Congratulations to Yvonne and her team at the Gallery Restaurant! (Moores of Coleraine).

The Causeway Kids Cuisine Initiative

Launched by the Coleraine Borough Council last July, the Causeway Kids Cuisine initiative (funded by the Foods Standards Agency) was the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. Looking to promote healthy eating amongst kids, the initiative worked in partnership with local restaurants, hotels and cafes across the Borough to offer healthier options in their children’s menus.

In all, 24 local businesses – a mix of restaurants, cafés and hotels - participated in the initiative.

The Gallery Restaurant at Moores participated in the scheme and were officially awarded top accolade at an Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 24th March.

The Healthier Eating Club at The Gallery, Moores of Coleraine

Striking a balance between providing healthier food options for children, but in a way that would engage and encourage them, Yvonne & her team enthusiastically set about putting together a fun-themed ‘Healthier Eating Club’.

Developing a healthier children’s menu, using fresher, less processed ingredients and opting for healthier food preparation and cooking methods, Yvonne created a ‘Children’s Meal Deal Menu’ with a choice of 5 healthier main meals, drinks and snacks. For every meal purchased, children could automatically enter a ‘Name your Healthy Bear at Teddybear Mountain’ competition and they also received a potato stamp on a Healthy Eating Club collector card. For every 6 meals purchased, kids got a 7th free!

While the ‘Healthier Eating Club’ met with mixed reaction amongst its core audience (i.e. the kids – with some still favouring the inclusion of ‘chips’ in their meal deal!) on the whole, the concept was well received amongst parents & many children, with a healthy uptake (excuse the pun!) of Healthier Meal Deals purchases. This response has led to the continuation of the Healthier Option Children’s Meal Deal Menu at The Gallery Restaurant.

As Yvonne alluded to in her acceptance speech,
‘if we can change the eating habits of even 1 in 4 children it is a step in the right direction’.

Congratulations once again to Yvonne & her team – a testament to their hard work and enthusiasm. A well earned & well deserved award!

A great example of working hard to exceed our customer’s expectations!