Governor Huckabee's "Healthy Arkansas" Restaurants

The first of the governor's new "Healthy Arkansas" program have been announced and I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed with the results. Most of the restaurants that earned the new "Healthy Arkansas Restaurant" certification are actually McDonalds and Subway chains. There were 85 silver award winners. Of those, over 50 were McDonalds locations and about 30 were Subway locations. Wendy's and Pizza Hut locations also made the list.

CAREfully Catered in Little Rock and Serendipities Sugar-Free Desserts in Little Rock were awarded Gold Rewards.

It is disappointing that so many fast food chains got listed and so many of our great locally owned restaurants didn't. I know there are many healthy locations in the city and I was hoping this program would be a way to award them. However, when reading the list remember that this program is voluntary and the restaurant had to apply for the award to win it. The restaurant also has to provide nutrition information for menu items which I think would probably hold some of the locally owned businesses back. You can read the criteria and see the logos for the program on the Healthy Arkansas site.