Good news, America! Today, First Lady Michelle Obama, along with The Partnership for a Healthier America, made a big announcement about the quality of meals in hundreds of chain restaurants. Things are looking up.
First Lady Michelle Obama shared some positive news today. Along with The Partnership for a Healthier America, she announced that Darden Restaurants, Inc., will offer healthier choices for their guests — on both the adult menus and the children’s menus.
Darden Restaurants, Inc., is the world’s largest full service restaurant company. It owns around 1,900 restaurants across the country, including Olive Garden and Red Lobster.
The changes will begin with kids’ menus. Within 10 months, one percent milk will be served as the “default beverage” and a fruit or veggie will be the “default side” with all kids’ meals at Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze and Red Lobster. Additionally, carbonated drinks will not be shown on the kids’ menus.
The company is also reducing the sodium content of all the food in its restaurants by 10% over five years and 20% over 10 years. It is certainly nice to see a long-term commitment to positive change.
“I’m here today because this is a breakthrough moment in the restaurant industry,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Darden is doing what no restaurant company has done before — they’re not just revamping their kids’ menus to give kids better food and parents more choices and more control, they’re committing to make changes across the entire menu at every single one of their restaurants.”
“Darden is working to make the healthy choice the easy choice, and they’re making it the delicious and fun choice, too,” the First Lady continued. “I’m confident that if companies like Darden continue to be creative and innovative and have our kids’ best interests at heart, than we will solve the challenge of childhood obesity and give all our kids the healthy futures they deserve.”
(Image courtesy of redlobster.com)More on Michelle Obama and healthy food
Michelle Obama’s message to children and adults everywhere
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Michelle Obama wants you to eat your greens
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