WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Fresh Market grocery store in Winston-Salem has joined the Heart Center Dining Program at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
The Heart Center Dining Program consists of an impressive array of Triad restaurants, cafeterias and food stores serving heart-healthy dishes.
Participating businesses in the Heart Center Dining Program clearly identify foods that are low in fat and salt and high in nutrients that promote good health. Registered dietitian, Donna Kernodle, MPH, RD, LDN is coordinator of the Heart Center Dining Program at Wake Forest Baptist.
“The restaurants agree to provide recipes to me for analysis to determine if they meet the Heart Center Dining Program guidelines,” said Kernodle. “Our guidelines are based on moderation in fat and salt intake, using the food guide pyramid as a benchmark.”
Kernodle contacts the establishments to be considered for the Heart Center Dining Program and once they are accepted into the program, keeps in touch with the owners and chefs.
Restaurants often have requests from customers to offer foods lower in fat or salt. The Heart Center Dining Program makes it convenient for restaurants to offer heart-healthy meals and easy for consumers on restricted diets seeking high-quality foods.
“The chefs at our restaurants are committed to providing their customers with options for heart-friendly menu items,” she said. “These dishes are clearly marked with a heart-shaped icon and language briefly describing the Heart Center Dining Program.”
Participating restaurants and food stores in the Heart Center Dining Program include:
• The Ardmore Cafeteria, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
• The Bayberry Restaurant, the Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center.
• California Fresh Buffet, 1370 Peters Creek Parkway.
• Convenient Cuisine, 2800 Armstrong Rd.
• The Fresh Market, 280 S. Stratford, Rd.
• Green Valley Grill, 624 Green Valley Rd, Greensboro.
• K&W Cafeterias located throughout the state.
• Lowes Food, 3372 Robinhood Rd.
• Lucky 32 Restaurants in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh and Cary.
• Midtown Café & Dessertery, 151 S. Stratford Rd.
• Noble’s Grille, 380 Knollwood St.
• Old Salem Tavern, 736 S. Main St.
• Sampan Chinese Restaurant, 985 Peters Creek Parkway.
• The Vineyards Restaurant, 120 Reynolda Village
• Wellspring Whole Foods, 41 Miller St.
Kernodle is involved with community health promotion and teaches healthy cooking classes at BestHealth Community Resource Center, Hanes Mall. She holds a master’s degree in public health and is a licensed nutritionist.
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Media Contacts: Jim Steele, jsteele@wfubmc.edu, Shannon Koontz, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu, or Karen Richardson, krchrdsn@wfubmc.edu, at 336-716-4587.
About Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Wake Forest Baptist is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university’s School of Medicine. The system comprises 1,298 acute care, psychiatric, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and is consistently ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report.