FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2012
Media Contacts:
Levente Smith and Erin Ochoa
Elizabeth Christian & Associates Public Relations
512.472.9599

St. David’s HealthCare Launches Healthy Dining Program for Central Texas Restaurants

AUSTIN, Texas—Today, St. David’s HealthCare, along with 21 Central Texas restaurants, launched St. David’s HealthCare’s Healthy Dining Program, designed to create awareness among Central Texans about the importance of healthy eating as a preventative measure for good health. The program also provides healthy menu options for people who choose to eat healthy while dining out.

“St. David’s HealthCare recognizes the importance of prevention in our community, and we are proud to partner with these local restaurants to promote positive eating choices,” Mark Clayton, senior vice president at St. David’s HealthCare, said. “Healthy eating is a large part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is important for people to know that eating healthy while dining out is possible, and this program identifies local restaurants that are committed to providing their customers with healthy options.”

To participate in the program, restaurants submit a menu item to be examined by a registered and licensed dietitian at St. David’s HealthCare. The dietitians analyze the nutritional content of the recipes, and if the menu item meets the established nutritional guidelines, it is deemed a healthy menu item. Dietitians also visit each restaurant and sample the menu item in-house to ensure it is being prepared according to the approved recipe.

The guidelines—developed by the Austin Mayor’s Health and Fitness Council, along with St. David’s HealthCare registered and licensed dietitians—to determine a “healthy menu item” include:

• No fake foods (i.e. flavors, sweeteners, preservatives)
• Any grains used should be whole grain with a serving size of no more than one-half cup (cooked quantity should equal 3 to 4 ounces)
• If the item is an entrée, at least half of it should be comprised of vegetables (corn and potatoes do not qualify as the vegetable half of the dish)
• No trans-fat, hydrogenated oils or deep-fried foods (nuts, seeds and avocado fats are recommended as a substitute)
• Incorporate lean-, low- or reduced-fat protein sources, such as plant-based proteins, nuts, meat and dairy, with a serving size equaling the approximate size of a deck of cards
• No refined sugar or sweeteners (non-concentrated juices are recommended as a substitute; exceptions are made for one teaspoon of honey or molasses per serving)
• No more than 600 milligrams or a one-fourth teaspoon of sodium in an entrée
• The plate should be colorful, which is a achieved by a variety of fruits and vegetables
• No fried foods

“There are a number of ways Central Texans can stay active and healthy, and the Healthy Dining Program is just another avenue for people to obtain and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Megan Anderson, a registered dietitian with St. David’s HealthCare, said. “The more education we can provide to residents about healthy dining options, the better prepared they will be to make healthy choices when they are dining out.”

The 21 restaurants participating in the launch of the St. David’s HealthCare Healthy Dining Program include:

• Beets Café, located at 1611 W. Fifth St. in Austin
• Bufalo Bob’s Chalupa Wagon, located at 603 W. Live Oak in Austin
• Cannoli Joe’s, located at 4715 U.S. Highway 290 West in Austin
• County Line on the Hill, located at 6500 Bee Cave Road in Bee Cave
• County Line on the Lake, located at 5204 Ranch Road 2222 in Austin
• Cuatros, located at 1004 W. 24th St. in Austin
• El Mercado, located at 7414 Burnet Road in Austin
• Flemings, located at 11600 Century Oaks Terrace, The Domain, in Austin
• Hickory Street, located at 800 Congress Ave. in Austin
• How Do You Roll, located at 10435 Burnet Road in Austin and at several other Austin locations
• L & L Catering, located at 5501 Balcones Drive in Austin
• Mama Fu’s, located at 1003 W. University Ave. in Georgetown and at several other Austin locations
• Monument Café, located at 500 S. Austin Ave. in Georgetown
• Quality Seafood, located at 5621 Airport Blvd. in Austin
• Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, located at 2303 Ranch Road 620 in Lakeway
• Roll On Sushi, located at 5350 Burnet Road in Austin
• Snap Kitchen, located at 4616 The Triangle and at 1014 W. 6th St. in Austin
• The Steeping Room, located at 11410 Century Oaks Terrace in Austin
• The University of Texas Club, located at 2108 Robert Dedman Drive in Austin
• Urban Picnic, located at 3810 Gattis School Road in Round Rock
• Zeds, located at 501 Canyon Ridge Drive in Round Rock

There are many risk factors that contribute to overall health, such as abnormal blood cholesterol, high glucose (blood sugar), high blood pressure and obesity—all of which can be significantly reduced by simply maintaining healthy eating habits.

For more information, including a list of participating restaurants and their healthy dining menu items, as well as how to become a partnered restaurant, please visit StDavids.com/Healthy.

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St. David’s HealthCare
With more than 60 sites across Central Texas, St. David’s HealthCare includes seven of the area’s leading hospitals and is one of the largest health systems in Texas. Known for compassionate, high-quality care, the organization has been recognized with the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Texas based upon world-class quality measures. In January 2012, St. David’s HealthCare was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. In April 2012, four of the system’s facilities—St. David’s Medical Center, St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital—were named to the list of 100 top hospitals in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters. Additionally, Heart Hospital of Austin, a campus of St. David’s Medical Center, was named a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital for 2012. Perennially ranked as the top Austin-area employer among large companies by the Austin Business Journal’s annual “Best Places to Work” survey, St. David’s HealthCare is the third-largest private employer in the Austin area, with approximately 7,500 employees. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.