Guest Blog: Humana Healthier Choices at Taste of Chicago

You Can Eat at a Food Festival and Be Healthy, Too.

By Fredrik Tolin, M.D., medical director and vice president for Humana of Illinois

It’s officially summer – time to get outdoors and have fun! If you live in the Windy City or are planning a trip here, you’ll want to experience the annual Taste of Chicago – the biggest food festival in the U.S. For those of us who need to watch what we eat, though, food festivals can seem a bit scary. The temptations are endless and generally high in fat and calories.

Well, there is good news for Taste-goers. Health and wellness company, Humana, has again published the Humana Healthier Choices guide – and is bringing many health and well-being activities to the Taste of Chicago to help everyone enjoy the festival in a healthful way.

For the past two years, we have had the privilege of working with Amy Hess-Fischl, MS, RD, LDN, BC-ADM, CDE, advanced practice dietitian and coordinator for The University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center, to determine which foods made the cut to be listed as a Healthier Choice.

For a food to be considered, restaurants participating in the Taste of Chicago submit nutritional information including: calories, sodium content, saturated fat and the list of ingredients. Each submission is reviewed by a panel of top Chicago-area physicians with expertise in nutrition and diet, including Amy Hess-Fischl. The panel evaluates each submission to ensure they meet specific criteria:  appetizers and desserts must contain less than 320 calories, 300 mg sodium and 2 g saturated fat; main dishes must contain 500 calories or less; 500 mg sodium or less; and less than 4 g saturated fat.

We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s guide boasts a record number of 27 healthier options – from salads to spicy sausage, flatbread to sorbet – offered from 15 Chicago restaurants! You can check out the full listing of Humana Healthier Choices online at www.humana.com/tasteofchicago, and if you feel compelled, please “like” our Facebook page, where you can receive updates on the various health and wellness events and activities Humana is offering at the festival July 11-15.

Dr. Tolin with Humana’s Apple Man

At the Taste of Chicago, the Humana Healthier Choices items will be indicated by a green apple on the menu boards at participating restaurant booths. While you’re enjoying all that Taste has to offer, take a minute to check out the Humana Dining Pavilion at Buckingham Fountain and the Humana Well-Being Tour for innovative, fun and healthy activities, including free dance lessons, exercise classes and even a sock-hop. And, of course, keep an eye out for the Humana Apple Man mascot to snap your picture!

I’d like to personally thank Amy Hess-Fischl and Kovler Diabetes Center for their continued support of our Humana Healthier Choices program. For more information about Humana’s offerings at the Taste of Chicago, please see our press release. We hope to see your there!

Enjoy the summer and stay well.