Eat Well! El Paso looks to put healthful choices on kids' menus

1.http://www.elpasotimes.com/living/ci_24202215/eat-well-el-paso-looks-put-healthful-choices

2. Category of Issue: Health & Nutrition

3. Level of Issue: Local

4. Article concerns: Healthier restaurant menu items added to menus for children.

5. Importance/affect on families/individuals: Children are of great importance to this as well as parents. The Eat Well! El Paso Restaurant Initiative is working with nutritional professionals to provide healthier menu options for children to fight childhood obesity.

6. Personal View: I think this is a very great idea!! I am proud to see my own city really caring now about health and making changes not only for the children, but adults as well. Especially since it was ranked the 3rd fattest city in America in 2012. Juvenile diabetes amongst children as well has been high. Another contributing factor to obesity is the lack of physical activity and plethora of fast food and dining restaurants that aren't very health conscientious in the area. Good healthy eating habits and lifestyles start at a young age and I believe this is a great way to get children eating healthier. A great point was mentioned in the article that the menus for adults always provide low calorie "skinnier" options or substitutions, but children don't have those options. Instead they get the classic side order of fries. Also, this is great because even for high school students who have off-campus lunch this will provide them with better choice. Looking back on my high school years I can't believe the amount of junk I ate during my four years; fast food everyday. My high school was surrounded with Wendy's, McDonald's,  pizza places, chinese restaurants, local mexican restaurants, Sonic, Subway, Whataburger, Taco Cabana, Jack In the Box, and the list goes on and on. Hopefully with this initiative originating in El Paso will have a ripple affect on other cities/states and more restaurants in the area will jump on the bandwagon.