Recipe 4 health award

Recipe 4 Health award

The Recipe 4 Health award promotes businesses that focus on healthier eating, environmental issues, and social responsibility.

Recipe 4 Health is a Lancashire Trading Standards scheme for caterers. At each level, you have to show you are compliant with food safety, food standards, licensing and age restricted sales legislation. You will also need to have an awareness of healthier eating, environmental issues, allergens and alcohol issues.

The award is fully funded and you need to have passed your last environmental health inspection. You then complete a self-assessment form, which asks for information about your business. This is then returned to the Recipe 4 Health team, who will assess the form and any evidence provided. In some cases, a quick telephone chat might be needed or a short visit to your premises.

If  you meet the criteria of the award, then you will be notified and receive your award during a quick presentation. The whole process should take no longer than 1 month. All businesses with the award will be promoted on our website, via social media and through publicity of the scheme in council buildings.

Watch our video to find out more about the scheme

What's new

We've added a new video about the “bang, shake, and drain” method to our supporting information for frying food. Watch the bang, shake and drain video on YouTube.

R4H Award recipients

Congratulations to three amazing businesses which have recently received a Recipe 4 Health award.

Gary Singleton, Principal Food Officer, presented Bronze, Silver and Gold awards to Joshua Himsworth and some of his staff at Rossall Nursery in Fleetwood; Bronze to Anton Freedman, Head Chef at The Woolpack in Haslingden; and Bronze to Debbie Baldwin and staff at Mr Gatty's Tea Room, Elmfield Hall in Hyndburn.

Rossendale R4H award ceremony

Congratulations to all the Rossendale businesses who took part in the recent Recipe 4 Health Award Ceremony and were congratulated by Councillor Judith Driver, the mayor of Rossendale.

Amphora Kitchen, Puddleducks Children's Nursery, Crumb, Dollys, The Link Café, The Coop, Mason's Creations, The Woolpack

Newsletter

See our Recipe 4 Health award newsletter October 2024 for photos of our new R4H scheme members, recipe ideas from fellow members and links to free training courses.

Benefits for your business

Businesses will be supported to make positive yet simple changes to their menus, policies, and practice to support the health of the local community and for the benefit of the local environment.

Businesses with the award will receive online promotion on the Lancashire County Council website, which has full public access and is promoted across the county, and in council buildings.

Businesses with the award will receive a promotion pack containing a certificate and other eye-catching materials to display in premises along with a detailed support pack to help businesses maintain the award.

Applications for the award are free of charge.

Watch this short video to hear local businesses talk about why they joined the scheme and some practical examples of how they encourage healthier eating.

Healthier catering training

You will need to register for an account with our training site.

Lancashire County Council eLearning

Once you have registered for an account, search for "healthier catering".

How to apply

There are three levels to R4H - Bronze, Silver and Gold.

You must apply for each level of the award – for example, if you would like to apply for Silver, you must have the Bronze R4H Award first.

You must have attained at least 3 stars or over for the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

Please fill in the self-assessment form below. The form is then sent to Trading Standards. If you successfully qualify for the award, you will receive your award during a short presentation. The whole process should take no longer than 1 month.

Complete the self-assessment form carefully, answering yes/no and filling in the information requested. If any questions are not applicable to your business, please write N/A.

Please provide as much information as possible. If you need more space, please include any extra information on additional paper.

Please provide a copy of your menu with your assessment sheet.

The self-assessment forms can be completed here:

Alternatively you can print the forms and return them to:

Recipe4Health Team
Lancashire Trading Standards
County Hall
Pitt Street
Preston
PR1 0LD

Save on postage and paper by filling in the form electronically, save it and email it back to: recipe4health@lancashire.gov.uk.

We encourage you to include evidence with your application, please scan it and attach it to the email, or send copies if you are returning your application by post.

You can apply to the award at any time of the year. If you have any questions, please contact: recipe4health@lancashire.gov.uk or 01772 532145.

