In March, Montgomery County passed Bill No. 1-22, known as “Healthy Meals for Children,” a pioneering legislation that mandates restaurants offering children’s meals to include a healthy option (both meal and drink). The initial phase, focusing on providing a healthy beverage option, came into effect in March. Now, the second phase, featuring the introduction of a healthy meal option, is scheduled to be implemented this Friday, September 15. This groundbreaking bill represents the first of its kind to be fully enacted in the United States.
It is essential to note that while establishments are required to offer a healthy option, customers retain the freedom to choose any item from the menu. The bill outlines specific criteria for the healthy meals, emphasizing that they must be under 600 calories and include the following components:
On Thursday, county leaders gathered at the Silver Diner in Rockville to express support for Montgomery County, Maryland’s new legislation, “Healthy Meals for Children” Bill (Bill 1-22), slated to take effect on Friday, September 15. The bill mandates that food establishments offering children’s meals include healthy food and beverage options, a commitment that Silver Diner has upheld for over a decade.
In a bold move in 2012, Silver Diner removed fries and soda from its kids’ menu, introducing healthier alternatives such as salmon and additional vegetables. This decision was prompted by the observation that kids were favoring sides of strawberries. The impact was significant, with nearly half of children’s entrees ordered (46%) now coming from the healthier options, compared to a mere 3% before the menu changes. Moreover, the proportion of kids’ meal orders containing at least one healthy side surged from 26% to an impressive 70%. Importantly, overall revenue for Silver Diner continued to grow, surpassing that of leading family dining chains during the same period.
Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst played a crucial role in spearheading these menu changes. Conducting in-diner focus groups with children who volunteered as “Chef for a Day,” he engaged them in taste-testing proposed dishes and gathering valuable feedback. The positive response from the smallest customers, including an unexpected thumbs up for the salmon entrée and other healthy options, led to their inclusion on the menu.
In 2015, researchers from ChildObesity 180 and Tufts University Friedman School used Silver Diner as a national case study on influencing children’s healthy eating, with results published in the journal Obesity. The study, the first of its kind, demonstrated that offering and promoting healthier menu options played a crucial role in influencing children’s food choices.
Key changes made by Silver Diner, as highlighted in the study, included:
- Offering more healthy kids’ meals: 59% of kids’ meals met nutrition standards compared to 22% before the changes.
- Automatically including healthy sides: Strawberries, mixed vegetables, or side salads were automatically included with all kids’ meals.
- Removing less healthy options: Fries and sugary fountain drinks were taken off the kids’ menu but remained available upon request.
The study analyzed aggregate data from over 350,000 children’s meals, revealing the positive impact of making healthier options more visible. Chef Von Hengst emphasized the influence of food offerings on children’s choices, stating, “When they have great healthy meal choices, it’s easy for them to eat healthy.”
While championing the importance of offering healthy choices, Silver Diner also values the freedom of choice. The success of their healthier kids’ menu is attributed to providing a variety of options for guests to customize their preferences.
Sponsors of the Montgomery County bill, including Councilmember Craig Rice as the lead sponsor, with support from Council President Albornoz and Councilmembers Jawando, Navarro, and Hucker, received backing from organizations like the Montgomery County NAACP, the American Heart Association, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Notably, Montgomery County is the first in the nation to fully implement this legislation, making it a pioneering effort. Both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties will be the first in the country to adopt such legislation. Importantly, restaurants and diners will still have the freedom to choose their meals; the legislation simply ensures that children will have a healthy option available.
For more information on Silver Diner, visit www.silverdiner.com.
