'˜You don't have to make radical changes': Healthy food campaigners give out advice in Portsmouth

SHOPPERS have been given a number of tips and tricks to help them switch to a healthier lifestyle.
Shukrya Saida signs up for further information and vouchers, helped by Shona Green. Picture: Vernon NashShukrya Saida signs up for further information and vouchers, helped by Shona Green. Picture: Vernon Nash
Shukrya Saida signs up for further information and vouchers, helped by Shona Green. Picture: Vernon Nash

On Saturday the Change4Life campaign pitched up in Tesco in Crasswell Street, Landport, to show parents how swapping snacks can make a big difference to their children.

Campaigners showed off the Food Scanner app – which shows parents how much sugar is in each particular snack.

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Team leader Lisa Gillings said: ‘Having days like this is really important.

‘What really gets people is some of the things that look healthy, but are a bit deceptive.

‘We have had some parents come in that point to the flavoured water, for instance, and say that it is healthy – but the opposite is true and it really takes them aback.

‘It really is as simple as swapping out the snacks though – you don’t have to make radical changes.

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‘Instead of having small packets of sweets, have a cereal bar. There’s a lot less sugar and the bar – which can be bigger than a packet of sweets – still comes under 100 calories.’

Southern event manager Dave Edwards said that the traffic light system for nutrition is often a cause of confusion.

He said: ‘The traffic light system that you see on food packaging at the moment isn’t uniform.

‘Sometimes information can be twisted, and in other cases the colours themselves aren’t actually there.

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‘Today has been really great – not everyone is aware of what is actually in these snacks so it has been a real eye-opener.

‘I would say about 90 per cent of people know about the Change4Life campaign, but it is the little details about what we – and the app – can do to help. That is why we are out here campaigning.’

The Change4Life Food Scanner app is available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

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