BURLY builders in the north of Halifax are only just getting over the shock.

They tried out a new cafe bar which has just opened in Holmfield Mills and put in their regular breakfast order of bacon sausage and fried egg butties, only to be told such unhealthy food was not available.

Instead they were persuaded to try a much healthier option of sundried tomato and ham omelette in a bagel. Bagels have no fat, sugar , salt or additives and the contents aren't deep fried or laden with salt.

Turns out they love not just the sandwich but the smoothies, the cafe, called Five, makes too. Instead of endless cups of coffee they now have a Pink Lady, a powerful drink with a punch which is ideal for those needing energy. It contains apple, banana, kiwi, ginger, honey, low fat yoghurt, raspberry, cherry and grape juice.

Five stands for Food Innovation via Education and owners Jeannine Hind and Charlotte Walker are on a mission to get the whole of Calderdale – and beyond – to adopt a healthier diet.

"We want to prove that fast food does not necessarily mean, unhealthy food. Fresh, healthy food can be fast too," says former personal trainer Jeannine, who lives in Ovenden, Halifax, and met former beauty therapist Charlotte, of Wheatley, Halifax, when they both attended the same gym. Both women have a lifelong interest in health, nutrition and beauty.

The two opened Five last month and have big plans for it. They intend to franchise the idea nationwide, start growing their own fruit and vegetables, and open a cooking academy next door, probably early in 2009. The academy will be a bit like a catering college and teach people, ranging from schoolchildren to pensioners, how to cook from scratch, using tasty, wholesome, nutritionally balanced, satisfying food.

Five chef, Richard Hopkinson of Illingworth, will take classes. He used to work at a cafe/bistro in Leeds city centre called The Roast and has a wealth of experience in cooking. At present he's busy creating salad bowls, sandwiches, smoothies and specials such as oak smoked trout on a bed of Greek potato salad for office and mill workers in the Holmfield area.

The cafe bar's concept is simple. It sells a deluxe range of five types of sandwiches, salad bowls and smoothies made with locally sourced fresh ingredients, which get changed on a weekly basis. Then there is a classic healthy range of sandwiches, again served on bagels or wholemeal bread which keeps you fuller longer and prevents mid-morning or afternoon sugar cravings. The salads are low in calories as are the specials. Anything with fish such as smoked salmon or trout has been very popular says Jeannine.

Five was set up with the help of European Union money through the Gateway to Business project run by Action Halifax. It is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 2.30pm and offers outside catering.

Five's philosophy is:

• Fresh is best for everyone.


• Meals are packed with essential vitamins and minerals vital for the body's development.


• No bulking scents, additives or preservatives are used.


• It cares about the environment and sources produce locally, using organic and free range where ever possible.


• Growing its own fruit and vegetables will enable it to produce seasonal food as nature intended.