A HOSPITAL restaurant has found the recipe for success when it comes to tackling obesity.

The visitor and staff facility at Airedale has been awarded a gold standard for its healthy food choices.

The Good Food Bradford Award is part a scheme run by West Yorkshire Trading Standards and Bradford Council.

Measures introduced by the Steeton hospital have included reducing fat, sugar and salt in its food; offering gluten-free meals; removing high-sugar drinks; moving chocolate bars and crisps away from the till and introducing nutritional cereal bars; increasing the amount of fruit available and using alternative cooking methods.

Claire Clayton, for hospital caterer Sodexo Healthcare, said: "We are delighted at being awarded a gold standard, particularly as this was the first time we had entered the scheme.

"Our suppliers are always rigorously vetted to ensure a good quality of food.

"We have also increased the amount of dietary information available to visitors and staff about the food they are buying."

Laura Rowe, nutrition and dietetics professional lead at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said the award was "a great start" for developing the provision further.

"It is a reflection of all the hard work Sodexo and the hospital as a whole have put in since introducing the new food and drink strategy," she added.

"We have an action plan to help tackle the significant problem of obesity, drawing on NICE guidance.

"It is really important that hospitals lead the way in promoting positive ways to help prevent future health issues."