At a time when childhood obesity is under the microscope in the United States, Joe’s Crab Shack on Wednesday announced the launch of a new kids menu as well as its participation in the Kids LiveWell program.
The program, launched by the National Restaurant Association and HealthyDiningfinder.com, is a national initiative to provide parents with high-quality resources to find restaurants offering healthy kids’ food choices.
The new kids menu at Joe’s Crab Shack, which was evaluated by Healthy Dining’s team of registered dieticians, features snow crab, grilled shrimp and fish fingers. In addition, the food choices for children have been repackaged with an emphasis on balance between lean protein, vegetables, grains, fruits and low-fat dairy, as well as stressing the importance of youth fitness activities and the availability of gluten-free options.
“Joe’s has always been a place where friends and families share memorable dining experiences,” said Kristen Temple, the company’s marketing director. “We hope parents can use the Kids LiveWell tools to ensure that their children have a fun time and great nutrition at Joe’s Crab Shack. Kids are always welcome to join in the dancing in our restaurants. This program is as much about getting moving as it is about making smart food choices.”
Owned by Houston-based Ignite Restaurant Group, Joe’s Crab Shack operates about 115 casual seafood restaurants across the United States.
Also on Wednesday, Sam’s Chowder House in California received a Top 100 Diners’ Choice Award for Kid-Friendly Restaurants in America.
Chosen from more than 7 million reviews submitted by OpenTable diners, Sam’s was selected over 12,000 other restaurants to earn the award. Sam’s uses sustainably sourced seafood whenever possible and the kid’s menu includes grilled salmon and fish and chips.
“At Sam’s we have spent a great deal of time on our kid’s menu, working closely with the WellKiddos organization to make it as healthy and wholesome as possible, while still appealing to our younger guests,” said Lewis Rossman, Sam’s executive chef and partner. “In addition to our kids menu, our proximity to the ocean and beach, casual atmosphere and attentiveness to kids and families was key in this award. We’re excited to be recognized by OpenTable diners as a place that families of all ages can enjoy.”
