Restaurant Nutrition Initiative Gains National Momentum

SAN DIEGO, CA (March 8, 2008) – A growing number of Americans are trying to slim down or follow a healthy lifestyle. Recognizing that dining out presents a major challenge for so many, restaurants across the country are teaming up with the Healthy Dining Program and its signature website HealthyDiningFinder.com. Red Lobster, On the Border, Pollo Tropical, Quiznos and Cousins Subs have recently joined the more than 55,000 restaurant locations featured in the program, launched nationwide just one year ago.

According to the National Restaurant Association, Americans enjoy restaurant-prepared food an average of four to five times a week, so it’s clear that restaurants play a key role in what we eat. On HealthyDiningFinder.com, a selection of up to ten healthier menu options is posted for each participating restaurant, along with corresponding nutrition information: calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein and fruit/vegetable servings.

“Never before has dining out healthfully been so easy. This is truly a turning point in restaurant nutrition,” says Anita Jones-Mueller, M.P.H., founder of Healthy Dining. “Chefs are discovering that a few simple strategies not only make dishes healthier, but more flavorful, too.”

The Healthy Dining Program serves as a vehicle for motivating and inspiring chefs and restaurateurs to create and serve a selection of healthier dishes that emphasize lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Healthy Dining’s registered dietitians work with participating restaurants, identify their healthier dishes, analyze the nutrition content, and sometimes suggest “special request” modifications – noted on HealthyDiningFinder.com – that improve the healthfulness of the featured dishes.

“HealthyDiningFinder.com demonstrates that dining out and healthy eating can go hand-in-hand. More and more American consumers are embracing a healthy lifestyle, and HealthyDiningFinder.com is a great way to showcase the variety of options available on restaurant menus. The National Restaurant Association is proud to partner with Healthy Dining and encourages every restaurant to join the program," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association.

Joe Taylor, Vice President of Brinker International, said, “We were one of the first restaurant companies to join Healthy Dining. Participating in this program is a positive step in our constant aim to provide guests with a variety of options. In a society that is increasingly health-conscious, Brinker believes HealthyDiningFinder.com is a website that encourages a balanced approach to nutrition.”

ABOUT HEALTHY DINING:

In 1990, Healthy Dining began working with Southern California chefs and restaurateurs, guiding them in creating, serving and promoting a selection of healthier dishes. The team published a series of Healthy Dining books, which identified the healthier menu choices and corresponding nutrition information from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego restaurants. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded Healthy Dining a grant to expand nationwide through HealthyDiningFinder.com. Healthy Dining has worked with hundreds of restaurants and has analyzed more than 12,000 menu items.

Contact:
Sara Lucero
858.541.2049
Sara@healthydiningfinder.com