The team: A local restaurant and a culinary student from Johnson & Wales University. The goal: Create a healthier version of a menu item without sacrificing flavor and taste. The prize: Helping Rhode Islanders make the healthy choice the easy choice when dining out.
On Monday, October 12, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) and Johnson & Wales University (JWU) will host a Healthy Restaurant Forum that is designed to promote the benefits of buying local, fresh ingredients and of adding healthy options to the menu.
“More people than ever are dining out,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “At the same time, obesity is a growing epidemic in this country with an economic impact reaching $147 billion dollars. One of the goals of HEALTH’s Initiative For a Healthy Weight Program is to make healthy food choices the most appealing and easiest choice.”
The forum will feature 12 local restaurants including: Gracies, Chelos, Nick’s on Broadway, Greggs, Pinelli Mara Group, Dave’s Market, El Rancho Grande, Local 121, La Laiterie and Persimmon. Anyone who attends will be able to taste the culinary creations made from the freshest whole grains, fruits, meats, vegetables and a variety of delicious items. In addition, representatives from the National Restaurant Association and from the Center for Science in the Public Interest will speak about the impact of menu labeling on sales and customer satisfaction. The economic impacts of buying local produce and food safety practices will also be discussed.
“This forum is just the beginning of a winning relationship,” says culinary expert Bill Idell from Johnson & Wales. “We hope that, going forward, our students will benefit from co-op partnerships with these restaurants. We think that we have all the ingredients for success.”
The event runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 265 Harborside Blvd, Providence and is free and open to the public. RSVP to Randi Belhumeur at 222-7462.
For information about the Initiative For a Healthy Weight Program, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/healthyweight/