Commit to Fit! Smart Bites has been launched by the Greater Flint Health Coalition as a new partnership with local restaurants that engages youth in making healthier choices when dining out. Smart Bites incentivizes students to choose healthy menu options at participating restaurants and earn monthly prizes from Commit to Fit!.
Today, one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese. According to research, between 30% and 40% of children and adolescents eat fast food on any given day and nearly 40% of the calories kids consume are in the form of empty calories. Commit to Fit! Smart Bites is working with local restaurants to market the healthy options to students and make the healthy choice the easiest choice when dining out.
Here’s how it works: Students receive Smart Bites cards to take to participating Smart Bites restaurants, where they receive discounts for choosing healthy options. Students at participating schools can submit their Smart Bites cards monthly to be eligible for gift cards and prizes.
Initially launched in four schools and 14 Genesee County restaurants, the program is open to all Genesee County students, schools and restaurants interested in joining this community-based program. Email commit2fit@flint.org or visit www.choosesmartbites.org/commit2fit to find out how you can get involved!
Smart Bites is a program of the Institute of Medicine, made possible through the Kellogg Health of the Public Fund. The program is founded on the premise that food marketing is a powerful force that should be harnessed for good – that promoting and encouraging healthy foods can have a dramatic impact by helping kids choose smart, dine healthy and earn rewards.
