Healthy options: Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion) Dr Regina Ching (right) calls on restaurants to provide choices with more fruit and vegetables, and less oil, salt and sugar.

The Department of Health will launch a month-long pilot project on July 30 to promote healthy eating at restaurants. Participating eateries will provide healthier options with more fruit and vegetables, and less oil, salt and sugar.

The event will involve 300 food premises. It is the prelude to a Hong Kong-wide healthy eating campaign to launch later in the year.

Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion) Dr Regina Ching said the project addresses obesity and chronic disease.

To help food premises take part in the pilot, the department has compiled the Guide Book for Restaurant Managers and Guide Book for Chefs. Participating restaurants will follow the guidelines and use promotional materials provided by the department to indicate the healthier options in their menus.

Dr Ching said the campaign is particularly timely as more people choose to eat out and many preferring healthier food.