Healthy Dining Finder

Developed by California-based Healthy Dining, HealthyDiningFinder.com is the only online resource and search tool that provides guidance in choosing dietitian-approved Healthy Dining menu items and corresponding nutrition information for menu items served at more than 60,000 full-service and quick-serve restaurant locations nationwide. Restaurant participation in the Healthy Dining Program has grown substantially since its inception in 1990 as a Southern California, publication-based program. In 2007, the company expanded as a nationwide digital enterprise leading the largest ever restaurant industry nutrition initiative.

Healthy Dining is staffed by registered dietitians, researchers, and communication and digital professionals. HealthyDiningFinder.com was developed with partial funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. The site lists nutrition information for menu items that are consistent with recommendations from leading health organizations, health professionals, and government agencies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA). More than 4,000 qualifying menu choices are featured on the site, including close to 1,000 menu choices meeting the "Sodium Savvy" criteria. The site also provides "Special Request" instructions developed in collaboration with the restaurant to reduce calorie, saturated fat and/or sodium content, such as "order with less cheese (1/2 oz)" or "order with brown rice instead of white rice."

In 2013, Healthy Dining Finder became available in a GPS-enabled mobile format, allowing users on-the-go to access the information.

Kids LiveWell Program
In 2011, Healthy Dining teamed up with the National Restaurant Association to launch the Kids LiveWell program, an initiative designed to enable parents, caretakers and children to find healthful options at restaurants. Since the program's inception, Kids LiveWell has expanded to over 140 participating restaurant brands, museums, theme parks and resorts

Restaurant Services
Healthy Dining's expert team of dietitians also provides nutrition-related consulting services to restaurants, including nutrient analysis, menu labeling compliance, allergen and gluten identification, and other customized nutrition projects.

Research
Healthy Dining has a long-standing interest in finding public health solutions and has received funding for eight Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

History
Healthy Dining has been providing computerized nutrition analysis and health-related marketing and consultation services to restaurants since 1990. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Healthy Dining began as a book publisher of healthful menu options offered at restaurants in Southern California. The series included 19 editions of Healthy Dining in San Diego, Healthy Dining in Orange County and Healthy Dining in Los Angeles. In 2006, Healthy Dining was awarded a small business grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase the success of the Healthy Dining books through nationwide expansion and an online presence with the development of HealthyDiningFinder.com.

The founders are President Anita Jones-Mueller, M.P.H., and Director of Grants and Research, Esther Hill, Ph.D. Erica Bohm, M.S., serves as Vice President and Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Nicole Ring, R.D., serves as Director of Nutrition.

Awards/Recognition

 * Web Health Award: The Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), 2012
 * Web Health Award: The Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), 2009
 * People's Choice Award: The Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo, 2005
 * Meritorious Service Award: The California Dietetic Association (CDA), 1998