In recent years it has been discovered that the obesity levels in the UK and many other countries have risen greatly and if nothing is done to stop this in the years to come its thought one in four of people will be classed as obese. That’s why it is more important than ever for caterers to provide healthy options in their menus or even have an all healthy menu, as they can serve healthy food with out the taste being compromised. This is so important because caterers are in so many areas of life not just at restaurants and cafes but in schools, at special events and even offices.

With children it is important that they learn how to cook properly and healthily so as they are growing up they are receiving the right nutrients to grow properly. There are lots of recipes now that can help make children’s five a day meals look more appealing to them. There are certain things that teachers are now encouraged to teach, children in classes where the children are over 5 years old, about food:

• They should be eating lots of foods high in starch such as rice, pasta and potatoes. Starch provides your body with a lot of energy and is eaten by many athletes and other professional sporting people in training periods.
• Children need plenty of fruit and vegetables to sustain their bodies as they grow. Simple vegetables contain many nutrients you probably didn’t even know about for example carrots contain vitamins B and C, potassium, iron and many anti-oxidants.
• Meats and other products high in protein are good for the body in moderate amounts. Protein helps the body repair it’s self and also helps the red blood cells transport the oxygen around the body. It helps create anti bodies in the system of humans so to prevent illnesses and disease.
• As with meats dairy foods should be eaten but in moderation. Dairy foods help the body by making it possible for the body to get lots of the vitamins the body requires easily from the food; too many fatty foods, such as full fat dairy, can cause health problems in the future because the fat is stored in the body if there is too much to use. As well as this some fatty foods in moderation can help keep the body at a set temperature and help keep the blood pressure at the right level.

As well as working with the children there are lessons adults can take to learn healthier ways of cooking. These recipes can be easily put together and provide adults and children with the right nutrients and vitamins that everyone’s body needs. They can learn tips from professional caterers on how to make their food look more appealing to their children, one of these tips is if you use brighter coloured foods such as carrots and sweet corn it will look more interesting to any child than just broccoli and spinach or any other green vegetables on their own. There is now plenty of readily available information from caterers on how to make healthier food online.