect your heart.
• Try offering wholegrain or granary alternatives don't add butter or margarine, allow people to add their own.
• Use low fat cooking techniques such as boiling, grilling or baking instead of frying and deep frying foods.
• Use only small amounts of salt in cooking and allow people to season their own foods once prepared.
• Use oils rich in cardioprotective monounsaturated fats if frying foods. Monounsaturated fats are protective for the heart if used in small quantities. Remember the bigger the chip the less fat it absorbs!

Remember, provide sugar, salt, butter/spreads, mayonnaise and dressings separately. If you add these directly to the meal the customer can't remove it. Give them the choice!!!

Hints, Tips and Ideas..

• Try using different varieties of rice such as wild, basmati, brown and white.
• Wholemeal pastas and oats are especially good in soups, broths, stews and casseroles.
• When offering sandwiches extend the range available. Ensure they are packed with salad. Try making homemade low fat coleslaws with added fruit to vary flavours.
• Oats, barley, bran and wholemeal flour are ideal thickeners for soups.