Houston DINEs Gets Media Exposure-Updated

The Houston DINEs educational campaign is generating some buzz around Houston. This educational effort led by the American Heart Association is dedicated to improving awareness when dining out. We believe consumers should be armed with nutritional content when they go to order their meal so they can make informed decisions on what they’re putting in their body.

Yesterday former contestants of NBC’s The Biggest Loser spoke with Outlook Houston along with the Houston DINEs team. Victoria and Cherita Andrews shared stories from appearing on the hit NBC show and talked about their weight loss journey. Houston DINEs Community Advocate Nancy Thorne and personal trainer Calvin Lawson also spoke about the need for sound nutrition and regular exercise to maintain good health.

Outlook Houston is Channel 39's half-hour Community Relations program focusing on issues and needs facing the community. The show is hosted by Yolanda Green.

Update: Video of the interview has now been posted on KIAH’s website. Check it out! http://www.39online.com/community/

But we weren’t done there. Members from the American Heart Association and Texas Heart Institute met with the Houston Chronicle as Houston’s largest periodical is planning a story about Houston DINEs in the near future. But in the meantime the Chronicle’s medical blog has already  written a story:

"Eating out? How many calories will you, your family or dining partners consume at the restaurant? At McDonald's, nutritional information comes on the sandwich box or wrapper — but that's after you've chosen the food and paid Ronald McDonald. And that's too late, said Meghan Allen….click here for the rest of the story.

Keep an eye out for Houston DINEs this month. Many other medical, health and fitness publications have called us requesting media interviews. If you see them, post comments here or tweet us at @HoustonDINES.

American Heart Association Launches Houston DINEs

A Dining Information & Nutrition Education Campaign to inform Houstonians about healthy eating habits while dining out

HOUSTON, Texas – The American Heart Association is pleased to announce the launch of the Houston DINEs campaign. Houston DINEs is a local education and awareness campaign to provide dining information and nutrition education to all Houstonians.

The increasing number of meals being eaten outside of the home has reached an all time high and since foods eaten away from the home are typically served in large portion sizes and are higher in energy density compared to meals eaten at home, it is extremely important that Houstonians are well informed about what they are eating.

The American Heart Association wants to empower consumers by encouraging them to ask questions about the calories they consume. This will increase the ability of consumers to make informed choices in the food and beverages they purchase in restaurants.

“Today more than ever, it is important for consumers to be informed of what they are putting into their bodies when dining out. Especially with the large percentage of meals being eaten out of the home in recent years,” said Joel Romo, Houston DINEs Community Advocate for the American Heart Association.

Research has proved that individuals who regularly consume their meals outside of the home have an increase in body weight / percentage body fat. “Adverse health consequences such as Type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity have emerged,” said Dr. James T. Willerson, President, Houston Division Board of American Heart Association. “Our nation is facing an obesity epidemic, and providing nutrition and education information to consumers while dining out can help decrease these effects,” said Willerson.

What is Houston DINEs?

THE SITUATION

Our nation is facing an increasingly dire obesity epidemic. The number of meals people eat outside of the home has reached an all-time high. Between 1977-78 and 1994-96, the percent of food consumed away from home increased from 18 percent to 32 percent of total calories.i Consumer spending on food purchased for consumption outside of the home has increased from approximately 26 percent of their total food budget in 1976 to 46 percent in 2004.ii Yet people typically underestimate the calories in the foods they eat.iii Foods eaten away from home typically are served in large portion sizes and are higher in energy density compared to food eaten at home.iv Adverse health consequences such as Type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity have emerged.v

Research has documented a positive association between eating out and body weight/percentage of body fat.vi The American Heart Association supports consumers making healthier food choices. However, to do so in restaurants requires that consumers have accurate, sufficient information provided in a usable format at the point of sale. We feel that today, more than ever, it is more important for consumers to have adequate information at point of purchase to make healthful choices.

OUR PROJECT:

“Houston DINEs” is a local education and awareness campaign to provide dining information and nutrition education to all Houstonians. The American Heart Association wants to empower consumers by encouraging them to ask questions about the calories they consume. This will increase the ability of consumers to make informed choices in the food and beverages they purchase in restaurants.

- Knowing the caloric content while dining out is important for the prevention of obesity.

- Restaurants should provide calorie information in the same way that other companies are required to provide information on the fuel-efficiency of cars, what clothes are made of, and energy and water consumption of certain home appliances.

- All restaurants should provide point-of-purchase nutrition information, which could help reduce obesity by promoting the introduction of healthier menu options.


For more information, contact:

Ar’Sheill Sinclair
Community Outreach Director
American Heart Association
South Central Affiliate
10060 Buffalo Speedway
Houston, TX 77054
(713) 610-5000
t-arsheill.sinclair@heart.org


Nancy Thorne
Community Advocate
American Heart Association
South Central Affiliate
10060 Buffalo Speedway
Houston, TX 77054
(713) 466-8683
t-nancy.thorne@heart.org

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i Guthrie JF, Lin BH, Frazao E. Role of food prepared away from home in the American diet, 1977-78 versus 1994-96; changes and consequencecs. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2002; 34:140-150.

ii Wootan M & Osborn M (2006) Availability of nutrition information from chain restaurants in the United States. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 30: 266–8.
iii Burton, S., Creyer, EH, Kees, J., Huggins, K. Attacking the obesity epidemic: the potential health benefits of providing nutrition information in restaurants. American Journal of Public Health. 2006; 96:1669-1675.
iv Nielsen SJ, Popkin BM. Patterns and trends in food portion sizes, 1977-1998. JAMA. 2003; 289; 450-453.
v Lichtenstein AH, Appel LJ, Brands M, Carnethon M, Daniels S, Franch HA, Franklin B, Kris-Etherton P, Harris WS, Howard B, Karanja N, Lefevre M, Rudel L, Sacks F, Van Horn L, Winston M, Wylie-Rosett J. Diet and lifestyle recommendations revision 2006, Circulation. 2006; 114: 82-96.
vi Wootan M & Osborn M (2006) Availability of nutrition information from chain restaurants in the United States. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 30: 266–8.