Most homeless people want to eat more healthily but lack the opportunity to do so

Tara Guha, MegaBite co-ordinator

On Wednesday, MegaBite branches out to Exmouth, Southampton and Cardiff.

And there are plans to set up 40 projects across the UK over the next three years.

The "meal square" vouchers are fraud-resistant, credit card-sized tokens worth �1, which people can buy from their local MegaBite project.

Once they have been spent, the food outlet sends them back to the local project and is reimbursed.

Trevor Gardner, Palace Gate Project community development manager, developed the scheme in Exeter.

He said: "Local people wanted to help people begging in the street but felt anxious about giving them money."

He developed a fraud-proof system with serial numbered vouchers.

Many homeless people want to eat better food

Homeless people can take the vouchers to any of five food outlets in Exeter, where they can exchange them for food and soft drinks.

Mr Gardner said: "It allows people to help while getting rid of all the risk.

"They know the money they donate is not going towards tobacco, alcohol or drugs."

Since they were launched, more than 30,000 tokens have been bought and dished out.

Mr Gardner said he was "proud and relieved" the scheme is expanding.

He said: "It will be great to just get on with my own scheme and know that the next inquiry I get from Leicester or Inverness can be passed on to someone else."

Government figures estimate that some 50,000 people live on the streets during the day and seek financial help through begging.

The diet of homeless people often lacks vital nutrients and is high in sugar, fat and salt.

Support services

Tara Guha, MegaBite co-ordinator said: "Most homeless people want to eat more healthily but lack the opportunity to do so.

"MegaBite aims to provide them with access to food outlets where healthier options can be found."

The scheme also aims to help people move off the streets by encouraging the use of support services.

Local day centres are encouraged to be part of MegaBite franchises and details of national helplines and local services are given on the backs of the "meal squares".

Mr Gardner said: "It is never going to solve the problem of homelessness but we can alleviate the crisis when people need feeding."