St. Luke’s Announces "Heart Healthy Meals" Menu Partnership With 21 Area Restaurants

Eating healthy while out on the town just got easier. St. Luke’s Health Network has announced a partnership with 21 area restaurants to launch the "Heart Smart Healthy Meals" program.

The program, which launched in February, began when vice-president of marketing Ken Szydlow met with a group of cardiologists over a meal. “Here we were, a group of doctors eating some not particularly heart-healthy meals,” said Szydlow. So Szydlow started contacting local restaurants. “The owners and chefs were very receptive to the idea.”

Restaurants involved with the program work with St. Luke’s in a variety of ways. “We have menu options and recipes online for the chefs to use,” said Szydlow. Since so many of the restaurants have a signature style or menu items, St. Luke’s is also working with the chefs to examine the already-existing menu. “They send the recipes to our chefs and nutritionists, and they review the recipes to see if they are heart healthy, or to give suggestions as to how to make it healthier.

But could this be the death of the mozzarella stick? No, says Szydlow. “Most of the time, it’s about moderation. The portions are so much bigger at restaurants than at your home, and you don’t realize how much you’re eating in the moment.”

Participating restaurants are in different stages of launch, but early adopters of the program are already seeing results. “The program is working great,” says Natalie Miller, owner of Loopers Bar and Grill in Bethlehem. “We’re actually working on a new menu. Some of our menu items already fit the criteria, but we wanted additional menu items.” Miller hopes to take advantage of the program as well. “Take it from someone who wants to eat out on her day off, it’s nice to be able to look at the menu and see the heart healthy options. I don’t have to eat that way all the time, but it’s nice to know what the options are.” Right now, Loopers is advertising the heart-healthy portion of the menu on Facebook and through the servers, but more is on the way. “We’re getting information [on the program] made for the tables now,” said Miller.

Participating restaurants are letting customers know in a variety of ways. “Some are adding the St. Luke’s logo to menu items, some are creating inserts for their menu or a information to sit on the table,” said Szydlow. The "Heart Smart Healthy Meals" program is ongoing, or as long as the restaurants want. "Hopefully, the program will take off," said Szydlow.

Participating restaurants include:

• The Brick Tavern Inn
• The Glasbern Inn
• Grille 3501
• McCoole’s Red Lion Inn
• Miguel’s
• Paolo’s
• Spinnerstown Hotel
• Stone Bar Inn
• Weaversville Inn

• (contacted St. Luke’s with interest in the program)