The S-plan diet (That's S for Salmond's week of Scots-only fare)

Published on Friday 14 March 2008 21:25

HE'S known to be partial to a tasty curry, but now Alex Salmond is going on a special diet in a bid to support Scotland's food producers.

From Monday, the First Minister has vowed to eat only food grown north of the Border as part of a campaign backing locally sourced ingredients.

The idea was dreamt up by broadcaster and Scotsman columnist Stephen Jardine, who declared on STV's Five Thirty Show that he and his family planned to eat only home-grown products between Burns Night and St Andrew's Day.

When he heard of Mr Jardine's plan, Mr Salmond was only too willing to alter his diet for a week and join the challenge.

Mr Jardine will join Mr Salmond on a trip to Inverness tomorrow so the First Minister can stock up on the ingredients he needs for his week-long diet.

Mr Salmond's meals will be planned by Wendy Barrie, director of food studies at St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh.

Ms Barrie is a well-known advocate for eating healthy, locally sourced food and the author of a website guide on where to find producers and eateries which use Scottish produce.

She was approached to take on the task of designing a menu for the First Minister because of her expertise in the area.

Ms Barrie said: "It is a great honour and a real pleasure to be involved in this. It's been a lot of work, but I've really enjoyed it."

She explained there was no difficulty in designing a nutritionally balanced diet with only Scottish ingredients, adding "(Mr Salmond] will be having some lovely traditional dishes like shepherd's pie and baked apples, as there are a lot of Scottish apples still in storage.

For breakfast, the First Minister will be able to tuck into porridge or potato scones with bacon.

However, for those worried about Mr Salmond's waistline, the diet is within healthy eating guidelines.

Ms Barrie said: "If you start with a good breakfast it sets you up for the day. It is not intended to be a low-calorie (diet] but is intended as fitting in with all the healthy (eating] recommendations in Scotland."

Ms Barrie liaised with the Rowett Institute of nutrition and health at Aberdeen University to ensure all the meals were nutritionally sound.

She also had to ensure the dishes represented good value for money, with ingredients easy to source so every Scot can emulate Mr Salmond's efforts.

Ms Barrie added: "I have produced all the menus and all the recipes for he and Mrs Salmond to prepare and I'm looking forward to finding out if he enjoys eating (them]."

Last night, Hugh Raven, director of the Soil Association Scotland, which promotes locally produced organic food, congratulated Mr Salmond on his diet plan.

He said: "It is commendable. It is very unusual to find political leaders to give leadership on food issues, particularly in the UK.

"It is the first time we have had a political leader who has made a commitment to UK sourcing of food produce."

Other dishes Mr Salmond can expect to enjoy from Monday until Easter Sunday will be smoked haddock omelette and parsnip and carrot soup.

And, as a bonus the well-known curry fan won't even have to sacrifice his favourite food – Ms Barrie has included a recipe for a curry made with Scottish lamb.