Check out my interview below with Yvette Perrier Quantz, RDN, LDN an Eat Fit Dietitian who told us all about how Eat Fit is expanding throughout the state, and the Eat Fit Dine Out and Donate Week which kicks off today.
Ochsner Eat Fit Hosts ‘Dine Out and Donate’to Support Local Restaurants and Food Banks
Ochsner Eat Fit hosts the 9th Annual Eat Fit Dine Out event June 3-10 with a new addition this year – a nutritious food drive for local food banks.
On Eat Fit Dine Out Week, Ochsner encourages the community to celebrate our local Eat Fit partners by dining out at these restaurants. This year, Eat Fit dieticians also encourage residents to donate to local food banks during the newly named “Dine Out and Donate Week.”
The Eat Fit team invites diners to drop off their donations at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank or make a monetary donation here. Just $1 can provide up to 3 meals.
“Eat Fit Dine Out and Donate is an opportunity to nourish our community in several ways, supporting local businesses while simultaneously giving back to those in need,” said Savanna Latimer with Eat Fit BR. “We’re asking the community to donate items like no- or low-salt canned goods, whole grains or even fresh produce.”
Ochsner Eat Fit provides education and encouragement to community members on how to donate nutritious and high demand items through the use of social media. The Eat Fit Donation guide on the free Eat Fit smartphone app provides specific donation ideas.
Ochsner Eat Fit works with restaurant chefs and owners, and within the community to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Eat Fit also supports nutrition education for culinary teaching programs, community cooking classes, development of Eat Fit opportunities in under-served areas and nutrition-related events in schools, churches and grocery stores.
Food and nutrition play key roles in the health, vitality and productivity of our community. Eat Fit partners are essential in the fight against obesity and other chronic health conditions related to diet and nutrition. Eat Fit makes it easier for people who are trying to eat better, live better and feel better.
A full list of statewide participating restaurants and food banks is available at www.EatFitDineOut.com.
Eat Fit is a nonprofit initiative of Ochsner Health, designed to help the community live their healthiest, strongest lives possible. The team of Eat Fit dietitians works closely with local restaurants, markets and other foodservice establishments to identify and develop dishes that meet the Eat Fit nutritional criteria. These items are identified directly on the menu with the Eat Fit seal of approval, making the healthy choice the easy choice when dining out.
Free to all restaurants and foodservice partners, Eat Fit encourages nutritious choices whether an individual is looking to lose weight, feel better or look better, as well as help to manage health issues including diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure.
With more than 100 unique partners in the New Orleans area, Eat Fit NOLA has expanded across the state to include Eat Fit Northshore, Eat Fit BR, Eat Fit Acadiana, Eat Fit Shreveport and Eat Fit Monroe, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana.
The Eat Fit team connects deeply within the Eat Fit communities, serving as a resource for all things wellness. Download the Eat Fit smartphone app to find participating restaurants with full nutrition facts of Eat Fit menu items, as well as recipes, community wellness resources, and to connect with a health professional in your area.
Follow Eat Fit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and visit www.OchsnerEatFit.com for more information about Eat Fit in your region.