THE IRISH Hotels Federation (IHF) today launches a new healthy eating initiative for children, called Food for Kids which will see participating hotels and guesthouses offering healthier children's menus.
Irish hotels prepare over five million meals for children each year and have a significant role to play in helping the fight against childhood obesity in Ireland, according to organisation president Matthew Ryan.
"There is a growing problem of obesity among children and teenagers in Ireland," said Mr Ryan, "and I know from eating out with my own three kids, that there is often a lack of choice.
"Our aim is to assist parents to choose healthier food options for their children."
The IHF represents almost 1,000 hotels and guesthouses in the Republic, and about one-quarter of these (some 250 premises) are participating in this first phase of the project.
"Almost 90 per cent of our hotels that are specifically geared towards providing meals for families and kids are involved.
"I think the overall number will increase gradually and I am confident that the initiative will take on a life of its own."
Chefs from hotels and guesthouses across the State have been provided with healthy preparation guidelines and suggested menus with an emphasis on balanced nutrition, prepared by nutritionist Margot Brennan.
"Food eaten outside the home tends to be lower in overall nutritional quality and higher in recommended rates of fat," according to Ms Brennan.
"It does vary hugely, but the majority of these menus are offering chicken nuggets and chips, sausages and chips or fish fingers and chips, and that is hugely frustrating to me.
"Those meals are very high in fat and poor in nutrients," she said.
"One of the main objectives will be to reduce the levels of salt and fat used during cooking and to promote healthier options such as baking, boiling and poaching rather than deep frying foods."
The programme is largely focused on healthy reinterpretations of those old favourites.
"It's a balanced approach," said Mr Ryan.
"We don't want to browbeat parents or children. This has to be a customer-driven model where we are helping to solve the problem rather than dictating what people can or can not eat.
"A lot of the family favourites will still be available, but they will be prepared and cooked in a more wholesome and nutritious way."
Participating hotels and guesthouses will display the Food for Kids symbol outside their property, on menus and websites.
The IHF will also publish a list of participating premises on its website, www.ihf.ie.
Participation in the initiative is voluntary and it will be largely self-policing, according to Mr Ryan.
"We will be doing checks ourselves to make sure that participating hotels and guesthouses are sticking to guidelines but I firmly believe that our customers will vote with their feet anyway, and that is ultimately what will make this a success," he said.