Heart of Newcastle Award

Healthy Eating on Campus

Eat Well Plate

Catering outlets across Newcastle University have been awarded the Heart of Newcastle Award which recognizes businesses who are committed to promoting and providing healthier food and drink choices and an excellent standard of food hygiene.

The award was developed by Newcastle City Council in conjunction with Newcastle Primary Care Trust to promote healthy eating in the City.

To maintain “Heart of Newcastle” we ensure that:

  • At least half our menus are identified as “Healthy Choice”
  • Starchy foods are the main part of most meals, such as pasta and rice
  • Fruit and vegetables are readily available
  • A vegetarian option containing beans/pulses/Quorn/tofu is available every day
  • Fats and oils, especially saturated fat, are kept to a minimum
  • The level of sugar is kept to a minimum in food and drink, using alternatives where possible
  • The level of salt is kept to a minimum and alternatives used where possible.

A healthier choice of food

Many people are confused by the information about healthy eating. The basics of healthy eating however have remained the same for some time and are fairly straightforward.

A healthy diet is based on breads, potatoes, and other cereals and it is rich in fruits and vegetables. It also includes moderate amounts of milk and dairy products, meat, fish or meat/milk alternatives, and limited amounts of foods containing fats. No single food can provide all the essential nutrients that the body needs, therefore it is important to eat a wide variety of foods over the week to provide sufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

How we promote healthy eating

  • We use little or no salt in our cooking
  • We offer the customer a range of breads which include wholemeal, granary and tortilla wraps
  • Whenever we serve boiled rice it is a mix of brown and white rice. We do not regularly offer fried rice
  • All units that serve main meals offer an option of a jacket potato. We also offer a second potato option as an alternative to chips – often a boiled potato which is served without the addition of butter
  • We always have available a selection of fresh fruit
  • We offer a range of natural fruit juice drinks in all units
  • In many units we sell small packs of dried fruits and nuts or seeds
  • We offer a range of hot vegetables each day. The customer is offered a choice of at least two vegetables daily
  • We add beans and pulses and/or vegetables to stews, pies and salads
  • We offer homemade vegetable soups
  • We always allow customers to add their own butter or spread
  • On our salad bars we offer a range of salads which are undressed
  • For salads and sandwich fillings we mix our mayonnaise with natural yoghurt
  • As standard we use semi skimmed milk. In some areas we offer the customer a choice of milk options
  • We use locally sourced, free range eggs
  • At breakfast we offer a choice of eggs e.g. fried or scrambled
  • We aim to include an omega 3 rich oily fish such as salmon on our menus once a week
  • We offer vegetarian meals based on lentils or beans
  • We use a mono unsaturated cooking oil – rapeseed

For more information please see our Healthy & Sustainable Food Policy