Brentwood leads the way as a local cafe is the first in Essex to sign up for a new campaign to provide more choice when eating out for people who want to lead healthier lives.

The TuckIN campaign, which launched Essex-wide today, aims to help local eating places make pledges to deliver small, simple changes to help improve public health.

By making the pledge businesses will be able to increase the choice for customers, save money, increase their profits and make better food. They will also have free visits from food officers and have access to free on-line nutritional training.

The first to sign up was Brentwood Leisure Centre Cafe who made the pledge after completing the nutritional training.

In preparation they have pledged to use rapeseed/liquid oil, reduce salt, reduce sugar, use wholegrain and wholemeal bread, use lower fat products and use healthier fillings.

Brentwood Leisure Centre Cafe’s Catering Manager, Ailsa Roberts, said: “The scheme will be good for the cafe as it fits in well with the leisure centre.

"We were doing some of the pledges already and many of the other changes were not difficult to make.

"Customers will not notice a change in taste, but those who want be healthier will have more options to choose from now.

Some of the changes include selling fruit at a lower price than unhealthy snacks, we’ve stocked up nuts and seeds and we are using lower fat mayonnaise.

"Also, additional salt isn’t being added to food and we are not adding butter as standard on jacket potatoes.”

To be part of the scheme businesses are required to reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the foods they make and to use oils with less saturated fats.

Brentwood Borough Council's Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, Councillor Olivia Sanders, said: "I’m delighted that Brentwood has the first business in the County to join our TuckIN scheme.

"This free scheme is all about making businesses aware of the little things they can do that may be of benefit to the people they serve and may even lead to new customers.

"In return they will get free advice and nutritional advice to support their pledges.

Eating out can often be something you do as a treat for a celebration or meeting up with friends.

"As more people are becoming interested in how they can improve their health and are trying to lead a healthier lifestyle - the more local businesses that sign up to our TuckIN scheme may help them have more healthier options on the menu when eating out."

Local takeaway businesses can email envhealth@brentwood.gov.uk or call 01277 312500 to arrange a visit or more information from a member of the TuckIN team.