The Humana Healthier Choices program is returning to the Windy City for its seventh consecutive year at Taste of Chicago. Working with a panel of local physicians, health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) identified 52 healthy foods from 29 Chicago restaurants – the largest number of menu items in the program’s history –representing 44 percent of all vendors at this year’s food festival.
Health enthusiasts, those watching their waistlines and people with chronic conditions often want to enjoy festival treats but still need to be aware of the nutritional values of the foods they are eating. As the only resource at Taste that evaluates the calories, saturated fat, sodium and ingredients of festival foods, the Humana Healthier Choices program allows for guilt-free indulgence. The complete list of healthy appetizers, entrees and desserts, along with wellness activities and opportunities to win prizes, will once again be provided by the Humana Healthier Choices Passport Guide.
“We’re excited to see that Humana’s commitment to health and well–being continues to flourish at this great event with 30 percent more healthier food options than last year for Taste-goers to enjoy,” said Bruno Piquin, Humana Senior Markets Vice President, Northern Division in a news release. “This year marks our largest and most diversified selection of Humana Healthier Choices to date, including Brazilian, Japanese, Mexican, Irish and Italian cuisine.”
The Humana Healthier Choices are indicated by a green apple on the menu boards at participating restaurant booths and listed in the Humana Healthier Choices Passport Guide. Free copies of the Passport Guide can be found at the Humana tent, located on Columbus Drive between Jackson Boulevard and the Buckingham Fountain, and can be downloaded for free at the Taste of Chicago website and via facebook.com/TheTasteOfChicago. Taste–goers are welcome to beat the heat by enjoying a shaded seating area and free cold water in the Humana tent throughout the course of the five-day festival.
All of the restaurants participating in the 2014 Taste of Chicago were invited to submit menu items for consideration to be listed in the Humana Healthier Choices Passport Guide. For an item to be considered, restaurants must submit nutritional details including calories, sodium content, saturated fat and the list of ingredients.
Humana Healthier Choices for the 2014 Taste of Chicago:
Appetizers/Starters – Less than 320 calories, 300 mg sodium and 2 g saturated fat
- Roasted Corn on the Cob – Abbey Pub
- Taste Portion of Mustard Fried Catfish – BJ’s Market & Bakery
- Taste Portion of Veggie Burger Bites – Beat Kitchen
- Cocktail Shrimp – Lawrence Fisheries
- Taste Portion of Malnati Salad – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
- Roasted Celtic Corn on the Cob – O’Brien’s Restaurant
- Taste Portion Beet and Apple Gazpacho with Ginger and Lemon – Brasserie by LM
- Taste Portion of Acai Bowl – Brazilian Bowl Grill
- Taste Portion of Crunchy California Roll – Kamehachi
- Mini Chicken Taco – Taquero Fusion
- Mini Veggie Taco – Taquero Fusion
Main Dishes – Less than 500 calories, 500 mg sodium and 4 g saturated fat
- Veggie Burger – Beat Kitchen
- Mustard Fried Catfish – BJ’s Market & Bakery
- Beet and Apple Gazpacho – Brasserie by LM
- Acai Bowl – Brazilian Bowl Grill
- Grilled Chicken Taco – Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
- Grilled Steak Taco – Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
- Smoked Alligator – Chicago’s Dog House
- Margherita Gluten Free Pizza – Connie’s Pizza
- Chicken Onion Pepper Lettuce Wrap – Gino’s Steak House
- Greens with Fried Plantains – Iyanze
- Taste Portion of Jerk Chicken – Iyanze
- Chap Chae – Jin Ju
- Chicken Ke-bob and Curry Rice with Vegetables – Kasia’s Deli
- Crunchy California Roll – Kamehachi
- Beef Yakiniku – Kamehachi
- Malnati’s Salad – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
- Turkey Leg – Manny’s Cafeteria and Deli
- Grilled Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Cucumber Salad – Star of Siam
- Farro Salad – The Savoy
- Grilled Shrimp Po Boy – The Savoy
- Pulled Chicken Mini Sandwich – The Smoke Daddy
- Gourmet Chicken Taco – Taquero Fusion
- Gourmet Veggie Taco – Taquero Fusion
- Jollof Rice with Plantain – Vee Vee’s
Desserts – Less than 320 calories, 300 mg sodium and 2 g saturated fat
- Fruitti Di Bosco (Mix Berry Sorbet) – Caffe Gelato
- Lemon Sorbet – Caffe Gelato
- Pina Colada Gelato – Caffe Gelato
- Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato – Caffe Gelato
- Lemon Italian Ice – Franco’s Ristorante
- Watermelon Italian Ice – Franco’s Ristorante
- Bissap Sorbet – Iyanze
- Seedless Watermelon – Mariano’s
- Southern Red Velvet Morsel of Love – Ms. Tittle’s Cupcakes
- Taste of Dream Cup – Original Rainbow Cone
- Frozen Mango Kefir – Starfruit Café
- Taste Portion of Frozen Mango Kefir – Starfruit Café
- Frozen Original Kefir – Starfruit Café
- Taste Portion of Frozen Original Kefir – Starfruit Café
- Mango Sorbet – Star of Siam
- Dark Chocolate Banana Baby – The Fudge Pot
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberry – The Fudge Pot
A panel of top Chicago-area physicians with expertise in diet and nutrition collaboratively judged each item to assure that nutritional values were met. The panel included Neal Fischer, M.D., Humana Regional Medical Director, Medicare Operations, Great Lakes Region; Amy Hess-Fischl, M.S., R.D, advanced practice dietitian and program coordinator at University of Chicago’s Kovler Diabetes Center; Brent Smith, D.O., chief medical officer at Edward Hospital; and Katherine Tynus, M.D., clinical associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University.