The Scottish Consumer Council and Scottish Executive have launched a Healthyliving Award to nationally recognise healthy food service operators.

The award will be made to workplace restaurants, cafés, sandwich shops, further education sites, hospital canteens and restaurants which provide healthier options by reducing levels of fat, salt and sugar in their food and by making fruit and vegetables more easily available.

In addition, at least half of the food served must be prepared using both healthier ingredients and healthier cooking methods. Healthy and nutritious food must also be available for children.

More than 130 eating establishments across Scotland have already signed up to the award and successful establishments can display an apple symbol on their menus.

Almond Catering at Registers of Scotland, Edinburgh; Encore Creative Catering at Metropolitan College, Cathedral Street Campus, Glasgow; Sodexho Catering at OKI printing solutions, Cumbernauld; the Chest Heart and Stroke coffee shop in Inverness; the Compass Group at Allied Distillers, Dumbarton and Lazels Restaurant at Peebles Hotel Hydro have already achieved the award.

Claire Brown, award project manager, said: “The Healthyliving Award will give national recognition to those eating establishments which are responding to an increased consumer demand for healthier food. By looking out for the recognisable apple symbol, people should find it easier to know where they can buy healthier food when they eat out.” Details: www.healthylivingaward.co.uk