Healthier Food Environments
Having an unhealthy diet is one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and death around the world.
A healthy diet helps to:
- keep your heart healthy
- lower the risk of developing long term diseases - such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer and obesity
- improve mood and wellbeing
- support growth and development in children and young people
Food environment
The food that surrounds us influences our eating habits.
Food environments are a combination of:
- spaces in which people make decisions about food
- foods and drinks that are made available, accessible, affordable and desirable in those spaces
The HSE aims to improve our food environment by:
- helping healthcare providers discuss healthy eating with patients and offer tips to support it
- enabling managers and staff to create local workplaces and healthcare environments that promote healthy eating
- working with local and national partners to create communities that encourage healthy eating
How to make a weekly meal plan - safefood.eu
Healthy meal ideas - safefood.eu
Publications
Nutrition Standards for the Provision of Food and Beverages to staff and visitors
This document supports staff and food services involved with the preparation and provision of food and beverages. It aims to ensure that a range of healthier food options are available.
Nutrition Standards for School Meals
Provides guidance to help those involved with the preparation and provision of food in schools. It aims to ensure that students have access to healthier food.
Nutrition Standards for School Meals - gov.ie
Menu plan for Early Learning Care and Care Services
Developed by HSE and safefood.
This menu plan provides a practical guide for services. It supports them to implement the ‘Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Services’ published by the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) in 2023.
Menu plan for Early Learning Care and Care Services - gov.ie
HSE Healthier Vending Policy and Self-Audit Toolkit
Contributes to creating a healthier food environment by influencing the types and range of products in cold soft drinks, confectionary and snack vending machines.
HSE Healthier Vending Policy and Self-Audit Toolkit
HSE Calorie Posting Policy
This policy highlights the calorie content of food and drinks provided in HSE facilities, creating awareness and increasing consumption of healthier food and drink choices.
Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy for Adults accessing Disability Services
This document outlines a standard approach to food and nutrition care, focused on the needs of individuals. It aims to improve service users' experience with food and nutrition.
Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy for Adults accessing Disability Services (PDF, 2 MB, 134 pages)
Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy for Adult Patients in Acute Hospitals
This toolkit outlines a standard approach to food and nutrition care, focused on patients. It aims to improve patients' experience with food and nutrition care.
Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy for Adult Patients in Acute Hospitals
Healthy Eating Resources for Primary School Teachers
Access to training and resources on healthy eating.
Healthy Eating Resources for Primary School Teachers
Healthy Eating Resources for Post Primary School Teachers
Access to training and resources on healthy eating.
Healthy Eating Resources for Post Primary School Teachers
Webinars and Podcasts
A list of recommended podcasts can be found below.
Healthier food environment
This episode focuses on the Talk About Food campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the food environment and its significant impact on children's health
Listen to episode 60 - Healthier food environment (video)
Gut Health
This episode talks about the importance of having a healthy gut by:
- helping us to expand our plant based diet - with tips and tricks for young and old people who may not like plant foods
- addressing common misconceptions about gut health.
Listen to Episode 50 - Gut Health (video)
Exploring a whole systems approach to obesity prevention
This webinar explores the potential for a ‘whole system approach’ to help with obesity prevention in Ireland. This means looking at all the different factors and how they interact to create an effective change.
Exploring a whole systems approach to obesity prevention webinar (video)
Training and Programmes
A list of available training and programmes can be found below.
Training for catering staff
This training helps catering staff provide high quality nutritious meals for patients, staff and visitors. It has been developed by HSE dietitians.
A collection of short online modules are available on HSELanD.
Healthy Food Made Easy
This is a 6 week community cooking programme. It is designed to improve cooking skills and basic nutrition knowledge.
The programme is delivered by HSE and community partners.
Find information on how to access the programme or enquire about becoming a tutor.
Happy Heart Healthy Eating at Work Programme
This programme offers catering services in healthcare settings with expert support.
It helps with:
- using healthier cooking methods and options without high costs
- making sure healthier choices are offered and encouraged
- ensuring food and drinks meet HSE nutrition standards for staff and visitors
This programme is delivered together with the Irish Heart Foundation.
Happy Heart Healthy Eating Award Guide (PDF, 5 MB, 20 pages)
Community Food and Food Poverty Network
This forum is for HSE funded Community Food and Nutrition workers who work with the Sláintecare Healthy Communities initiative.
These workers help communities build knowledge and skills. They also work with local organisations to improve the food environment and tackle food poverty.
Print resources
There are other print resources available on Health promotion.
These include:
- Food Pyramid posters (selection of sizes)
- Healthy Eating for Older Adults booklet (Irish and English)
- Healthy Food for Life booklet
- 101 Square Meals recipe booklet