According to a recent Health Check survey, in which 21 educators from various culinary programs in Ontario participated, many believe that restaurants face a number of challenges offering healthier fare but they can be overcome  To this end, majority of the respondents noted that nutrition and healthy eating are a part of their curricula.

See a  summary of the findings below :

• Overall the majority of respondents believe consumers should be encouraged to make healthier choices when dining out and a variety of healthy menu selections should be available (100%) e.g. App, soup, entrees, etc.
• The majority of respondents say that healthy eating is addressed in the current curriculum and that integrating healthy eating components into the curriculum is valuable to both their program and their students 
• Less than half of the respondents cite that nutrition is a mandatory course. 
• The components that are covered the most are:  Canada’s Food Guide, healthy recipe development and basic nutrition 
• Majority of the respondents  state there should be more support for healthy recipe development
• To identify healthy choices respondents agree that verification from a trusted source should be printed on the menu next to the claim/item
• Majority of the respondents say they are aware of the Health Check program and recall seeing the logo and would support the program and want to know more, with the preferred method of communication being email

For more information about participating restaurants, click here. For more information about the nutrient criteria for restaurant menu items , click here.