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Better Choice initiative makes it easier for employees to make healthy food decisions

New labels on selected entrees and side items at campus dining facilities will help identify the "Better Choice" for healthy eating, thanks to a collaboration among Emory University, Emory Healthcare and Bon Appétit. The Better Choice team visited the Emory Farmers Market on May 24 to offer samples and answer questions about the program. Emory Photo/Video

People make an average of 221 food-related decisions each day — although most are only aware of making a fraction of those choices. The rest are often influenced by a variety of factors, including subconscious environmental cues.

Making the best, or even better, choice can sometimes be a lot tougher than one would immediately think. To help diners who are looking to make better nutrition decisions, Healthy Emory has started to offer a new food labeling initiative called “Better Choice.”

“One of the four Healthy Emory cornerstones is creating an environment that makes it easier for people to achieve their health goals,” says Michael Staufacker, director of health management at Emory. “That includes factors such as plate size and making sure the healthier choices are within reach. The Better Choice label helps reduce some of the barriers for people trying to make healthy choices, by providing a visual shortcut to select nutrient-rich foods that also are delicious.”

To promote a healthier environment for staff, faculty and students, the Better Choice initiative is an enterprise-wide collaboration among Emory University, Emory Healthcare and Bon Appétit, the management company that oversees the dining facilities at Cox Hall, Oxford Dining, the SAAC Café, Dobbs Market and the Rollins School of Public Health.

The Healthy Emory Food and Nutrition subcommittee that led the charge spent months preparing for the rollout. Because the label is based on standardized nutritional content for each serving, the team calculated the nutritional content of existing recipes, tested and refined recipes, and identified potential logistical challenges involved in a system-wide rollout, including training, labeling and menu planning.

“We are excited about seeing this come to fruition after all the hard work by our teams,” says Lynne Ometer, director of food and nutrition services at Emory University Hospital. “Each of our facilities has their own unique needs, but this effort requires a high degree of coordination, collaboration and consistency for it to be successful.

"Throughout the planning process, we have all been inspired by the opportunities we see to expand the program in the future," Ometer adds, "including 'visual recipes' to guide people in creating a Better Choice salad at the salad bar.”

Steps to better health

The Better Choice labeling system is based on 2015 dietary guidelines on caloric intake, saturated fats, sodium and added sugars. The label for entrees takes into consideration the protein content, while the side dish selection considers the fiber content.

Initially, the Better Choice label will be applied to one entrée and one side dish each day, but plans are already underway to evaluate how to expand the guidelines to help people make healthier decisions at the salad bars, sandwich and grill stations, and even at breakfast.

“Most of our faculty, staff and students dine at an Emory location 5-10 times per week, or 1-2 times per day,” says Jessica Perry, residential dietitian with Emory University Dining and Bon Appetit. “The Better Choice program gives that subtle nudge to make a healthier choice.

"In identifying healthier options for our menu, just omitting cheese or substituting marinara sauce for Alfredo sauce can make an item a Better Choice," she notes. "Even if a person chooses a Better Choice option only half of the time, it is still one step toward improving their overall health.”

Building on the Colorful Choices Challenge

The Better Choice team visited the Emory Farmers Market on May 24 to offer samples and answer questions about the program. With representation from both Emory Healthcare and Bon Appetit, the Better Choice team treated visitors to samples of two Better Choice recipes: a summer berry salsa with cinnamon pita chips and a Sea Island pea and cornbread salad.

In addition, they offered a sample of angel food cake with a macerated strawberry topping. While the cake didn’t quite meet the standards for the Better Choice label, as Carol Kelly, assistant director of nutrition services for Student Health Services, pointed out, “It is still a healthier dessert option than a chocolate cake.”

And, that is an important aspect of all Emory dining. Moira Faris, manager of clinical nutrition at Emory University Hospital, was quick to point out that while the Better Choice label indicates the “sweet spot” of nutrition within a recipe, both Emory Healthcare and Bon Appétit routinely offer healthy recipes.

“We may be offering some kind of roasted vegetables, which are wonderful and full of nutrients, but they don’t quite meet the requirements to earn the Better Choice label,” explains Faris. “They can still be part of a healthy diet and can complement the Better Choice option.”

Michael Staufacker sees the rollout as a great way to build on the momentum created by the Colorful Choices challenge.

“We had more than 1,700 employees participating in the Colorful Choices challenge,” he says. “Many of them were trying — and liking — new foods they’d never had before. We hope we can keep that excitement and willingness to try new things going with the Better Choice offerings.”


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