FINDING a healthy and delicious meal is a little easier in Ballarat for now with some sports clubs and pubs showing a little extra love on the menu for Heart Week.
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The Heart Foundation has partnered with six Ballarat venues for heart healthy special, approved by the Foundation’s dieticians to help people dining out consider their options. Select meals are lower in salt, sugar and saturated far and cooked in healthier oils, like olive oil.
Roosters Ben Simpson, Orren Stephenson and Jonathan Lanyon approve the Thai prawn vermicelli salad and chicken souvlaki dished up on the North Ballarat Sports Club menu this week.
Simpson said players mostly ate healthy, apart from the occasional treat, but it was important to have healthy options to maintain a balanced diet.
The Roosters are promoting the Heart Foundation initiative, which is an extension of AFL club Western Bulldogs’ Sons of the West men’s health program. Handball the salt shaker, make fruit and vegetables your goal and get off the bench for a least 30 minutes’ daily exercise is the message.
Participating pubs and clubs in Ballarat have modified their menus this week to ensure at least one fish item, a dish with lots of vegetables, a fruit-based dessert. Salt shakers have been removed from tables and tap water is readily available while cards on each table explain the campaign.
Victorians average eating out 2.5 times each week, according to Heart Foundation research.
Ballarat has the state’s second highest rate of cardiovascular disease and has become the Foundation’s base for its Heart Week campaign this week.
Heart Foundation Victoria healthy living manager Roni Beauchamp said this was the Foundation’s first menu “intervention” and Ballarat sports clubs and pubs had been really open to the idea.
“We did a lot of research last year on what pubs would and wouldn’t be prepared to do for their menus,” Ms Beauchamp said. “When people are travelling or eating out, sometimes the pub or club is the only option. With Australians eating out more and more often, it’s important to have healthy options available to help people make healthy choices. Hopefully it’s something venues consider more.”
Sports clubs and pubs adopting the Heart Week initiative also include: Flying Horse Bistro (Ballarat Trotting Club), Ballarat Golf Club, Midlands Golf Club, Red Lion Hotel and Robin Hood Hotel.
Free 15-minute heart health checks are available across the region, including the Bridge Mall, Stockland Wendouree (Friday and Saturday) and Clunes.