Q: How many restaurants are participating?
A: As of August 2010, 20 restaurants with 200 locations are fully on board (meaning they have fully launched and implemented the program), but we are working with several other restaurants and agencies in other states interested in implementing the program.
Q: What are other restaurants in the program doing?
A: McDonald’s, a quick-serve, national chain restaurant, promotes certain items (such as salads) on a seasonal level, while other Smart Meal combinations (hamburger with side salad) are on the menu year-round. Beau Jo’s Pizza is using the Smart Meal™ Seal to promote all the items on the menu that fit that program’s criteria.
Q: Why should we participate in this program?
A: There are many benefits to participating in the program, but the main reasons for you as a business are that you will have the opportunity to increase business and gain recognition for your efforts. You will have free promotion as a restaurant that cares about the health of its consumers, and you will be participating in an initiative to address the increasing overweight and obesity problem in Colorado. You will be seen as a community leader in this effort.
Q: How do we know this program won’t fade out or disappear?
A: This restaurant initiative is
in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment integrated
work plan. We are committed to the successful execution of this program.
Q: How do we get started?
A: Once you have decided that you would like to become a partner restaurant, complete the online inquiry form in the Contact section of our website. In addition, you must provide a summary of the proposed action plan for implementing the Smart Meal™ Seal program, including your method of evaluation.
Q: What is the cost for the restaurant?
A: Typically, if a restaurant uses one of our recommended analysis companies (e.g., On the Menu or Strategic Nutrition), the restaurant will receive a discount as a potential Smart Meal™ Seal participant. The average cost per recipe/meal analyzed is $90, which includes all of the labor, technical assistance, full nutritional labeling for the recipe and suggested recipe modifications to meet standards. Other costs would include reprinting of the existing menu to reflect the identified Smart Meal items and/or printing of menu inserts if the restaurant is not yet ready to print new menus.
Q: What kind of publicity will we receive?
A: The Colorado Physical Activity & Nutrition program received a grant from The Colorado Health Foundation to conduct a media campaign to be launched in 2011. In addition, there will be statewide publicity through the department’s press releases (which occur 2-3 times per year), promotion through the Smart Meal website, and any promotional and advertising efforts you do on your own.