Washington, D.C. – The National Restaurant Association today announced that the Beef Checkoff Program has become a sponsor of the Association’s award-winning Kids LiveWell program, a voluntary industry-wide initiative designed to help make the healthful choice the easy choice when dining out with children. The National Restaurant Association applauded the checkoff for its commitment to promoting and developing nutritious kids’ meals.
“The partnership between Kids LiveWell and the Beef Checkoff offers valuable opportunities to promote the important role that lean protein plays in building a healthful meal,” said Joan McGlockton, Vice President, Industry Affairs & Food Policy, National Restaurant Association. “The sponsorship will aid current participants and restaurants looking to join the program by identifying healthful, innovative recipes that highlight lean cuts of beef, helping to provide the industry’s youngest patrons with the essential nutrients they need.”
In conjunction with its sponsorship, the Beef Checkoff has identified a collection of kid-friendly recipes in its database of triple-tested, on-trend recipes that meet the Kids LiveWell criteria. To make it turnkey for operators to incorporate these items on their menu, the recipes, nutritionals and pairing suggestions are available online at www.BeefFoodservice.com/NRAKidsLiveWell.aspx.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to continuing to raise and supply nutritious beef for families, and we’re grateful for efforts like Kids LiveWell and its participating restaurants to highlight health for consumers. As a dad of three girls, I know how important it is for our children to have access to nutritious and healthy foods,” said Clay Burtrum, a stocker and cow-calf operator from Stillwater, Okla., and chair of the checkoff’s nutrition & health subcommittee. “The kids’ menu can be a deciding factor for where to eat and at the same time, parents themselves want a great steak or burgerwhen dining out. By menuing a kids’ meal that includes beef, operators can attract parents making meal-time decisions for their family.”
The 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans build a healthy plate with nutrient-rich foods, including lean protein. High quality protein, including lean beef, provides nutrients that are vital for a healthy and active lifestyle from infancy to adulthood.
The NRA launched Kids LiveWell in 2011 to help restaurants highlight their better-for-you menu choices for children. To join the program, restaurants agree to offer and promote a selection of healthful menu items that meet nutrition criteria based on leading health organizations’ scientific recommendations, including the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
Kids LiveWell was developed in collaboration with Healthy Dining, whose team of registered dietitians works with restaurants to identify and validate the qualifying menu choices. Participating restaurants and their qualifying items can be found on HealthyDiningFinder.com, and also via a free Kids LiveWell app in the Android Market and iTunes app store.
Currently, Kids LiveWell includes 150 restaurant brands representing more than 42,000 locations nationwide.
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 990,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13.5 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 16-19, 2015, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.
Source: National Restaurant Association