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Health & Fitness

Eat REAL While Dining Out: REAL Certification Launches in Washington, DC

Elizabeth's Gone Raw, Founding Farmers, Restaurant Nora, Ris and Table are some of the restaurants that were announced as being REAL Certified on Tuesday in Washington, DC by the USHFC.

Note: This blog was originally posted on Examiner.com here.

The United States Healthful Food Council(USHFC) recognized the first restaurants in the nation to achieve REAL Certification at an event in Washington, DC on Tuesday night. REAL (Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership) Certification is a program created by the USHFC to help connect people who want healthful and sustainable food and beverages with the restaurants and other foodservice operations that provide them.

"People are increasingly concerned with health and sustainability when eating out, and REAL Certification provides a holistic way to distinguish between those that 'walk the walk,' from those that simply 'talk the talk,'" said Lawrence Williams, President of the USHFC. "Putting calorie levels on menus may be helpful, but it's not a good proxy for healthfulness and environmental sustainability."

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Utilizing a flexible points-based system similar to LEED®, the USHFC provides third-party verification of nutrition and sustainability best practices. Restaurants earn points based upon the REAL Index, which was developed in collaboration with an independent panel of experts, and covers vital categories such as vegetables and fruits, moderate portion sizes, local and regional sourcing, special dietary offerings, healthy children's meals, lean meats, animal welfare, organic and sustainable food and reduced processing and additives.

“We decided to launch the Eat REAL™ campaign in Washington, DC because of the city’s unique collection of leaders in culinary arts, nutrition, sustainability and health,” continued Williams. “Our inaugural class of REAL Certified restaurants are an excellent representation of chefs and businesses that understand the important role they play as the new stewards of the American diet.”

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Eat REAL™ DC is a citywide initiative to promote REAL Certified foodservice establishments. The first group of restaurants nationwide that have completed REAL Certification and were recognized at the launch event include restaurants located in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

USHFC announced the following top area restaurants as REAL Certified:

Each of these REAL Certified restaurants were honored with a custom 'REAL Verified' plate designed by leading tableware company, Fortessa. REAL Certification is issued at multiple levels, beginning with REAL Verified. The USHFC also provides REAL Certification to contract foodservice operations and is currently certifying locations in Boston, San Francisco, Oakland and Omaha. Restaurants and contract foodservice providers interested in participating may request certification HERE.

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