Torbay’s Riviera International Conference Centre’s commitment to healthy eating has been rewarded.

The centre, one of five local businesses and organisations, signed up for the Eat Wise Guide which was launched last year by Torbay Care Trust and Torbay Council aiming to revamp its menu with nutritionally balanced meals.

And the efforts have paid off with the presentation of an Eat Wise Award by Torbay Mayor Nick Bye after changes were made to its children’s menu. These changes included introducing alternatives to chips such as a jacket or mashed potato, changing pork sausages to turkey sausages as they are lower in fat and salt, reducing the fat and salt in its burgers and ensuring its chicken nuggets are 100 per cent chicken.

Vegetables are always available and there are also alternatives to fizzy drinks on offer including water, milk or fruit juice.

Sous Chef, Steve Pask, said: “I met with all our suppliers to discuss introducing healthier alternatives to our menu and these have now been introduced. We’re very aware of our responsibility to young children and the rising levels of obesity and it’s vital that we do our part in encouraging children to eat a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet.

“One of the changes we have also introduced is a new low fat, fresh fruit Smoothie in our Bay Brasserie and we’ve been overwhelmed by its popularity.”

To achieve the award, RICC had to make changes to its children’s menus in both its catering outlets – Neptune’s Galley which offers fast food to swimmers and families and the Bay Brasserie, the organisation’s coffee shop, bar and restaurant which is open to all seven days a week.

Steve added: “We were very impressed with the advice on offer when we attended the launch of the Eat Wise Guide last year. Healthy eating is so important, especially for children and by making these small changes we’re able to offer appealing alternatives. Let’s hope more businesses do the same.”