Mower Refreshed just launched a new program to help people eat out and still be healthy.

Mower Refreshed announced the start of the Refreshed Dining program earlier this week. The program was created after a health care worker heard many people say how hard it was to eat healthy while dining out. The worker took the idea to Mower Refreshed. Health officials and volunteers, along with feedback from restaurant owners, came up with a list of criteria for restaurants.

“The idea [was to create] a criteria that restaurants could try to meet that would create or develop a refreshed dining location,” Mower Refreshed Coordinator Sandy Anderson said.

Restaurants must meet at least five of eight criteria in order to qualify as a Refreshed Dining establishment. The criteria includes fresh fruits and vegetable options; variety of healthy options (less fat, sodium, sugar) at prices equal to less healthy options; options for reduced portion size; discounts on healthier options to promote Mower Refreshed Wellness Wednesdays; areas without TVs, video screens or other entertainment distractions; eco-friendly and safe/healthy to-go containers; allergy friendly and gluten-aware options; and lean and vegetarian options.

“Refreshed Dining criteria was developed to be achievable by a variety of restaurants,” volunteers Brianna Bresser said in a press release. “The intent was not to take away options, but to make healthier options easier to order and more appealing.”

Anderson, Bresser and volunteer Melissa Bonorden were excited to see the initiative finally launched. Refreshed Dining is a grassroots initiative that was designed by the Mower Refreshed Healthier Choices team, based on citizen surveys on what their preferences were in terms of dining out.

“What we saw surface from those surveys was that [consumers] desired more healthy options when dining out, they were desiring to have portion sizes that were maybe more appropriate to healthy choices,” Anderson said.

Anderson said one of the big points was to give consumers options like getting of fruit instead of french fries or having the option to box half the meal right away so they wouldn’t eat too much.

“That those options would be welcome instead of making people feel they were inconveniencing the server,” she said.

Currently three Mower County restaurants have signed on to be Refreshed Dining locations, including The Brick House Coffeehouse, Coffee House on Main and Perkins Restaurant and Bakery. Anderson said two more restaurants will join soon.

Bonorden was happy that local restaurants wanted to be a part of the initiative.

“This initiative connects local citizens and restaurant owners in a new way,” Bonorden said in a press release.

In turn for becoming a Refreshed Dining location, Mower Refreshed provides advertising for participating restaurants on their Facebook, Twitter, website and other venues.

“We want businesses that are making healthy choices easier to thrive financially,” Anderson said. “We’re definitely wanting to support and promote.”

The team worked with restaurants to make sure the criteria options were doable, and didn’t get overly complicated like other initiatives Anderson has seen fail.

“To try to create something that was sensible and sustainable,” Anderson said.

Beginning Oct. 1, participating establishments will display a window cling to inform customers they are entering a Refreshed Dining location and bookmark-sized brochures providing dining tips will be available. Certain restaurants are offering discounts on healthier menu options every Wednesday. For instance, every Wednesday, Perkins in Austin is offering 10 percent off any Fit Favorite entree to any diner who mentions Refreshed Dining.

“We’re really excited about it because a couple of [the restaurants] meet almost all eight of the criteria, so they’re setting the bar high and that’s exciting,” Anderson said.

She said the next step for the team will be to look into putting the initiative in school and work cafeterias.

“The group is already thinking ahead,” Anderson said.

“We know people are eating out more, so if we can give them healthy choices when they’re eating out, that’s going to help with non-infectious diseases, like diabetes,” Anderson added. “We’re making healthy choices easier to make and more attractive to make.”

Any restaurants interested in exploring how to engage in Refreshed Dining are encouraged email at connect@MowerRefreshed.org or 507-434-1039. More information can be found on the Mower Refreshed website, www.MowerRefreshed.org, and weekly through Wellness Wednesday e-blasts.