Aramark has long been an industry leader in offering solutions that promote health and wellness. In recognition of National Nutrition Month, Aramark is rolling out several programs encouraging healthy eating habits and lifestyles for its customers, as well as for the members of its communities.
Aramark’s support of National Nutrition Month, celebrated annually in March, complements the company’s ongoing partnership with the American Dietetic Association (ADA), the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.
Healthy Menu Features
In elementary schools across the country, Aramark recently launched Cool*Caf, a new dining environment promoting healthier dining choices through nutritious menus, a fruit and vegetable bar, and faster service lines. Some schools have already reported a 50 percent increase in fruit and vegetable consumption with the concept. During National Nutrition Month, school districts also will feature fruit and vegetable tasting events as well as items grown at local farms.
As part of its ongoing development of healthy menu items, Aramark will introduce a dozen new Lighten-Up salads at business, hospital, and university locations across the country. All are less than 500 calories and most have less than 10 grams of fat. The company’s new Lighten-Up Caesar and Chicken Caesar Salads will have less than half the fat of most traditional Caesars on the market.
Nutrition Education
Aramark will provide a nutrition newsletter at business, hospital, and university locations across the country that provides insight and ideas for healthy cooking and lifestyles. The company will encourage consumers to read this information and share it at home with their families.
In hospitals and senior living facilities, Aramark is focusing on different components of healthy lifestyles for each of the four weeks of March. The first week will focus on nutrition for children, the second on young adults, the third on nutrition as we age, and the fourth on physical activity. The company will provide several tools to its healthcare clients to promote these concepts, including weekly booth displays for retail and visitor areas; materials for a food sampling booth; and games and a give-away program to promote hospital and visitor interaction.
Anne M. Fletcher, M.S., R.D., a best-selling health and lifestyle author, continues to make appearances at Aramark-managed campuses across the country through the end of March. Fletcher is helping students adopt a healthier lifestyle and will provide students with her food secrets for maintaining healthy weight. She will also share weight management success stories from young people, including participants in her most recent book, Weight Loss Confidential. Fletcher’s campus tour complements Aramark’s expanded healthy menu program, Just4U – Food That Fits Your Life, which is designed to help students proactively manage their health and wellness goals.
In K-12 school districts, ACE, Aramark’s new nutrition mascot, will educate elementary students around the country about the benefits of eating nutritious meals and living a healthy lifestyle.
