Silverstone’s healthy food is a formula for success
World renowned Silverstone Circuithas become the latest Buckinghamshire company to sign up to the County Council’s Eat Out Eat Well campaign.
The home of British Motor Sport and the only Grand Prix Circuit in the UK, which regularly sees giants of the race world as well as aspiring young drivers, prides itself on serving its staff and visitors healthy well-cooked food.
The companypicked up five awards – one each for its five catering outlets: Drive, Visitor Centre Café, Media Café, Paddock Café and Silverstone Race Club.
For Zoe Firth, who is spearheading the County Council’s campaign to get restaurants, take-aways and caterers to major on healthy options, Silverstone’s five eateries take the total number of award winners to 125.
Mike McAuley, Head of Catering at Silverstone, said the Paddock Café alone – the jewel in Silverstone’s crown – serves more than 2,000 a day at busy events and during a race weekend doubles as a central production unit delivering up to 4,000 meals a day to locations around the circuit.
‘I’ve sat with F1 drivers in the Paddock Café and I am proud of what my team delivers,’ said Mike. ‘It’s pleasing to see such trust from the public and the teams in what we’re offering.
Mike added: ‘We’re very proud to be part of the Eat Out Eat Well programme. This is a challenging business, so to pick up an award like this is a fantastic achievement, and it compliments my team, showing all our hard work over the past 16 months was worth the effort.’
Silverstone joins other food providers across the county, who reach the required bronze, silver, or gold standard, and who appear on an interactive map recently launched, enabling diners to choose a restaurant or take-away providing healthier options.
‘And that includes healthy portion size,’ says Zoe. ‘It’s also about the way food is cooked, and the amount of sugar, salt and fat that figure in the equation, and diners value the confidence and high standards the Eat Out Eat Well scheme gives them.’
Caterers, take-aways and restaurants can go for bronze, silver or gold level awards. Points are awarded for the number of healthier options on the menu, portion sizes, promotion of fruit over sweets, provision of sugar-free drinks, and for variety in children’s menus.
Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, said that on average Buckinghamshire residents ate at least one in six meals out, and it was important to support healthy choices for them.
‘People who eat healthily at home need to be confident that restaurant and take-away menus will provide them with more than just Hobson’s Choice when it comes to healthier options,’ said Martin. ‘That’s just what Eat Out Eat Well does for them.’
The Eat Out Eat Well interactive map, showing which eateries have the award, is at http://ow.ly/XgAkF