Coastside Restaurants Join Forces for Kids Healthy Choices

Shortly after Michelle Obama’s announcement to support healthier eating for children to prevent obesity and other food related health issues, local coastside resident Manuela (Manu) Seitz-Hipkins announces the launch of KidsHealthyChoices™.

Guided by a group of professional advisors, the organization strives to facilitate healthy changes to children’s menus locally and across America, one restaurant at a time. Among the coastside restaurants who have joined the program are Café Gibraltar, Mezza Luna, Sam’s Chowder House and Chez Shea. Working collaboratively with Seitz-Hipkins and advisors, these restaurants have redesigned their children’s menus, developing menu choices that are kid-friendly and nutritious.

Volunteer Board Advisor, Olivia Wu, an executive chef at Google, commented that “studies are showing that healthy, made-from-scratch, fresh food improves kids’ attention span, attendance and performance at school,” adding,  “that positive trend should carry over into kids and their families’ culture of dining at home and in commercial establishments.  We are on a course to have the highest rates of childhood obesity and diabetes ever in this country if we don’t change children’s exposure and reliance on processed foods. We owe it to them and to ourselves to make a change.”

Finding early support in local restaurateurs Julie Shenkman and Lewis Rossman of Sam’s Chowder House, Roberto and Danette Pugliese of Mezza Luna as well as Liam Durkee of Chez Shea and Gibraltar, the group at KidsHealthyChoices™ found themselves surrounded by willing chefs and restaurateurs who share the philosophy that children will eat fresh and healthy foods if they are made available, and not only ‘Macaroni and Cheese’ and ‘Chicken Tenders’.  The restaurants have worked with the organization to make changes to their menus which have been well received by coastal parents and kids alike.

Sam’s Chowder House (map)

4210 Cabrillo Highway North
Half Moon Bay

Mezza Luna (map)

459 Prospect Way
Half Moon Bay

Photo courtesy of Flickr CC Bruce Tuten