Mansfield people looking for a takeaway with a healthier option are being urged to choose a HOT meal.
HOT — a Healthy Option Takeaway — encourages takeaways to offer healthy choices on their menus as part of a campaign to tackle obesity.

The scheme, run by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with local councils, including Mansfield District Council, awards outlets a HOT merit for being committed to offering healthier ways of preparing and cooking food and drink.

They can include offering to grill, bake, poach or steam food instead of frying it; removing salt from tables and counters; offering whole grain pasta, brown rice or whole grain bread; offering a vegetable side or salad as part of a meal; or offering smaller portion options for adults.

Businesses that have qualified for the HOT accreditation in the Mansfield district include: Food 4 All Seasons; The Shiny Spoon; Caseys Coffee Bar; West Nottinghamshire College Diner and Deli Bar; Wilkinson’s cafe; Pleasley Landmark Centre; Jango’s Indoor Play Centre; Nando’s; Olive Tree; Forever Green Restaurant; Water Meadows Swimming and Sports Complex; Lucys Café; Rico’s; The Stable Centre; Smokey G’s; Sherwood Fired; The Clove; Fusion; DW Fitness First; The Rustic Crust; I-Jump; Wood Café; Westgate Deli; Timecafe bar; The Cob Cabin; Silver Café; Playmania; Sid and the Spoon; Crunch; Brimbles; Mega Bites; Pitstop Café and Titchfield Tea House.

The merit lasts for two years, or less if the takeaway has a change of owner or cuisine. There is no cost for applying for the merit.

Everyone Health, Nottinghamshire County Council’s obesity prevention and weight management service, is supporting the HOT scheme by raising public awareness of it and encouraging new businesses to sign up to it. For more information see www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/hot

The aim of the scheme is to help tackle obesity in Nottinghamshire where the number of people who are overweight is above the national average, according to official figures for 2016/17.

In Mansfield 63.9% of people are rated as obese, the third highest rate of districts in the county, but an improvement on official figures from 2014 which showed Mansfield as having the worst obesity rates in the county.

Ashfield: 74%
Bassetlaw: 66.4%
Mansfield: 63.9%
Newark and Sherwood: 63.6%
Rushcliffe: 63.3%
Gedling: 61.9%
Broxtowe: 58.7%

Coun Andrew Tristram, portfolio holder for environment and wellbeing at the district council, said: “What you eat and how much is so important for maintaining a healthy weight, and choosing healthier foods is easier than you might think.

“We would encourage people to look for the HOT logo when they choose to eat takeaway food as it is a sign that there are healthy dishes on the menu.”