The Projects

Project #1 - The Kaiser Smart Meal Challenge

Completed on 02/01/08

The Overview

Name:              The Kaiser Smart Meal Challenge
Partners:         Kaiser Permanente and LiveWell Colorado (LiveWell Colorado is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, The Colorado Health Foundation, and the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition (COPAN) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
Timeline:         January 11 – February 1, 2008

The Smart Meal program is a restaurant initiative developed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and is supported by LiveWell Colorado. The Apprentice teams were challenged to identify and work with restaurants within a certain geographic area to create menu items which fit the Smart Meal criteria. 

Teams were briefed on nutritional guidelines and worked with nutritionists to analyze the meals being considered. The Smart Meal program has established nutrition requirements specifically designed for restaurant meals.  Restaurants can showcase those entrees that are lower in fat, calories and sodium and include components such as beans, whole grains, fruits, vegetables as well as milk or milk-substitutes. 

LiveWell Colorado is a statewide initiative aimed at reducing overweight and obesity rates and related chronic diseases in Colorado. It is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, The Colorado Health Foundation, and the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition (COPAN) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The Outcome

After three weeks of research and dozens of visits to area restaurants, the teams were able to sign agreements with three individual restaurants (Imperial Chinese, Queen of Sheba and Rosa Linda's Mexican Cafe) and one chain of 15 restaurants (Qdoba) to provide healthy offerings and include the “Smart Meal Seal” on their menus. The teams identified eight other restaurants that had interest in the program.

The teams presented their results to a panel of judges--including faculty, staff, alumni and professionals in the restaurant and public health fields--on February 1 at Kaiser Permanente.

The 5280 Closers were deemed the winners of the first competition, with more restaurants signed on, but the A-Team won points for an outside-the-box translation of the Smart Meal Seal brochure into Spanish.

The Reward

The 5280 Closers were rewarded the day after the presentation with a limousine-driven trip to visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center-National Headquarters in Colorado Springs. They were given a VIP tour of the facilities by Eli Bremer, an Olympic hopeful in the Modern Pentathlon, and afforded the opportunity to watch future Olympians practice. They also got the chance to meet with the Olympics nutritionist and enjoy a healthy lunch (fit for an athlete!) in the cafeteria. The day ended with the students receiving a gift bag filled with official U.S.O.C. souvenirs and other goodies. View photos