Possible changes to the Healthy Start scheme are being reviewed by the Government as part of a consultation.<\/p>\n
The Healthy Start scheme issues eligible families coupons which can be exchanged for fresh fruit and veg, milk, or infant formula suitable from birth.<\/p>\n
Families quality for Healthy Start if the mother is at least ten weeks pregnant or has a child under four years old and is receiving certain benefits.<\/p>\n
Now, it is being considered whether frozen fruit and vegetables may be added to the list of acceptable foods as it contains equal health benefits.<\/p>\n
Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley said: \u201cWe\u2019re looking at including frozen fruit and vegetables in the Healthy Start scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealthy Start helps more than half a million pregnant women and low-income families by giving them vouchers that can be used to buy milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, and also coupons which can be exchanged for free vitamins for women and children.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlain frozen fruit and vegetables count towards your 5-A-DAY and can contain as many – if not more \u2013 vitamins than poorly stored fresh produce. Frozen goods are often cheaper than fresh and they can last longer, so there\u2019s less food waste too. This would mean that families on Healthy Start have access to a much greater range of produce all year round.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Possible changes to the Healthy Start scheme are being reviewed by the Government as part of a consultation. The Healthy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bristol-news"],"yoast_head":"\n