The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is pleased to announce its newest program, "Arizona Smart Choice," which is designed to help people find healthy menu options at restaurants statewide. The ADHS will hold an official press conference to launch the program on Mon., March 24, 2008, at the Arizona State Capitol Rose Garden, which is located at 1700 W. Washington Street in Phoenix, at 10:30 a.m. The Program is a proactive initiative developed by ADHS to combat obesity in Arizona, which has more than doubled since 1990. Those restaurants that have already signed on to the program include McDonald’s, Outback Steakhouse, Macayo’s and Subway. 

"In 2007, Sen. Aguirre convened a group of community, health and restaurant leaders to establish a statewide restaurant initiative designed to raise awareness of the importance of good nutrition when eating outside of the home. We solicited restaurants of all shapes, sizes and menu selections and encouraged them to offer and promote healthy menu options," said Susan Gerard, Director of ADHS.
Through the program, the ADHS is partnering with participating restaurants and is both helping them to identify healthy items within their menus, as well as encouraging them to slightly alter some menu items to reach Arizona Smart Choice requirements.

"Any restaurant interested in submitting their recipes, or working with us to tweak menu items to meet our nutritional criteria, need only contact ADHS to start the process," said Margaret Tate, bureau chief of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control for ADHS. "Once a menu item is approved, the restaurant is given Arizona Smart Choice program materials to display at their location(s)."
To qualify for approval, a main dish must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of two servings of beans, whole grains, fruits or vegetables;
• No more than 700 calories;
• No more than 30 percent of total calories from fat;
• No more than 15 percent of total calories from saturated fat;
• No more than 0.5 grams of trans fat (no added or artificial fat); and
• No more than 1,500 mg of sodium.

To qualify for approval, a side dish item must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of one serving of beans, whole grains, fruits or vegetables;
• No more than 300 calories;
• No more than 30 percent of total calories from fat;
• No more than 15 percent of total calories from saturated fat;
• No more than 0.5 grams of trans fat (no added or artificial fat); and
• No more than 650 mg of sodium.

Restaurant participation in the program is voluntary. There is no fee for restaurants to join the program, but they will need to pay for nutrient analysis services of their menu item(s) and any costs incurred in tweaking their recipes. For more information, or to begin the process to enroll your restaurant, please visit www.azsmartchoice.com.