Membership criteria

Supporting information

You need a 3 * Food Hygiene Rating to apply for the Bronze R4H Award, a 4 * Food Hygiene Rating to apply for the Silver R4H Award, and a 5 * Rating for the Gold R4H Award. You will also need to consider the following:

Do you promote and market your products? Are any of these the healthier items on the menu or marked as healthier? Do you actively promote healthier options to your customers? A healthier item on the menu could be a dish with wholegrain rice or bread, containing extra portions of fruit or vegetables, low-fat / salt / sugar dishes, a healthier kid’s meal, or even a smaller portion size.

Using the Eatwell Guide when planning menus and meals is considered good practice. The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. The R4H award encourages businesses to support staff by raising awareness of simple healthy eating guidance and increasing confidence in promoting healthy options to customers. For example: do dishes incorporate vegetables and salad as standard, are wholegrain options available, do you use reduced fat, salt and sugar items, or offer free tap water refills?

Including fruit, fibre or vegetables into your dishes will increase their nutritional value and taste. One portion of vegetables is around 80g – do you include this in your dishes or offer fruit and vegetables as snacks if possible? Do you offer vegetable side dishes?

Reducing sugar and salt in dishes can be easy – choose reduced salt condiments (e.g., reduced salt ketchup or soy sauce). Choosing saltshakers that have 3 holes rather than 5 and holding these behind the counter is the easiest way to reduce added salt in dishes. You can also use low-salt stock cubes, gravy granules and sauces where applicable. Choose low calorie or no added sugar drinks and display these at eye level.

Information about frying food, oil maintenance and offering alternatives.

Frying food

Healthier eating is becoming more and more important to customers.

To fry food in a healthier way, try the “bang, shake, and drain” method. Shake the food and bang the basket a few times. This helps reduce fat by 20%, making the food healthier, crispier, and tastier. Plus, you’ll use less oil, saving money.

Watch this short video for a demonstration of the method.

Oil maintenance

When frying, do you look at oil maintenance and how this can be improved?

For example, oil in deep fryers is:

  • regularly strained/debris skimmed after each batch/throughout service
  • fully filtered at least weekly
  • topped up after every session
  • changed before it froths, foams or smokes

Offering alternatives

If you serve hot drinks, do you offer semi or skimmed milk?

Do you offer steamed, grilled, or boiled dishes as alternatives to fried?

Clear allergen guidance is essential for businesses – businesses should display signs that encourage customers to ask staff about allergenic ingredients and staff should be trained to check with the chef if customers have a query about allergens. Do you check pre-packaged products and request notifications from suppliers if products contain allergens? Are all staff made aware which menu items contain allergenic ingredients?

Businesses can support the reduction of food waste, serving dishes in sustainable packaging and buying local produce. Businesses should look at their trade waste contract and outline any other actions that minimise impact on the environment (e.g., recycling, energy efficiency measures, minimising water waste).

Existing award holders

Chorley

  • Nature Trail Nursery (Railway) - 35 Wigan Road, Euxton, Chorley, PR7 6LA
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Heskin) - Withington Lane, Heskin, Chorley, PR7 5LU
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Brinscall) - School Lane, Brinscall, Chorley, PR6 8QP
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Park Rd) - 7 Trafalgar Street, Chorley, PR7 1HE
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Euxton) - Euxton Methodist Hall, Wigan Road, Euxton, Chorley, PR7 6LP
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Parbold) - Parbold Hill, Parbold, Wigan, WN8 7TG
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Old School House) - Parker Street, Chorley, PR7 1ES
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Chorley) - Unit 1 Initial Site, Harpers Lane, Chorley, PR6 0FD
  • Playdor Nursery - 4 Chorley Hall Road, Chorley, PR7 4NB
  • Westmorland School - Weldbank, Chorley PR7 3NQ

Rossendale

  • Haslingden Community Link - Bury Road, Haslingden BB4 5PG
  • Puddleducks Children's Nursery - 220 Helmshore Road, Haslingden BB4 4DJ
  • Crumb Sandwich Bar - 20 Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • The Circle - 10 St John's Court, Fern Street, Bacup OL13 8BD

