Healthy tips off the shelf

But Marks & Spencer in Maidenhead is hoping to help shoppers stick to healthy eating with the help of an in-store diet advisor.
Rita Brown will be giving customers tips on what to eat to boost health – whether they want to lose weight, try a vegetarian diet or avoid certain foods like nuts, milk or wheat.
The national chain is introducing people like Mrs Brown into all their food stores from this month.
She said: “I think it’s nice to see people asking for advice. They want to change their habits to healthy eating. Our range is very good – I think it’s balanced.”
The 51-year-old grandmother said the focus is on healthy eating rather than weight loss and added she is looking forward to having chats with shoppers and giving out advice and information on the
shop floor.
She will hand out fact sheets about topics from Glycaemic Index (GI), maintaining a healthy weight, diabetes and food intolerance to probiotics, Omega 3 fats and what to eat during pregnancy.
The Maidenhead store’s food manager, Neil Brown, says the food section is designed so customers are drawn to the healthy options.
He said: “We want them to see the healthier options. In the food hall fruit and vegetables are a prominent feature.
“Everyone’s aware of the five-a-day rule, but we also have RDAs (Recommended Daily Amount) and GDAs (Guideline Daily Amount) on our packaging. It’s very clear on our packaging what people should have.”
The boffins at Marks & Spencer’s head office have designed their healthy eating ranges with the Government’s guidelines in mind.
The chain has been given advice by The British Nutrition Foundation and say people like Rita will help customers choose healthier Marks and Spencer’s food and understand logos on labels.
The shop’s main healthy ranges are Count on Us, Healthy Balance meals, their Cook! ready-meal range and their healthy eating range of food for children.
Mr Brown said Marks & Spencer try to keep customers interested in healthy options all year round, not just after New Year.
He said:“It’s all about driving the healthy option to the customer – so it’s about making them available and visible in store.”
Shoppers can find Mrs Brown at the back of the shop, at the food information point.