A THIRD World nutritionist who has helped to improve diets in stricken countries has been appointed to turn the tide on East Lancashire's unhealthy eating.

Alison McLaughlin, who has been an emergency aid specialist in countries like India, Namibia and North Korea, will champion the cause of fruit and veg eating in the district.

Her mission will be to wage war on junk food and promote the 'five portions a day' message. As project coordinator she will spearhead a two-year community initiative. Plans already lined up include setting up healthy tuckshops in schools and developing community allotments to encourage people to grow their own produce.

Today she said: "Although my recent work abroad has been mainly amongst people suffering malnutrition as a result of war, famine and drought, nevertheless, there is still a great need to educate and encourage people in this country to develop a more healthy diet."

Current recommendations are that everyone should eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day to reduce the risks of cancer and coronary heart disease.

But the average consumption in England is less than three portions.

Tracey Parkington, chief dietician for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, today welcomed Alison's appointment and said it could also help reduce levels of obesity in East Lancashire.

She said: "We know now that advertising junk food on television has an impact on what children choose to eat.

"Nobody has ever promoted fruit and vegetables so hopefully she will do that and hopefully it will be effective. Some children have never been exposed to healthier food before and exposure is a big part of getting them to chose healthier options.

"In the south there are pockets of wealth where there is better health but in the north including East Lancashire there are some quite deprived areas where obesity and ill health is a problem."

Alison has worked to implement community development programmes in India and Namibia and been in involved in humanitarian emergency aid work in North Korea, Kosovo and Malawi.

But she said: "East Lancashire has a number of areas suffering from deprivation and I am looking forward to working with our partnerships in helping to promote a healthy eating ethos which should include a minimum of five helpings of fruit and vegetables each day.

"We need fruit and vegetables all year, obviously, but in winter the vitamin C boost is particularly beneficial in fighting off colds."

The 5 A DAY programme has been piloted in a number areas but now funding has been secured it is being rolled out across communities.

Alison will spread the word in the region by working in partnership with community groups and healthy living centres as well as going into schools throughout East Lancashire.

She said: "We are trying particularly to target primary schoolchildren, because if you get them early they are more likely to try different fruit and vegetables and influence their parents also."

Projects will include setting up healthy tuckshops and initiating community allotments to encourage people to grow their own produce.

Organisations interested in getting involved can contact Alison through 01282 607017.