What’s behind our choices? Understanding food purchases and behaviours in the out of home environment in Scotland

This report highlights the urgent need to reshape the out of home environment in Scotland. Action is needed to address these challenges head on and support progress towards the Scottish Dietary Goals (14).

Any effective approach to improving diet and health outcomes should consider the economic and environmental factors that shape our surroundings and influence behaviours. By making healthier options more available, affordable and appealing we can continue to enjoy eating out, without it compromising our health.

So what can be done about it?

Food Standards Scotland supports a range of measures that together can improve the out of home environment, and make eating healthier food out of home easier for everyone.

Specifically, we recommend:

• Making nutrition information available on request. This will support out of home outlets to review and improve their menus as well as help consumers make informed choices.
• Reducing portion sizes, particularly for less healthy options.
• Reformulating recipes to reduce calories and high levels of saturated fat, sugar or salt, where possible, and increase amounts of fibre, fruit and vegetables.
• Rebalancing promotions and marketing towards healthier options, ensuring these are available and competitively priced.
• Ensuring that children are offered healthier options which are appealing and promoted.

By implementing these actions, the responsibility for healthier eating won’t rest solely with individuals. Instead, Scotland’s out of home food environment can support the provision of healthier options, while still allowing people to enjoy eating out of home.