Nine restaurant brands, all making exceptional strides in health and nutrition, including participating Healthy Dining restaurant Silver Diner, were recently honored in the inaugural HALO (Healthy Active Lifestyle) Awards ceremony held in Atlanta.
Silver Diner is a long time participant of both the Healthy Dining and Kids LiveWell programs, is a uniquely innovative and health-wise concept rebuilt over the last several years on the idea that diner food can be fresh, flavorful and healthy all at the same time. Ype von Hengst, Silver Diner’s co-founder and executive chef, projecting the nutrition focused future, set out to transform and reinvent Silver Diner’s traditional diner menu and its brand. He removed 35 not so healthful menu items and added 25 healthful items, including categories of heart healthy, under 600 calories, vegetarian and gluten-free. His passion for his guests and the quality of the ingredients he serves stand out in the industry. Healthy Dining president and founder Anita Jones-Mueller said, “Chef Ype is a master at creatively using spices and seasonings for flavor – especially with his youngest guests. Ype has become a nationwide leader in understanding how to please the taste buds of children in a healthy way. And most important, Ype has shown that offering healthy choices is good for the bottom line of his company.”
Chef Ype von Hengst accepted Silver Diner’s HALO Award saying, “Four years ago, we changed from a traditional diner menu to one that reflects today’s lifestyles, including heart-healthy options, fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and entrées with fewer than 600 calories. We did this based on guest feedback, but also out of necessity. I think that any restaurant not joining this healthier movement will be out of business eventually. We are very proud to receive this award, and we will continue to evolve and meet our guests’ nutrition-related desires.”
Congratulations to Silver Diner on receiving the well-deserved HALO Award!