Escambia Health Dept. Launches Healthy Choices Restaurant Program

March 20, 2012

The Escambia County Health Department, in partnership with local restaurants, has launched the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program. This program aims to provide Escambia County residents and visitors with more options for making healthy decisions when dining away from home.

Restaurants that offer Healthy Choice Options will be recognized and promoted in the community as a Healthy Choices Restaurant. Nine local restaurants have already stepped up to the plate to participate in the program. Participating restaurants must be locally owned, and must agree to offer and promote at least three of the Healthy Choices Options for adult and child entrees.

The Healthy Choice Options are:

  • Take Half Home- box half of a customer’s meal, upon their request before it is served,
  • Healthy Substitutions- offer healthy alternatives, such as steamed vegetables or salads, to fries and similar high calorie side items,
  • Cook to Order- allow customers to request items to be grilled, steamed, or roasted instead of fried,
  • Complimentary Items Require Your Request- bring complimentary items, such as chips or bread, to customers’ tables only when requested, and
  • Post Nutritional Information- provide basic nutritional information for customers to review before choosing a menu item.

Currently, six out of ten Escambia County adults and one out of four children are obese or overweight, according to Florida Health Statistics and Community Health Data. In an effort to reduce these high obesity rates, the program encourages families to change their behavior while dining out simply by choosing healthy options.

“With over one-third of family meals consumed away from home, the ability to select healthy options at restaurants can make a big difference in the total number of calories and fat consumed, “says Versilla Turner, registered dietitian and director of the Community Health Education and Nutrition division at the Escambia County Health Department. “We encourage more restaurants to join the program to make healthier dining experiences more widely available.”

A Healthy Choices Restaurant logo is displayed at the entrance of each participating restaurant. The first restaurants to commit to the program include Captain Joey Patti’s Seafood Deli, Dog House Deli, H20, Lillo’s Tuscan Grille, Lost Treasure Grill, Nacho Daddies, Native Café, Portabello Market, and Wildman’s.

Comments

6 Responses to “Escambia Health Dept. Launches Healthy Choices Restaurant Program”

  1. 429SCJ on March 20th, 2012 9:43 am

    As Big Daddy used to say “eat less, move more”.

  2. SafeStaff on March 20th, 2012 9:41 am

    For the record: 1) Florida restaurant inspections are actually not hidden from anyone, and may be browsed 24/7 on the state regulator’s website, 2) grades don’t make food safe and can’t predict future performance, 3) According to Florida Department of Health reports, Florida’s science-based restaurant regulatory system has reduced food borne illness 87% since 1997. This reduction coincides with improved training requirements for food service employees, which does make food safe.

  3. jeeperman on March 20th, 2012 9:01 am

    Meanwhile……….
    Alabama Health Departments continue to inspect a grade resturants for cleanliness, proper food prep and storage, etc.
    And the resturants are required to post the grade given for all customers to see.
    A real incentive for the resturant to maintain a good grade because who wants to eat at an “F” rated place ?

    Meanwhile, in Florida……….such inspection info is hidden from the public.
    Bon Appetit.

  4. mmmm on March 20th, 2012 8:31 am

    I agree, this is great.

    Hope other restaurants do the same!!!!!!!!

  5. bama54 on March 20th, 2012 8:17 am

    Currently, six out of ten Escambia County adults and one out of four children are obese or overweight, according to Florida Health Statistics and Community Health Data.
    I have the perfect way to fix this problem!! Get off your lazy butt and get to work!! Turn off the TV, get up early (around 5:00 am) and don’t come back into the house until lunch time, have a small lunch, and then get your butt back out side, and don’t come into the house until Dark-Thirty!! Do this starting today. If you weight 200 lbs now, you will be down to your fighting weigh of around 165/170 lbs by the end of the summer!! The key to all of this is you have to put some effort into it, like sweat and tears!! Remember “Work” is not going to kill you, but it will make you appreciate life to the fullest!!

  6. jim brown on March 20th, 2012 6:45 am

    this is great

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News