Our mission with Eat Fit Shreveport is to make the HEALTHY choice the EASY choice. Eat Fit Shreveport, a nonprofit initiative of Ochsner Health System with support by LSU Health Shreveport and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, is designed specifically for people who want to indulge without the guilt, meeting the community where they are and providing restaurant dishes and grocery options that are both nutritious and delicious!
According to the Louisiana State Health Assessment, 36% of Louisiana adults and 40% of children are classified as obese, polling higher than the national average in every other chronic disease category. In addition, about 14% of individuals have been diagnosed with diabetes across Louisiana and 39% have been diagnosed with hypertension. Eat Fit has been designed as an easy, efficient tool to help end this epidemic in our great state.
I’ve lived in Louisiana my entire life and the food culture is one of my favorite things! The passion, culture, and history that chefs put into dishes makes Louisiana cuisine unique. I’m happy to be part of a program that recognizes that in Louisiana, we love our food, but can aid in making those unique dishes healthier. As a Registered Dietitian, I think it’s important to empower the community to make healthy choices whether they are dining out or cooking at home. When you see the Eat Fit seal of approval, you know that dish was analyzed by a dietitian, it’s healthy and tastes delicious.
When I have the opportunity to meet individuals who have been positively impacted by Eat Fit, it makes all of our hard work and dedication worthwhile. My team and I were at the Louisiana Restaurant Association Expo in August 2018, when a man stopped by our booth to thank us for what we were doing in the community. He was diagnosed with heart disease in 2017 and thought his days of eating out were over until he stumbled upon the Eat Fit app. He now uses the app and choses Eat Fit approved restaurants when he dines out. These are the success stories that drive our mission.
Eat Fit was founded in 2013 by Molly Kimball. She collaborated with some of the most iconic restaurants in the New Orleans region to create Ochsner Eat Fit. She encouraged chefs to offer nutritious, delicious meals for those who want to eat clean, watch their weight, and manage diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. And now, with the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, Eat Fit has expanded statewide! You can find Eat Fit restaurants in Baton Rouge, Acadiana, Lake Charles, Northshore, and now Shreveport.
Since launching in 2013, we’ve branched out from just working with restaurants. You can now find Eat Fit items at grocery stores, stadiums such as the Superdome, the New Orleans airport, festivals such as Voodoo, and 13 charter schools in the New Orleans region.
We are just beginning our work in Shreveport and currently recruiting restaurants. Right now, you can find Eat Fit approved options at PJ’s Coffee in Bossier. The Eat Fit Protein Velvet Ice is a perfect pick-me-up that’s packed with protein! Don Juanz Baja Tacos will have Eat Fit approved items very soon, and many more are headed your way!
The Eat Fit team connects deeply within the Eat Fit communities, serving as a resource for all things wellness. Download the Eat Fit smartphone app to find participating restaurants with full nutrition facts of Eat Fit menu items, as well as recipes, community wellness resources, and to connect with a health professional in your area.
Follow @EatFitShreveport on Facebook and Instagram, @OchsnerEatFit on Twitter and visit www.EatFitShreveport.com for more information about Eat Fit. If you have a favorite restaurant, you can request them through the app or by emailing me at savanna.latimer@ochsner.org.