About the Restaurants


Restaurants featured on this site have joined the Healthy Dining Program because they have a sincere interest in offering their customers healthier choices and nutrition information.  These restaurants are leading the nation by joining the Healthy Dining Program to support the health and dietary efforts of Americans.

The goals of the Healthy Dining Program are to:

  1. provide Americans with an ever-expanding number of healthier choices when eating away from home – at all kinds of restaurants, from the nation’s largest chains to small independents, from fast food to upscale dining, and
  2. provide the restaurant industry with nutrition expertise and a comprehensive program/vehicle, making it easy and beneficial for restaurants (of any size and cuisine type) to offer and promote healthier menu items.

The Healthy Dining team consists of master’s level health professionals, registered dietitians, marketing professionals and a doctorate level researcher.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded Healthy Dining a grant to develop HealthyDiningFinder.com. The first phase of the program entailed outreach to the nation’s largest chains.  This phase was very successful, as nearly 50,000 restaurant locations have joined Healthy Dining Program. Yet, this is only the beginning. We will continue to add restaurants to the program and website – it is our hope that a majority of the restaurants throughout the nation will join the program in the coming years!

Healthy Dining’s team aims to include a wide range of restaurants – from fast food to fine dining, from one-unit independents to large chains, representing dozens of types of cuisines.  While some participating restaurants specialize in offering health-conscious dishes, the ultimate goal is to identify the healthiest choices available at all kinds of restaurants.

As Healthy Dining continues to grow, and more chefs are inspired to create healthier cuisine, you will experience the talent of chefs from across the country who are applying their artistry and creativity in developing great-tasting, vibrant, beautiful menu items that honor your health.

Please encourage your favorite restaurants to join Healthy Dining. The next time you go out to eat, leave the Refer-A-Restaurant handout with the restaurant’s owner or general manager.