Shedd Aquarium Unveils Healthy Food Menu Options for Kids this Spring Break
Shedd is first cultural institution to dive into national initiative with nutritious partnership between Healthy Fare for Kids and Sodexo
CHICAGO, March 26, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Just in time for spring break, Shedd Aquarium is cooking up a selection of healthy food choices for children ages 12 and under through a new partnership with Healthy Fare for Kids and Sodexo, the aquarium’s food service provider. This unique offering makes Shedd the first cultural institution to align with Healthy Fare for Kids, a national initiative, bringing healthy options to more than 750,000 young aquarium guests each year.
"Good health is essential for good learning, and Chicago is leading the nation with comprehensive strategies to improve the health and wellness of all residents. Every child should have the knowledge, tools and access necessary for good health," said City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "I applaud the Shedd Aquarium, as a destination for visitors and Chicagoans alike, for launching the Healthy Fare for Kids program to ensure children have access to healthy food."
Chicago-based Healthy Fare for Kids partners with restaurants for nutritionally sound menu items that can assist in the fight against childhood obesity. President and founder Diane Schmidt, a local parent and health educator, developed the initiative with James Beard Award-winning chef Sarah Stegner, co-owner and co-chef of Right Bite partner Prairie Grass Café, and Carol Wagner, holistic nutrition consultant. The venture began as a grassroots program and now reaches more than 11 million people annually.
"We are thrilled to have Shedd Aquarium as a partner, offering healthy and delicious menu items," said Stegner. "By introducing children to nutritious options at Shedd, we hope to inspire families to make good food choices and continue the life-long journey of being healthy."
"Shedd is proud to improve our menu of food options as part of the aquarium’s premier guest experience," said Amy Ritter-Cowen, executive vice president of marketing and guest experience at Shedd. "With a history of educating guests on seafood choices that are good for you and the environment, we saw this partnership with the nationally recognized Healthy Fare for Kids and our longtime restaurant partner Sodexo as a natural next step."
The updated children’s menu will include a seasonal Right Bite option of sustainable seafood that benefits the health of our waters worldwide. Shedd’s Bubble Net serves all natural grilled chicken sliders with BBQ sauce and pickle, served with celery sticks and organic peanut butter, as well as low fat baked cheese quesadilla with salsa, served with steamed green beans, a la carte or as a Kids Combo Meal with low fat skim milk or water. Soundings Café offers Justin’s All Natural Peanut Butter and banana griddled on a low fat tortilla, served with fresh fruit, as well as all natural, lean ground beef turkey sloppy Joes served with baked sweet potato fries.
"We set balanced meal guidelines that are intuitive for chefs from using anti-biotic and hormone free meat and poultry to preparing foods that are lower in fat," said Diane Schmidt. "Our goal is to help children, from all over America, make the connection between what they eat, how they feel and the health benefits of nutritionally rich foods. By serving Healthy Fare for Kids meals, Shedd is helping us reach that goal."
Quick to support the new partnership, Shedd’s food service provider Sodexo worked with Healthy Fare Kids to create the new menu.
"Helping parents and children make smart food choices is important, and we all make better choices when we have options and resources available to guide our decisions," says George Chavel, president and CEO, Sodexo North America. "We see this collaboration with Shedd and Healthy Fare Kids as a model partnership here in Chicago, and one that we think can be expanded to communities nationwide as we continue expanding delivery of healthy food options."
Shedd is a family destination welcoming 2.17 million guests each year, approximately 35 percent of which are children. The Healthy Fare for Kids logo helps families identify nutritious options at a glance and make educated choices in Shedd’s restaurants.
VISUAL NOTE: Visit the following link to download high resolution images, including photos of the new menu items and the Healthy Fare for Kids logo: https://backup.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8c6c6b8a5d6570a66e9d. Photo credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez.
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Shedd Aquarium is supported by the people of Chicago and the State of Illinois. Shedd Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.
