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Bringing a healthy option to the Taste of Buffalo

Tens of thousands of hungry people are sure to converge on Delaware Avenue for the 2007 Taste of Buffalo, scheduled for July 7 and 8. However, those in attendance will notice a significant change – and improvement – to this year’s menu.

Recognizing that diet-related health problems are affecting our community, organizers of the Taste, partnering with the Independent Health Foundation, will now require that participating restaurants offer at least one healthy choice food item. By doing so, the Taste of Buffalo will be the first major food festival in the country to implement a healthy option policy.

 “These healthy option items will be lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium,” said Jennifer Mitri, who works for the Independent Health Foundation . “We will use a computer program that determines nutritional value, and decide if the dish meets its requirements to be deemed healthy.”

With three times the national average of overweight citizens and two times the New York State average, Western New York has some of the highest rates of stroke and heart disease in the country. To help address this issue, the Independent Health Foundation created the Healthy Options program in 2004. Through this program, the Foundation works with area restaurants to design and prepare heart-healthy menu options for their customers.

“Our goal is to make your dining out experiences just as healthy as the ones in your kitchen at home,” said Carrie Meyer, Executive Director of the Independent Health Foundation. “By working with area chefs, we want to help you make better decisions about the meals you eat when you're out and demonstrate that eating healthy can taste great, too.”

For a complete list of restaurants that participate in this program, visit www.healthyoptionsbuffalo.com.

 

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