What, not just salad and veg? Consumer testing of the eatwell week

Leslie, W. S., Eunson, J., Murray, L., Lean, M. E. and Hankey, C. R. (2014) What, not just salad and veg? Consumer testing of the eatwell week. Public Health Nutrition, 17(7), pp. 1640-1646. (doi: 10.1017/S1368980013001663)

Abstract

Objective: To test the appeal of the eatwell week, a nutritionally balanced 7 d menu which satisfies nutritional guidelines of the Food Standards Agency in Scotland; determine the clarity and understanding of the main messages; and gather views on the usability and acceptability of the eatwell week resource format.<p></p> Design: Focus group discussions with consumers and health professionals.<p></p> Setting: Four locations across the UK.<p></p> Results: The eatwell week was considered realistic by consumers as it contained foods they recognised and already ate. A preconceived idea had been that there would be more fruit and vegetables and fewer ‘treats’. Consumers found the recipes simple and lack of cooking skills was not an apparent barrier. However, the message of ‘balance’ was poorly understood. Consumers often lacked the knowledge to make informed substitutions in the week. Both the general public and some health professionals felt the menu contained too much carbohydrate. Health professionals felt it was unclear who the eatwell week was intended for and what purpose it served.<p></p> Conclusions: Use of familiar foods and the provision of simple, easy-to-follow recipes have the potential to overcome some barriers to healthy eating encountered by the general public and encourage improvements in dietary intakes. The eatwell week shows promise as a resource to facilitate implementation of the principles of the eatwell plate and supports government priorities and policies for health.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lean, Professor Michael and Leslie, Dr Wilma and Hankey, Dr Catherine
• Authors: Leslie, W. S., Eunson, J., Murray, L., Lean, M. E., and Hankey, C. R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Public Health Nutrition
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 1368-9800
• ISSN (Online): 1475-2727
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Public Health Nutrition 17(7):1640-1646
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher