DENVER (CBS4) – There’s now an easier way to eat healthy in Colorado. It involves a website, a smartphone application, a unique state-wide initiative, and hundreds of restaurants are on board.
There was an early lunch Tuesday for leaders in the fight against obesity. They got to sample salads and other healthy options found at area restaurants.
“Americans love to eat out,” Dr. James Hill told the group.
Hill wants to help Coloradans find good choices, so his Anschutz Health and Wellness Center joined a company called Healthy Dining in announcing the new program called “Healthy Dining in Colorado.”
“We love working with restaurants and chefs to help them and inspire them to create and offer healthier options,” Anita Jones-Mueller with Healthy Dining said.
So far more than 40 restaurants with 300 locations have teamed up with Healthy Dining in Colorado. It’s easy to find those eateries. The website healthydiningfinder.com has a menu of participating restaurants and lets users search for nutrition information. For those on the go, the free iPhone app called “yumPower” helps users pinpoint places with healthy, appealing meals.
“Healthy eating is not a trend and it’s not a fad, it’s a way of life for most Coloradans,” Pete Meersman with the Colorado Restaurant Association said.
It’s the first state-wide initiative — a model for other states to implement.
“Ultimate goal is to make Colorado the healthiest state in the national,” Hill said. “This is one small step forward.”
It’s a timely, tasty way to take a bite out of the obesity epidemic.
LINK: Health Dining Finder