Pendle

  • Loaves + Fishes - Church Street, Barnoldswick BB18 5UR

Burnley

  • Giant Leap Childcare - Coal Clough House, Coal Clough Lane, Burnley BB11 4NJ

Lancaster

  • The Gallery - Lancashire County Council, Mill 14, White Cross Neighbourhood Centre, Quarry Road, Lancaster LA1 3SE
  • HMP Lancaster Farms - Stone Row Head, Lancaster LA1 3QZ

Preston

  • Reflections - Lancashire County Council, County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston PR1 8XB
  • Bowland Café - Beacon Fell Country Park, Goosnargh, Preston PR2 2NL

South Ribble

  • Carr Manor Nursery - St. Patricks Place, Walton-Le-Dale, Preston PR5 4HN

Wyre

  • Rossall Nursery - Broadway, Fleetwood FY7 8JW

Chorley

  • Playdor Nursery - 4 Chorley Hall Road, Chorley PR7 4NB
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Railway) - 35 Wigan Road, Euxton, Chorley PR7 6LA
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Heskin) - Withington Lane, Heskin, Chorley PR7 5LU
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Brinscall) - School Lane, Brinscall, Chorley PR6 8QP
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Park Rd) - 7 Trafalgar Street, Chorley PR7 1HE
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Euxton) - Euxton Methodist Hall, Wigan Road, Euxton, Chorley PR7 6LP
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Parbold) - Parbold Hill, Parbold, Wigan WN8 7TG
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Old School House) - Parker Street, Chorley PR7 1ES
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Chorley) - Unit 1 Initial Site, Harpers Lane, Chorley PR6 0FD
  • Westmorland School - Weldbank, Chorley PR7 3NQ

Pendle

  • Old Fashioned Catering - 52 Manchester Road, Barnoldswick BB18 5AR
  • Loaves + Fishes - Church Street, Barnoldswick BB18 5UR

Rossendale

  • Haslingden Community Link - Bury Road, Haslingden BB4 5PG
  • Mason's Creations - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • The Coop - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Amphora Kitchen - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Crumb Sandwich Bar - 20 Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Puddleducks Children's Nursery - 220 Helmshore Road, Haslingden BB4 4DJ
  • Dolly's Café - 5 Manchester Road, Haslingden BB4 5SL
  • The Circle, 10 St John's Court, Fern Street, Bacup OL13 8BD
  • The Woolpack - 488 Manchester Road, Haslingden BB4 6LN

Burnley

  • Giant Leap Childcare - Coal Clough House, Coal Clough Lane, Burnley BB11 4NJ

Lancaster

  • The Gallery - Lancashire County Council, Mill 14, White Cross Neighbourhood Centre, Quarry Road, Lancaster LA1 3SE
  • HMP Lancaster Farms - Stone Row Head, Lancaster LA1 3QZ

Preston

  • Reflections - Lancashire County Council, County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston PR1 8XB
  • Bowland Café - Beacon Fell Country Park, Goosnargh, Preston PR2 2NL

South Ribble

  • Carr Manor Nursery, St. Patricks Place, Walton-Le-Dale, Preston PR5 4HN

Wyre

  • Rossall Nursery - Broadway, Fleetwood FY7 8JW

Hyndburn

  • Mr Gatty's Tea Room - Elmfield Hall, Gatty Park, Accrington BB5 4AA

Chorley

  • Playdor Nursery - 4 Chorley Hall Road, Chorley PR7 4NB
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Railway) - 35 Wigan Road, Euxton, Chorley PR7 6LA
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Heskin) - Withington Lane, Heskin, Chorley PR7 5LU
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Brinscall) - School Lane, Brinscall, Chorley PR6 8QP
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Park Rd) - 7 Trafalgar Street, Chorley PR7 1HE
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Euxton) - Euxton Methodist Hall, Wigan Road, Euxton, Chorley PR7 6LP
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Parbold) - Parbold Hill, Parbold, Wigan WN8 7TG
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Old School House) - Parker Street, Chorley PR7 1ES
  • Nature Trail Nursery (Chorley) - Unit 1 Initial Site, Harpers Lane, Chorley PR6 0FD
  • Westmorland School - Weldbank, Chorley PR7 3NQ

