4 restaurants named ‘Healthy Food Champions’

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and Division of Public Health’s Non-Communicable Disease Bureau recognized yesterday four restaurants for serving healthy foods.

As part of the Healthy Restaurant Project, healthcare officials visited all four restaurants and presented their owners and food preparers with the “Healthy Food Champions” award.

Everest Kitchen Laxmi Shrestha receives the award from Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña as one of the runners-up for CHCC’s Division of Public Health Non-Communicable Disease Bureau’s healthy restaurant project. (Jayson Camacho)

Runner-up restaurant Caravan owner Abed Younis, second from left, CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muna, center, NCD Bureau administrator Becky Robles, far left, CHCC registered dietitian Kate Campbell, far right, CHCC Medical Director for Public Health Dr. Daniel Lamar, second from right, and DPH REACH local project assistant and restaurant project coordinator Kaitlyn Neises-Mocanu, third from right. (Jayson Camacho)

Tropical Blendz front supervisor Rossan De la Vega, front row, fourth from left, receives the first place award from CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña. Also in photo, from left to right, are DPH director Margaret Aldan, Tropical Blendz cook Arlene Mataleero, a customer of Tropical Blendz, Tropical Blendz waitress Ceianna Francine, CHCC registered dietitian Kate Campbell, REACH local project assistant and coordinator Kaitlyn Neises-Mocanu, CHCC medical director for Public Health Dr. Daniel Lamar, and NCD Bureau administrator Becky Robles. (Jayson Camacho)

The Shack wins second place in the healthy restaurant project. From left to right: The Shack’s Moses Pedro, Randy Rosario, owner Glen Hunter, CHCC medical director for Public Health Dr. Daniel Lamar, The Shack owner Svetlana Hunter, REACH local project assistant Kaitlyn Neises-Mocanu, CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña, CHCC registered dietitian Kate Campbell, DPH director Margaret Aldan, and NCD Bureau administrator Becky Robles. (Jayson Camacho)

Tropical Blendz front supervisor and cashier Rossana de la Vega said she was speechless and thankful for the recognition. She said their best-selling items are their salads.

The Shack owner Glen Hunter said he was honored to receive the recognition on behalf of the restaurant.

“We’re so happy to see that CHCC got into a program like this and accentuate healthy food and restaurants to provide healthier alternatives and it is a great step in trying to combat obesity,” Hunter said.

Caravan owner Abed Younis was also happy to receive the award, noting that they only have healthy foods and have been offering healthy fare to their customers.

Everest Kitchen owner Laxmi Shrestha, who was also on hand to receive the award, said they serve all healthy foods and that people now have an alternative if they want healthy options.

CHCC REACH local project assistant Kaitlyn Neises-Mocanu, who is the program’s coordinator, said that she and CHCC registered dietitian Kate Campbell worked together to make the final selection of the Healthy Food Champions. She said the program started a month ago.

“It’s difficult to define ‘healthy,’ especially when scientific food analyses are impractical to use for this project,” Neises-Mocanu said.

To select the Healthy Food Champions, they looked for restaurants that offer a healthy food environment, with sensible food portions, no sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, no alcohol, with fresh whole vegetables, fruits, and grains easily identifiable throughout the menu.

“Healthy food environments make it easy for patrons of these champion restaurants to make smart food choices,” Neises-Mocanu said.

CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña said the four restaurants were some of the top restaurants in the community that are making healthy choice the easy choice for residents.

NCD Bureau administrator Becky Robles said that in addition to core nutrition requirements for select menu items, restaurants can make small changes in their menus that would foster a healthier food environment.

More information on the Healthy Restaurant Project is being finalized and will soon be posted in the REACH website, reachcnmi.wix.com/reach. Restaurants or caterers interested in participating in the project are encouraged to sign up for updates through the website. Email Neises-Mocanu at kneisesm@hawaii.edu or contact her at (670) 286-8427.