Heart Smart Restaurant Program

What is the Heart Smart Restaurant Program?

The Heart Smart Restaurant Program is a health promotion program designed to encourage restaurants to provide healthy food choices and access to no smoking seating for their customers. The program is based on a list of healthy food choices criteria which the participating restaurants agree to make available, upon request, to their customers. These healthy food choice selections are displayed on promotional materials throughout the restaurant.

Small Choices Make a Big Difference?

Most people want to make healthier food choices both at home and when eating out. The good news is that good taste and healthy eating can go hand in hand.

Eating healthy, being active and staying smoke-free will help to reduce the chance of developing heart disease, stroke and other chronic illnesses, along with improving overall health and well-being.

How does the program work?

The Heart Smart Restaurant Program is designed to offer foods that are lower in fat and sodium and high in fibre, along with no smoking seating, to customers upon request.

The Restaurants offer the following:

• 2%, 1%, or skim milk for drinking and with coffee/tea
• soft margarine
• calorie-reduced salad dressing
• foods prepared without added rich/cream sauces or gravy
• gravies, sauces, and salad dressings served on the side
• smaller portions of meat, fish, or poultry
• vegetables, rice, potatoes or salad as a substitute for french fries
• whole grain bread, rolls, cereals
• broiled, barbequed, roasted, steamed, poached or grilled foods
• skinned poultry and meat with fat trimmed
• lower fat desserts such as fruit salad, sherbert, frozen yogurt or angel food cake
• no smoking seating and on-site no smoking signage in accordance with legislation

How do I know if a restaurant is participating in the Heart Smart Restaurant Program?

You will know a restaurant is part of the Heart Smart Restaurant Program by the promotional decal displayed on the door, the certificate on the wall and the other promotional materials describing the program throughout the restaurant. In participating restaurants, you are given the opportunity to request any of the healthier food choices described on the promotional materials.

Restaurant owners/managers choose to participate in the Heart Smart Restaurant Program. Participating in this program shows a restaurants interest in and willingness to offer healthy food choices to their customers.

Membership in the Heart Restaurant Program is available to any restaurant, B & B, cafeteria, bakery, lunch counter or deli willing.

Looking for a restaurant in the Heart Smart Restaurant Program?

The next time you plan to dine out, look for a restaurant participating in the Heart Smart Restaurant Program.

Our Heart Smart Restaurant Program Diner's Guide lists all the participating restaurants in Newfoundland and Labrador. This Guide is updated every year.

For more information on the program, please contact the Coordinator for the Heart Smart Restaurant Program in your region.

Information on the program is also available at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

June 2001

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