BHF warn of high saturated fat levels in party food

Thursday, 2 June 2011 10:32 AM

There are fewer calories and fat in a ten-inch pepperoni pizza than on a plate of children’s party food, the British Heart Foundation is warning.

Parents will be shocked to learn that a standard plate of children’s party food could be more calorific and laden with saturated fat than an entire pepperoni pizza.

However the BHF has launched a new party pack which shows how parents can still lay on tasty party treats without the gut-busting nutritional content.

The interactive pack will provide parents and teachers with easy-to-follow recipes to create party favourites such as mini pizzas, chocolate buns and jellies with lower amounts of sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat than standard party foods.

The animal themed packs are aimed at four to eight year-olds and also include games cards to inspire fun games and craft activities to get the party flowing.

Victoria Taylor, senior heart health dietitian at the BHF, says parties are a time for celebration and treating children, but she believes few parents would give an entire ten-inch pepperoni pizza to a young child for a meal.

She said: “It’s not about banning cakes and biscuits. A few small changes can mean the difference between them regularly having too much saturated fat, salt and sugar and instead eating treats that are not only fun and tasty but much better for them too."

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