Welsh Lib Dems put good food on the table for a healthier Wales.

1.58.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 17th Oct 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrats in the Assembly will today call for better quality food for Wales, to promote better nutrition and tackle health problems relating to poor diet.

Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson said: "Obesity is putting a major strain on the NHS in Wales. In this case, prevention is the best kind of cure and eating well is crucial.

"Our strategy is about improving the way people eat in Wales. We want to look at hospital food, because good nutrition is the best way of putting people back on the road to good health.

"A recent study at the University Hospital of Wales demonstrated that simply helping elderly patients to eat could increase their chances of recovery from an injury such as a hip fracture by as much as 50%.

"We are also calling for healthy eating schemes in socially deprived areas, as well as improving the standards of school meals.

"Everybody knows how important eating well is to a healthy lifestyle. Eating well shouldn't be a chore but should be central to everybody's lives in Wales.

"Heart disease and other illnesses related to diet are major killers in Wales. Addressing diet means less long-term pressure on the NHS and a healthier population.

"A shiny new strategy won't transform Wales overnight, but unless we take a wide-ranging look at the quality of food we are eating in Wales, we are in danger of eating our way to an obesity epidemic."

Welsh Liberal Democrat AMs Peter Black (education), Jenny Randerson (health), Mick Bates (food production, procurement, and provision) and Mike German (summating) will all speak in the debate today.