This week is National Obesity Awareness Week, it’s all about raising awareness of obesity, how it affects health, and what we can do to improve our health and wellbeing. So, I thought it would be an ideal time to tell you a bit more about one of our current projects working with specialist paediatric weight management Dietitians.

The project

Back in 2019, NDR-UK along with a group of specialist Dietitians started a full review and update of our 2 portion size resources: Smart Sized Portions and What’s Enough? Both resources aim to support weight management by providing simple information to guide parents/carers of children and young people on how to provide age appropriate portions sizes for a healthy balanced diet. You can find out more details about each resource here.

What was involved?

The project group included Dietitians from throughout Scotland who met regularly throughout the year to consider resource feedback, new evidence and required updates. It was clear from the beginning, through feedback, that including more variety of food choices within the resource would be beneficial. The project group were also keen to include age appropriate portion sizes for a selection of plated meals, as well as individual foods, within the more prescriptive 'What’s Enough?' resource. Full consideration of the evidence and guidelines was given on how best to calculate portion sizes. The group also carefully considered the challenge of balancing the science with a pragmatic approach for families preparing and serving meals at home. Many calculations were made, practical, realistic portions were taken into account, and a fully updated selection of foods were added.

Initial photography  

After initial peer review and further updates, as a group we decided that the best way to really portray the portion sizes and gain accurate feedback during the final peer review was to add imagery at this stage. We knew more changes would likely be needed after this, so instead of working with a professional photographer at this stage, I pulled out my amateur photography skills and my trusty phone and started snapping away at home – over 180 images! As you can image, it wasn’t the quickest of processes. Here’s some of the results…

Where are we now?

We received fantastic feedback on the new foods included which has really encouraged the project group and all the hard work, time and input is starting to show. Getting to this stage, when you can really start to see the resource coming together is a brilliant feeling.

We’re now ready for some high-resolution photography and graphic design. We’re working with a local designer, Shirley from Tea and Type, who has helped design our renal range and soon to be published, updated Inside Eating range, along with many others. She’s helping guide me through the photography requirements too, as due to the current lockdown and COVID19 restrictions, we’re not able to work directly with a professional photographer. Instead, I’m donning my photography hat again, this time with a digital camera and light box – which me luck! On a side note, if you have any tips or advice, please get in touch!

Keep a look out on our website and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date – we’ll let you know when the updated 'Smart Sized Portions' and 'What’s Enough?' are available in print and digitally via NDR Prescribe. We are looking forward to seeing the finished product – hopefully you are too!