The National Sports Centre cafe menu includes healthy food options, insists the minister in charge.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen defended the cafe after the issue was raised in Tynwald this week.

It follows an article in the Manx Independent earlier this month when a customer hit out at what was on the menu at the cafe, including chips and burgers. They felt it sent out the wrong message at a centre supposedly devoted to healthy activities.

Daphne Caine (Garff) asked Mr Cregeen whether the menu offered in its cafe ’promotes a health lifestyle’.

She claimed the menu was ’stuffed full of fast food’.

Mr Cregeen said: ’The NSC café offers a wide variety of options that customers can choose from.

’Some of the products available on the NSC cafe menu would be classified as healthy options such as the salad bar, jacket potatoes, fresh fruit and yoghurt.’

He also did price comparisons to argue that the healthier options were better value for money.

A salad was £4.50, compared with burger and chips at £5.60, while a jacket potato with a healthy filling was £3.90, compared with chicken nuggets and chips at £5.20.’

’The NSC cafe is offering a healthy option at cheaper price than what would be regarded as an unhealthy option, which may encourage more people to choose the healthy option.’

The ’same trend’ occurred in the children’s menu, he added.

He said the department had taken over the catering for the NSC from the DHSC less than a year ago and was reviewing what was on offer.

The minister said when the cafe transferred to the DESC it was not making a profit.

Kerry Sharpe MLC complained about the sweets and sugary drinks on offer in the vending machines.

The minister repeated that a review was taking place but added: ’When some of these items were removed from the menu, there were a number of people who did complain about it.’