We Brits are quirky. There are many things that set us apart from others cultures. We are polite on the outside when we’re raging on the inside; we talk about the weather incessantly and we like being told what to do – and when. ‘Appreciate your mum on March 23rd!’ ‘OK, sure!’ ‘Buy your girlfriend a rose on February 14th!’ ‘Yep, no problem!’ ‘Eat healthy food on June 11th for a whole week!’ ‘Absolutely – why not?’
We’re funny creatures….but they’re all nice things. So why not? And this particular instruction is very important. Ignore at your peril. OK, so maybe the point of the British Nutrition Foundation’s Healthy Eating Week isn’t specifically to ensure that people are eating well on these days alone. It’s more than that. It’s an awareness campaign that sets out to bring the joy and benefits of good eating habits to the whole country, in the hope that people will see its value and change their lifestyle for good.
And what could possibly be bad? We know that we feel and look better when we eat well. We’ve seen mountains of evidence on the amount of money we would save the NHS by avoiding obesity and its related conditions. We know we’ll live longer and our lives will be fuller and more satisfying. So what’s stopping us? It’s a mystery that has baffled think tanks and NHS trusts across the country for decades.
Why would any right thinking being choose a Big Mac over porridge for breakfast?
It’s simple, many would argue. It just tastes a whole lot better.
NOT TRUE!
Healthy food is associated with bland, unsatisfying fare, but that urban myth has been all but quashed in recent years, with restaurants and food manufacturers delivering more innovative, delicious and healthy food products all the time.
The BNF – British Nutrition Foundation – set up Healthy Eating Week as a dedicated week in the year where organisations can focus on promoting and supporting eating healthily and being active. And Quattro Foods has decided to join the fun.
Our talented development chef Tony spoke to us about the most wholesome fare he’s producing at the moment.
Q. What are Quattro’s healthiest products?
A. We’ve designed a delicious range of soups and stews containing vegetables and plant proteins such as lentils, beans and grains.
Q. Do you find there’s more demand for fresh or healthy tasting products around summer?
A. There is more demand, but actually all year round. Although lighter dishes are definitely more popular in the summer months and heartier dishes are top of the agenda for the autumn and winter. However, soups and some stews are still in high demand even in the recent warm weather. They must taste good!
Q. Has there been a trend in customers requesting healthier options in recent years?
A. Yes, demands have changed over the last few years and customers are increasingly requesting healthy options, particularly as the choice of flavours has increased and they are not perceived as “boring and bland” anymore!
Q. How do chefs make traditional products healthier without compromising on taste?
A. It’s a skill! We make good use of fresh ingredients, as well as infusing more intense tastes using herbs and spices. A useful trick to keep things healthy and veggie without compromising on flavour is to use more plant based proteins to replace meat.
Q. Do customers prioritise taste over healthy ingredients?
A. Lately customers are tending to demand the best of both, so our job is to infuse the healthy ingredients with great flavours.
Quattro Foods is one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers and has a host of loyal customers to keep happy all year round. As Tony said, customers have been requesting more and more healthy food and Quattro’s creative and innovative chefs have been working on concocting and creating a variety of tasty and wholesome foods to satisfy every appetite.
We serve the wider food industry, including individual restaurants and cafes; high street chains; retail outlets; schools and colleges; the army and food service providers.
Our different and varied customers share common ground in one area. Each one requests the finest ingredients and the tastiest products. We are committed to delivering just that.
Soup, mash, broth, stew, compote – if it’s healthy and delicious you’ll find it on the Quattro menu.
Some of our most healthy (and most popular) products include:
• Chicken Veg Broth
• Chunky Veg & Red Lentil Soup
• Chicken Stew
• Leek & Potato Soup
• Moroccan Lamb Soup
• Thai Chicken Soup
• Tomato & Basil Soup
• Gorgonzola & Broccoli Soup
• Greens & Proteins Soup
• Sweet Potato & Butternut Soup
• Goan Chicken & Lentil Stew
• Minestrone Soup
• Roasted Pepper Tomato Soup
• Shakshuka
• Smoked Haddock Chowder
• Super Greens Soup
• Sweet Potato Mash
• Thai Pea Edamame Soup
• Vegetable Tagine & Quinoa
• Mushroom Risotto
• Vegetable Soup
• Pancetta Fennel Soup
We even offer a Gluten Free Creamy Mac for our customers who service the ‘free from’ market and delicious desserts with fewer calories, including Mango & Passion Fruit Compote and Summer Fruit Compote. For customers looking to serve a healthy and hearty breakfast, we make a creamy and delicious porridge too.
One of our most discerning customers when it comes to healthy fare is the NHS. Well-fed patients recover faster and more efficiently and setting them up for better eating habits when they’re discharged is a priority. Nutrition aids patient recovery by helping the body to heal. And of course, when you’ve been ill it’s nice to be served a steaming hot bowl of tasty and hearty soup. For some patients it’s all they can eat during recovery.
The healthy soups that we manufacture for hospitals include:
• Carrot & Coriander Soup
• Creamy Chicken Soup
• Creamy Tomato Soup
• Leek & Potato Soup
• Lentil & Vegetable Soup
• Minestrone Soup
• Pea & Ham Soup
• Vegetable Mulligatawny Soup
And so Healthy Eating Week 2018 is upon us, delivering a crucial message about improving your wellbeing through eating the right stuff. And as the right stuff tastes so good these days, we really have no excuse not to do as we’re told.