Sue Roe
By: Katrina Irwin
Updated: March 1, 2010
For many families, healthy eating goes out the window when it comes to dining out. But this week's Healthy Hero is aiming to change that. At Keenan's Restaurant in Irondequoit, in addition to the regular menu, they have healthy options geared toward kids. "We're trying to promote a healthy eating opportunity for families to come out with their kids and have choices like the 1% milk that we offer. We changed our menu to meet certain guidelines," says Roe. On the "healthy" menu are a grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken caesar salad, and a turkey wrap. And Keenan says, it's really catching on. "The kids have been ordering those items versus maybe chicken fingers or pizza." And those are just the main courses. "The greater rochester health foundation would like you to have a healthy entree. Healthy choices for a side dish and healthy drink options instead of soda," says Roe. And Roe hopes that any healthy lessons ordered up here. Will go home with her customers. For a life full of healthy meals at home too. All of the healthy heroes are given grant money to be donated to the organization of their choice. Roe chose the American Cancer Society in honor of a well known coach, who always urged his athletes to eat well.
Here they have 1% milk, and carbonated fruit juices. So far, the "healthy hero" menu is a big hit. Roe says, "it's been really, really, positive. The kids get excited, the staff has really taken on a whole new identity with the whole promotion because they have been given props; buttons, stickers, placemats all sorts of things so it's been really energetic."
