Athlete finds market niche with healthy takeaway

A late night takeaway is offering Belfast party-goers something a little different this festive season.

The newly opened Rollo Pollo kitchen is billed as Ulster's first healthy fast-food eatery.

Without a doner kebab or pizza in sight, the Lisburn Road shop is only offering customers low fat options.

It is owned by former Irish athletics champion Ruth Little.

The 24-year-old Enniskillen woman, who won the junior 800 metre title in 2002, got the idea while pursing her sporting ambitions in Australia.

"I spent a lot of time in Sydney warm weather training," she explained.

"Australia is sports-mad and when I was done working on the track I was always able to find somewhere handy that offered health food to take away.

"When I came back to the UK and went to university (in Nottingham) I found there was nothing similar. If I didn't want to cook, there was nothing convenient and quick I could get that was still healthy."

Ms Little spotted a hole in the market and, after her studies in England were complete, returned to Australia to gain experience working in her favourite health food takeaway in Sydney.

It is not only the concept she has brought back from Down Under. Ms Little has also imported an Australian-made rotisserie machine specially designed to cook chicken the healthiest way.

"I'm hoping the menu is going to attract anyone looking for something quick but also healthy," she said.

"Not just sporting people but also families. I hope we'll be able to offer a real alternative to home cooking. It will also be tasty, I don't agree with people who say health food is good for you but doesn't taste nice."

Open less than a month, Ms Little's shop has already won some notable fans.

Micky McGurn, the head fitness coach of the Ireland rugby team, lives nearby and is already a regular.

"Ruth's food is the epitome of health eating," he said.

"I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for fresh nutritious satisfying food.

"In order to work, play and perform like a champion you need to eat like a champion, and Ruth's food is certainly championship material."