SOME OF Ireland's top chefs had their wares on offer in a sunny St Stephen's Green yesterday in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation's Happy Heart Eat Out campaign. The campaign encourages restaurants, pubs and hotels to provide fibre-rich and wholesome recipes for customers during June.
"As a result of our booming economy, increasing numbers of Irish people are eating out more often both for lunch and dinner,"
Mr Paddy Murphy, chief executive of the Irish Heart Foundation, said.
"We are encouraging chefs and all restaurant staff to take simple steps to offer a healthier choice. Simple steps like creating dishes using more fruit and vegetables and offering some of these dishes so that the customer chooses the sauce or dressing."
They are also asked to provide a wide range of breads, including wholemeal rolls, and a choice of potatoes, ideally in their skins, rice or pasta for main courses. Starters should include fruit, fruit juice or vegetables, and menus should have fruit-based desserts.
"This is the fifth year of our campaign and each year the number and enthusiasm of participating establishments is increasing," said Mr Murphy. "This shows that people are more conscious about what they want to eat and eating establishments are adapting their menus accordingly. We hope that people will make a point of going to a restaurant, pub or hotel that is taking part in our Happy Heart Eat Out campaign."
Ms Maureen Mulvihill, the health promotion officer for the foundation, said healthy eating was not all about abstinence and denial. "What we are encouraging here is balance and choice. In recent years, people appear to be realising this and are much more receptive. There are many alternatives to the traditional heavier options."
The Irish Heart Foundation has an information pack for restaurants which includes recipes. Its telephone number is (01) 6685001.