Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of creating NHS-approved meal planning kits.

The Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, alongside other Government departments, are funding research on recipe boxes through the SALIENT food systems trials. The trial is partnering with a commercial recipe box company to understand whether recipe box subscriptions can lead to healthier dietary quality, are feasible and acceptable across the population, and can improve users’ capabilities to prepare food that they value. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.salientfoodtrials.uk/

Government dietary advice is encapsulated in the UK national food guide, the Eatwell Guide, which shows how to construct a healthy balanced diet and guides food and drink choices. The guide is aimed at the general population and can be used flexibly regardless of budget or personal dietary requirements. The Department promotes the guide’s principles through platforms such as the NHS.UK website and social marketing campaigns, including Healthier Families and Better Health. Further information about the respective campaigns is available at the following links:

https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/

The Healthier Families website also contains a selection of healthy recipes for those who are looking for further support in planning healthier meals.