Pendle

  • The Café at Pendle Wavelengths - Leeds Road, Nelson BB9 9TD
  • Santa’s Pizza - 176 Leeds Road, Nelson BB9 9XW
  • The Sandwich Stop kiosk - The Kiosk, 1A Cross Street, Nelson BB9 7EN
  • Nelson & Colne College - Scotland Road, Nelson BB9 7YT
  • Victoria Park Pavilion Café - Carr Road, Nelson BB9 7SS
  • Egg Free Cakebox - 26 Manchester Road, Nelson BB9 7EG
  • Mansha Sweet Centre - 62 to 66 Manchester Road, Nelson BB9 7EJ
  • Flava - 151 Railway Street, Nelson BB9 9PG
  • Freddy's Chicken and Pizza - 70 Manchester Road, Nelson BB9 7EJ
  • Kobeda Cuisine Ltd - 72A Manchester Road, Nelson BB9 7EJ
  • Lalas Takeaway - 80 Manchester Road, Nelson BB9 7HD 
  • Plaice on the Hill Chip Shop - 38 Larch Street, Nelson BB9 9RH
  • Chunky Chicken - 292 to 296 Leeds Road, Nelson BB9 8EP
  • The Village Pizzeria - 27 to 29 Railway Street, Nelson BB9 9SG
  • The Kabin Sandwich Bar & Bistro - 138 Gisburn Road, Barrowford BB9 6HQ
  • Bodies in Motion - Orchid House, 30 Colne Road, Brierfield, Nelson BB9 5NS
  • Funda Land - The Leisure Box, Northlight, Glen Way, Brierfield BB9 5NH
  • Loaves + Fishes - Church Street, Barnoldswick BB18 5UR
  • Sue's Pantry – West Craven Sports Centre, Kelbrook Road, Barnoldswick BB18 5TB
  • Old Fashioned Catering - 52 Manchester Road, Barnoldswick BB18 5AR
  • Cafe Express - 14-16 Market Square, Nelson BB9 7LP
  • Colne Youth Action Group - Byron Road, Colne BB8 0BQ

Rossendale

  • Mason's Creations - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Spicy Jack Deli - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Crumb Sandwich Bar - 20 Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Riley's Butchers - 599-607 Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth, Rossendale BB4 8AN
  • The Coop - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Amphora Kitchen - Rawtenstall Market, Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7QX
  • Anna's Café Bar - 165 Burnley Road, Weir, Bacup OL13 8QE
  • The Whitaker Museum - Whitaker Park, Haslingden Road, Rossendale BB4 6RE
  • Haslingden Community Link - Bury Road, Haslingden BB4 5PG
  • Dolly's Café - 5 Manchester Road, Haslingden BB4 5SL
  • Julie's Sandwich Shop - 550 Burnley Road, Rossendale BB4 8NE
  • Jenni's House - 121 Newchurch Road, Rossendale BB4 7SU
  • Puddleducks Children's Nursery - 220 Helmshore Road, Haslingden BB4 4DJ
  • The Woolpack - 488 Manchester Road, Haslingden BB4 6LN
  • The Circle - 10 St John's Court, Fern Street, Bacup OL13 8BD
  • Queens Bistro - 1 Bank Street, Rawtenstall BB4 6QS

Burnley

  • Giant Leap Childcare - Coal Clough House, Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, BB11 4NJ

Lancaster

  • The Gallery - Lancashire County Council, Mill 14, White Cross Neighbourhood Centre, Quarry Road, Lancaster LA1 3SE
  • HMP Lancaster Farms - Stone Row Head, Lancaster LA1 3QZ
  • Printroom Café - The Storey, 2 Meeting House Lane, Lancaster LA1 1TH
  • The Pavilion Café - Williamson Park, Quernmore Road, Lancaster LA1 1UX

Preston

  • Reflections - Lancashire County Council, County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston PR1 8XB
  • Bowland Café - Beacon Fell Country Park, Goosnargh, Preston PR2 2NL

South Ribble

  • Carr Manor Nursery - St. Patricks Place, Walton-Le-Dale, Preston PR5 4HN

Wyre

  • Rossall Nursery - Broadway, Fleetwood FY7 8JW