Families in Nottinghamshire are being offered support to help to improve the diets of their children through a handy NHS app.<\/p>\n
As part of the Better Health campaign launched to encourage families to eat better, a new \u2018scan, swipe and swap\u2019 feature has been incorporated into the NHS Food Scanner App, which provides a simple solution to help families maintain a healthier diet.<\/p>\n
The campaign follows a record rise in obesity among children since the start of the pandemic, with latest data highlighting that one in 4 (27.7%) children of reception school age are overweight or obese; this rises to 4 in 10 (40.9%) in Year 6 (ages 10 to 11).<\/p>\n
Families can scan the product barcodes from their shop and the app will suggest healthier alternatives to help them make an easy swap next time they shop. The app uses a \u2018Good Choice\u2019 badge to help signpost people to healthier food and drinks in line with the government\u2019s dietary recommendations for added sugar, saturated fat and salt.<\/p>\n
By downloading the free NHS Food Scanner App, families can swap out foods from the weekly shop for healthier alternatives and avoid items high in salt, sugar and saturated fat.<\/p>\n
\u2018Girls Aloud\u2019 member Nadine Coyle and dietician Dr Linia Patel met with a family to talk about eating habits and to test the NHS Food Scanner App for themselves, and recorded a short film to support the campaign \u2013 view it here on YouTube.<\/p>\n
Nadine Coyle said: \u201cAs a busy working mum, I find it hard to say no to my kid\u2019s demands and often give in to \u2018snack\u2019 pressure \u2013 even though I know it\u2019s not that good for them. I had no idea some foods were so high in sugar, saturated fat and salt \u2013 so it\u2019s great that the app gives you alternatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love using the NHS Food Scanner App and so does my daughter; she likes choosing the healthier swaps which is great \u2013 we are already making small changes through good food choices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Linia Patel, dietician, said: \u201cWe know that parents find it really hard to find healthier snacks for their kids, especially if they\u2019re fussy eaters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NHS Food Scanner App is a fun way to get the kids involved in choosing healthier foods that they\u2019ll love \u2013 so get going and scan, swipe, swap!\u201d<\/p>\n
Annie O\u2019Leary, Netmums editorial director, said: \u201cShopping for snacks can be an absolute minefield for busy parents, so thank you for coming to the rescue yet again, NHS.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NHS Food Scanner App provides parents with the ideal hack to improve their children\u2019s health in 2022.<\/p>\n
The free app can be downloaded here, or search \u2018Food Scanner App\u2019.<\/p>\n NHS Food Scanner App\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"