HEAL (Healthy Eating and Active Living) Schuyler is working with local restaurants on the new Choose HEALth program standards. The Choose HEALth, Healthy Food Choices in Schuyler County program was founded in 2015. The new standards tiers restaurants into the following categories: Member, Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Participating restaurants submit recipes and are classified into a tier. The Member tier offers some of the basics that are covered in the My Plate program, developed by the USDA, and include the original Choose Health program standards started in 2015. The Bronze tier restaurants offer whole grains, healthy beverages, lean proteins, and meet a vegetable and fruit requirement. The Silver tier restricts the added sugars and calories in the recipe. The Gold tier restricts the fats and sodium while ensuring there are essential vitamins included in the dish and the restaurant has a gluten free option. HEAL Schuyler has been working with the following restaurants to classify them into tiers and so far, two restaurants have been able to submit gold recipes, Classics Chefs and Jerlando’s Ristorante in Watkins Glen. The other restaurant that meets the silver standard includes Paradiso’s Village Bakery. HEAL Schuyler is still working with some of the Choose HEALth members, Glen Mountain Market, Seneca Sunrise and the Elf in the Oak to classify their recipes into the tiers.
The goal of “Choose HEALth” is to educate consumer about the healthy options that are available when you dine out in Schuyler County. Restaurants that choose to participate will display provided signs and logos, receive free advertisements, and increase potential customers – by agreeing to present healthy, delicious options on their menus. Interested in learning more or participating? Check out the website here.
