A SCHEME to try to improve the eating habits of the region's older people has been launched.

Researchers want to find 300 people aged between 65 and 85 willing to join new food clubs, which will be used to pass on information about healthy eating. Some of the volunteers will be trained to run the clubs.

The two-hour weekly food club meetings will be held in sheltered accommodation in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and Northumberland.

Club members will see cooking demonstrations and take part in food tasting sessions.

The scheme is intended to be fun, but will stress the importance of eating fruit and vegetables and avoiding too many snacks.

Nutrition experts are worried that elderly people - many living on their own - have unhealthy snacks instead of cooked meals.

Dr Paula Moynihan, of Newcastle University Human Nutrition Research Centre, said: "Research has shown that many old people are not eating healthily and need to improve their diets. Often, they lose interest in food.

"When their children leave home and their spouses have died, they are less inclined to cook a meal."

* For more information about the food club project, call Dr Jane Bunting on 0191-222 8719.