Food is good.  Food is great!  In fact, according to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, food falls into the physiological need supporting the base of the pyramid of life.  The physiological need for food goes far beyond simply consumption.  This need is fulfilled best with a well-rounded diet.  Having a well balanced diet encompasses many factors, such as portion control, consumption of fruits and vegetables, limited consumption of high fat food (fast food), etc.  The concept of a well-rounded diet does not sound too complicated; however it's not always a top priority with many people. With Americans always on the go, the convenience and low-cost of dining is made possible by the abundance of fast food restaurants. The Live Well Restaurant Campaign is making it a mission to enable consumers to easily identify and select healthy options when eating away from home and increase the number of healthier food options available in local restaurants.                      

Running from place to place, who has time to cook a healthy meal at home?  Why take the time to cook when a fast food restaurant is right around the corner at your beck and call? This mentality about fast food makes it easier for consumers to make poor decisions when it comes to nutrition. According to a Gallup poll, eight in ten Americans report eating at fast-food restaurants at least monthly with only about 4% of people saying they have never eaten fast food (Dugan, 2013). With that being said, it is difficult to find healthy options in restaurants.  Poor nutrition is a common factor underlying obesity in America (Hobbs, 2015). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese.  Many people do not realize they consume about 200 extra calories each time they dine out and if they eat out twice a week for a year, those extra calories can add up to 6 extra pounds (Nguyen, 2014).

By increasing the number of healthier choices in restaurants it becomes more convenient to eat healthy while dining out!! A well balanced diet is a melting pot of all the food groups.  For instance, healthy carbs (grains, beans, fruits, and veggies), healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, omega-3, etc.), and calcium are part of a balanced diet (Robinson, Paul, & Segal, 2015). In addition to choosing to right food, it is important to choose the right portions. Daily recommendations include specific servings of fruits and vegetables, fiber, protein, dairy, etc.  Likewise, caloric intake is important to manage on a day-to-day basis.  Simply put, by the United States Department of Agriculture (2015), calories are a tool to measure the energy a food or beverage provides -- from the carbohydrate, fat, protein, and alcohol it contains.  Amazingly, these thing are what provide the fuel needed to work and play, and are even needed to rest and sleep! Therefore it's important to get the right mix -- enough nutrients, but not too many calories.  The restaurants involved in the Live Well Campaign have a specific set of criteria for the food they serve to be considered “healthy” and are based on the aforementioned nutritional needs.

Enjoy Your Health Well-Done!

Columbia/Boone County Missouri has recognized obesity is a problem and something can be done to help reduce it, starting in restaurants. Polk County Live Well Alliance was the first to initiate the Live Well Campaign. The program was then extended to Missouri.  A state grant was obtained for the project so it is a statewide program.  The program extended to many areas in Missouri including Columbia.  The next step of the project is to reach out to the rest of the community around Columbia, Boone County. The purpose of this campaign is to enable consumers to make healthier choices when dining out by encouraging restaurants to have healthier menu item options.  By choosing to eat at these restaurants that are serving healthier food, you are helping the Live Well Campaign reach its goal of preventing disease and promoting the health of Boone County.

References:

Binh T Nguyen and Lisa M Powell (2014). The impact of restaurant consumption among US adults: effects on energy and nutrient intakes. Public Health Nutrition, 17, pp 2445-2452. doi:10.1017/S1368980014001153.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  (2015).  Adult Obesity Facts.  Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

Choose MyPlate. (2015, February 27).  Retrieved from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/calories#sthash.KU1c5kw6.dpf

Dugan, A. (2013). Fast Food Still Major Part of U.S. Diet. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/163868/fast-food-major-part-diet.aspx

Hobbs, J. (2015).  Leading Cause of Obesity in America.  Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/262489-the-leading-causes-of-obesity-in-america/

Robinson, L., Paul, W. M., & Segal, J. (2015). Healthy Eating. Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet and Sticking to it.  Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm