Welcome to the first ever blog for AppleTree.

AppleTree is a new start-up business that provides knowledge and advice around healthy lifestyle for businesses, organisations and corporations. AppleTree grew out of my passion for health and well-being, and has been up and running since late summer of 2018. It has been my life's working in the health service and as a researcher to look into ways of supporting people to make positive choices to improve their health and give them an active lifestyle.

I have been a clinician, an academic, a manager and a member of committees advising the Government on healthy weight and healthy lifestyle. AppleTree pulls together all this expertise and knowledge to help support businesses and organisations to give their customers and staff groups sound scientific information to enable them to make healthier choices.

There has probably never been such an important time for businesses and organisations to be showing social responsibility around healthy lifestyle choices. 65% of Scottish adults and approximately 30% of children are overweight or obese. It is currently estimated that this costs Scottish society £6 billion per year. This summer, the Scottish Government published it's Diet and Weight Delivery Plan called a Healthier Future (https://www.gov.scot/publications/healthier-future-scotlands-diet-healthy-weight-delivery-plan/). This plan sets out a challenge to Scottish businesses to show leadership in supporting healthier choices for the population.

I am passionate about AppleTee helping businesses reach that goal. We do this through a number of ways and are currently offering -

• Staff health and well-being workshops - these include fun laughter yoga activities
• Calorie and macro nutrient labelling for cafes, restaurants, hotels and canteens
• Training for dietitians, nutritionists, school nurses and leisure staff around child healthy weight.

Over the next 12 months, we will be bringing to market further healthy lifestyle supporting products. We are intending to blog on subjects of interest around healthy lifestyle and healthy weight a couple of times each month. Please comment on our blogs, share with you networks and give us ideas for future subjects. 

I hope that you will follow our blogs and AppleTree's journey to becoming a leader in this market.

Dr Laura Stewart

November 2018