Healthier Options Takeaway (HOT) | Newark and Sherwood District Council

NSDC
Environment
Food safety and hygiene
Healthier Options Takeaway (HOT)

Healthier Options Takeaway (HOT) Merit

Our new healthy eating merit scheme for local food businesses.

HOT merit

Ordering a takeaway may no longer have to be such a guilty pleasure with the launch of the Healthier Options Takeaway. The HOT scheme is just one approach to help tackle the national obesity problem, giving people more options and showing that there can be a healthier alternative without compromising on taste.

We are working with and encouraging local food businesses to provide healthier food options on their menus and help customers manage their weight. The scheme isn't about stopping people from having a takeaway but promoting healthier options.

We are implementing a Healthier Options Takeaway (HOT) Merit scheme, where you can apply for a Merit award if you are a take away business that has a food hygiene rating of 3 or above. ‎

Testimonials from current HOT takeaways

The HOT Merit aims to increase accessibility and awareness of healthier options in takeaway outlets.

Many takeaways, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops already offer healthier options for their customers and display information about this on their menus. Other food outlets may offer healthier options, without realising or promoting it. With making small changes to what is offered or how food is prepared, cooked or served, takeaways can offer more choice for their customers.

There are lots of simple steps businesses can make without compromising on taste, for example:

Offering to grill, bake, poach or steam food instead of frying it
Removing salt from tables and counters
Switching to wholegrain pasta, brown rice or wholegrain bread
Offering a vegetable side or salad as part of a meal option
Switching from double cream to single cream, yoghurt or half fat cream fraiche in recipes
Promoting water or low sugar drinks, or
Offering smaller portion options for adults

This merit recognises those takeaways that offer healthier options and implement small changes to their menus. By achieving the merit, your business will be seen to be committed to supporting local communities to lead healthier lives. Other benefits include:

Increasing customer choice
Increasing customer satisfaction and sales
Enhancing reputation of the business
Receiving a certificate and promotional material to display in premises
Recognition of achievement through Newark and Sherwood District Council website and social media

Am I eligible?

How to apply

Success stories

Congratulations to food businesses in our district who have been awarded the Nottinghamshire Healthier Option Takeaway merit.

The merit aims to increase the availability and awareness of healthier options in takeaway outlets. Each business must make three pledges offer healthier options.

Awarded businesses and their HOT pledges

Davison's Bakery 5 Appletongate Newark Notts NG24 1JR 01636 605525 FHRS: 5	Offer pasta as an option Offer low fat cheese Offer low fat salad dressings
BJ Bakery 79-81a Mansfield Road Blidworth Notts NG21 0RB 01636 793864 FHRS: 5	Offer low fat cheese Use wholemeal pasta Use FryLite when requested
Donna B's Tasty Bite 146 Northgate Newark Notts NG24 1HJ 01636 640600 FHRS: 5	Not to offer salt with meals Highlight healthier options to customers Offer low fat salad dressings
Milano's Pizza Forest Road New Ollerton Notts NG22 9PL 01623 8620000 FHRS: 5	Use less cheese topping Reduce salt usage Ensure fryer oil is at optimum temperature to reduce fat intake
Rumbles Cafe Vicar Water Mansfield Road Clipstone Notts NG21 9AA 01623 424836 FHRS: 4	Make and sell a fat free cake Offer soft cheese as a lower fat alternative Make and advertise children's meal chip-free (unless asked for)
Dining In Center Parcs Sherwood Forest Newark NG22 9DN 01623 827400 FHRS: 5	Offered steamed rice as an alternative to fried rice Ensure that salads remain on the menu Provide half size portions at reduced price when asked for
The Soup Dwagon Mobile caterer Newark Market Place (Saturdays)	Remove salt from the tables Offer low fat spread instead of butter Use sunflower oil instead of olive oil
Kelham Hall Ltd Kelham Hall Newark NG23 5QX FHRS: 3	Offer wholemeal bread Offer low fat cheese Re-introduce salad boxes
Whitepost Farm tea rooms Mansfield Road, Farnsfield, NG22 8HL FHRS: 5	Swap from white pasta to wholemeal Continue to provide fruit pots for children as a healthy snack Ensure staff are trained to suggest healthier alternatives wherever possible.
Kitchen 52 Unit 4 Martindale Lane, Newark, NG24 FHRS: 5	Always offer customers the nutritional data for every item of food they order Offer sugar free desserts Offer customers guidance and information on healthier diets
Sam's Workplace 37 Preston Road Rainworth NG21 0BA	Buy lower salt and sugar baked beans as standard Increase salad options to include onions and peppers if required Look at including sugar free sweets in their range
Teapots & Teacups Cafe 10/11 Saracens Head Yard, Newark, NG24 1XA FHRS: 5	Introduce takeaway salads Give more dairy & gluten free options for puddings When doing 'specials' offer at least one healthy alternative
Carriages Cafe Newark Castle Station, Newark, NG24 1BL FHRS: 5	Offer unsweetened juice options Give free filtered water to customer as a refill option Promote the healthy menu more
Pastability 17 Catergate, Newark, NG24 1UA FHRS: 5	Offer a variety of salads freshly made to order and daily vegetables & gluten free/wholewheat pastas Offer gluten free & wholemeal bread options to breakfast and lunches We use semi-skimmed milk for all our drinks and cooking and offer an option of skimmed milk
Dinner Jackets 8 Lombard Street, Newark, NG24 1XB FHRS: 4	Use semi-skimmed milk in milkshakes Make customers aware that extra salad is available with their meal Give all customers the option of whether they would like butter adding to their potato
Gannets 35 Castlegate, Newark, NG24 1AZ FHRS: 5	Train staff to ask customers for their preferred healthier cooking method Have a competitively priced healthy option available each week Offer salad with every meal
Cafe 17 17 Castlegate, Newark, NG24 1AZ, FHRS:5	Add salad to the menu Offer quorn options for vegetarians Offer non-dairy alternative for hot drinks
Old Bakery Tearooms 4 Queens Head Court, Newark, NG24 1EL FHRS:5	Advertise extra salad Offer soya milk Offer sweeteners instead of sugar
Lifespring Centre Sherwood Drive, New Ollerton, NG22 9PP	Offer plant based milk 10% discount to slimming world and WW group members Offer sugar free syrups as an alternative to full sugar syrups from coffees and milkshakes
Alfresco Cafe 10 Queen Street, Southwell, NG25 0AA FHRS:5	Use sunflower oil in cooking and any butter will be given to customers as a portion Continue to provide salads on the menu and offer homemade foods Continue to offer a wide range of flavoured low calorie waters and offer skimmed milk, soya and almond alternatives
Sister Snacks 262B Forest Road, Ollerton, NG22 9PL FHRS:3	Offer vegetarian meat alternatives Offer low fat and low sugar sauces and dressings Offer a wider range of sugar free/low sugar drinks
PJ Diner 3/4 Clinton Arms Court, Newark, NG24 1EB FHRS: 5	Offer a separate healthy option menu Offer a low fat wrap option (lighter mayo, no crisps) To offer a variety of meals under 600 kcals
Harrys 7 Bridge Street, Newark, NG24 1EE FHRS: 5	Offer a healthier breakfast alternative e.g. porridge Low fat yoghurt options on offer instead of crisps and chocolate Offer a low fat dairy option for hot drinks
Mamma Whites Pancake Parlour 40 Stodman Street, Newark, NG24 1AW FHRS: 5	Use a low fat cheese option Use frylight when cooking Offer slimming pancakes as a lower kcal option