Scots will have to cut back on chips

The Food Standards Agency Scotland welcomed the appointment as a step in the right direction.

However, the Scottish Conservatives labelled the appointment "a complete waste of time and money".

The executive will investment �1.2m in the Scottish Community Diet Project (SCDP) over the next three years.

Ms Kynoch, an experienced community dietician, said: "People want to help themselves to good health. My job is to help make the healthy choice the easy choice."

Food tables

"It is not enough that people are aware of the benefits of healthy eating.

"They also need to be able to access a wide range of healthy foods - whether that be in the local supermarket or in their work canteen.

"Another aim is to make existing advice clearer. For example, many dieticians are finding that the public know that they should be aiming to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but are not sure which foods count or how much a portion is.

"I know this is something the Food Standards Agency has also been working on and I look forward to working with them on it.

"The indication is that Scots are willing to make changes - at least 80% of us try to change our diet at some point.

"What we need to do is help them understand how they can change their diet.

Gillian Kynoch: "Access to healthy foods"

"We need to encourage the media, particularly the broadcast media, perhaps through a cooking show which would need to be funny and not preaching at people."

Ms Deacon said people living in Scotland were slowly changing their eating habits for the better.

"Between 1995 and 1998, there was a 6% increase in fruit consumption and a 14% fall in early deaths from heart disease.

"That is good news but there is more work still to be done. Gillian Kynoch has a range of experience and expertise in health promotion and nutrition.

"She is well equipped to make a major contribution to creating a healthier nation through a healthier diet."

Improve diets

Dr George Paterson, director of the Food Standards Agency Scotland, welcomed the announcement as a step in the right direction.

"Improving the nation's eating habits is a high priority for the Food Standards Agency and we are especially keen to help the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in society to improve their diet."

However, Tory MSP Alex Fergusson said: "This appointment strikes me as a complete waste of time and money.

"Having spent many millions setting up the Food Standards Agency, there cannot be any necessity for a further appointment of this nature."