The 'healthy choices are interesting'

Eating healthily is often perceived as the boring option, but one industry expert has advised that non-fatty nutritious food can also be tasty.

According to a new report from consumer watchdog Which? has looked at the nation’s attitudes to healthy eating and found that "there is a perception that the healthier choice is boring and uninteresting.”

However, the consumer watchdog asserts that people now eat so many different types of food now that healthy choices can be interesting.

The survey found that more than three in five people who were trying to choose a healthy diet were also watching how much they spent on food, while 80 per cent of people thought supermarkets should make healthier choices easier.

Furthermore, people interested in healthier eating are finding it much easier at home (88 per cent) than eating out (just 54 per cent). Younger people are more likely to find it difficult to make healthier choices at any time, whereas people with children were more likely to struggle when eating out.

What is more, the price of healthier foods, finding something that the family would eat and the fact that people preferred the taste of less healthy options were the main reasons people found it hard to avoid fatty food options.

Sue Davies, chief policy advisor for Which?, said: "People are aware of the need to eat healthily. I think people understand the main messages, but it is actually putting that into practice.

“Even if you are really motivated, it's difficult to know exactly what is in food and often you are confronted with a limited choice of healthier options.”

Furthermore, recent studies have found that the price of eating in general is rising.

The latest BRC Nielsen Shop Price Index (SPI) reported annual inflation rising to 1.9 per cent from 1.1 per cent in January, while food inflation increased to 9.0 per cent in February from 7.5 per cent in January.

In comparison, the non-food category showed deflation of 1.7 per cent compared with this time last year.

Ms Davies concluded: "I think it shouldn't be easy to eat less healthily but I think particularly if you're short of time and you are in a hurry, it is easier to go for ready meals or food that has been pre-pared ? then it can be difficult to know what it is you are getting.

“If the supermarkets are putting a lot of price promotions on for foods that aren't that healthy then it is tempting to go for those instead."