Restaurants Turning Focus to Healthy Food Choices
Lt. Governor Aiona encouraged more than 3,100 restaurants statewide Monday to continue playing a greater role in the health of Hawai`i residents by providing nutrition information to their customers.
Lt. Governor Aiona congratulates Shiro Matsuo, one of 11 businesspeople inducted into the Hawai`i Restaurant Association's Hall of Fame.
Speaking to more than 150 industry leaders at the Hawai‘i Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony and 61st Anniversary celebration, Lt. Governor Aiona said the Administration is encouraged by the positive and growing trend of restaurants offering more nutritious choices to consumers, as well as information about their menu items.
More than 55,000 restaurants nationwide are participating in healthydiningfinder.com, which is a website that helps consumers find restaurant dishes online that fit their dietary preferences. And the Hawai‘i Restaurant Association is an active partner in this new effort from the $3.1 billion local industry.
“This is more than just a trend,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “It is part of a larger movement across the nation to make healthier lifestyle choices. To truly make a difference, we all need to work together to help Hawai‘i residents understand how nutrition relates to them.”
He added that healthy living is really about personal choice and responsibility. “But our Administration wants to help people make good choices,” he said. “We are making a statewide commitment to address the need for healthy living, and nutrition plays a big part in that.”
In May, the Lt. Governor helped to unveil new wellness guidelines that will make unhealthy beverages sold on campus, selling candies for fundraisers, and the use of trans fat in preparing meals in cafeterias a thing of the past in all Hawai`i public schools.
The wellness guidelines include standards for food sold or provided on campus, nutrition education, physical education and activity, and support of professional development for school staff. The guidelines are being implemented at various stages in all Hawai`i public schools and act as the official policy for the Hawai`i State Public School System.
In October, the state Department of Health will hold a physical activity and nutrition forum, which will include workshops on how employers can implement wellness policies that encourage healthy eating and physical fitness.
"We are taking a comprehensive approach to create a healthier environment for our residents," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "It requires a broad and sustained effort, but we've made great strides, and with continued support, we'll make Hawai`i a healthier place to live."
- Learn more about healthy living in Hawai`i.
