A former Royal Navy Chef as opened his own fast food trailer – with a twist.
Richard Schofield, 45, of North Hykeham, will be selling kebabs made purely from fresh fruit.
Having cooked in the Navy for seven years before moving into the restaurant industry, Mr Schofield hopes his ‘Feeling Fruity’ adventure proves a hit.
“I had been thinking about launching a healthy alternative to fast food for a while,” he said.
“I started off doing some small events and shows and people seemed to take to it well so I decided to expand.
“Getting people eating healthier is one benefit of this, as well as enjoying it.
“My main customers seem to be children, they will be out with their families and see the bright colours of the fruit and want a fruit kebab.
“Then the parents will have one and they all seem to love it.”
Mr Schofield’s healthy fast food is stationed at St Marks shopping centre for the duration of the summer holidays, employing four people part-time.
He said: “Feedback has been very positive so far and I have yet to be refused for an event.
“I am one of the few people offering this alternative and because all the fruits look so nice it seems to be very popular. “Hopefully people will go away having had one of my kebabs and continue to eat healthily – that would be brilliant.”
The venture has been given the seal of approval by city council health officials.
Ailsa Millen, healthy lifestyles midwife from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: “This is a fantastic idea.
“There is an assumption that children are not interested in fruit but the fact they are choosing these fruit kebabs is very positive.
“Statistically, children are not eating their five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and parents need to encourage them to increase their intake.
“If parents encouraged their children to swap crisps, biscuits and sweets for fruit, this would help them to establishing healthy eating patterns. “Fruit and vegetable kebabs are quick and easy to make at home and they are fun as well as nutritious for children.”
