Look for certified Healthy Restaurants.

Congratulations to Healthy Howard's 100 Healthy Restaurants!!!  

Healthy Restaurant certificates are popping up all over the county. When you see one, you know the restaurant – from fast food to fine dining – has a clean and safe environment and offers healthy menu choices. Check out the list of healthy restaurants or look at a map to find the closest healthy restaurant to you. These are the criteria an establishment must meet to be certified:

• Excellent environmental health inspections
• At least two menu items that are served throughout the day and meet standards for sodium, total calories including fat calories, and servings of lean protein and vegetables
• Display all Healthy Restaurants materials (menu option sheet, decal and/or certificate)
• Compliance with smoke-free air laws
• All offerings are trans-fat free

Recipes undergo nutritional analysis at the Health Department and we work with owners and chefs to make ingredient changes when needed. Restaurants must re-certify every two years to maintain their status.

Healthy Menu Item Requirements

What does it take to be a “healthy menu item?” It has to meet the following nutritional criteria:

• No more than 750 calories
• Less than 30% of calories from fat
• Less than 10% of calories from saturated fat
• No more than 1050 mg of sodium
• Includes a lean protein (e.g., eggs, white meat poultry, lean beef, tofu, beans and/or lentils)
• Includes a serving of vegetables and/or fruit
• Does not have any deep-fried items

These restaurants already made the grade

Click to download the complete list of restaurants and food establishments that are certified as Healthy Restaurants. You’ll also find addresses and menu items. New restaurants are added every month, so be sure to check back regularly.

Are you a restaurant owner?

You should definitely consider becoming a certified Healthy Restaurant.  Here are just some of the benefits:

• Free advertising throughout the year on this website and other media outlets
• A Healthy Howard Healthy Restaurant certificate and window decal for display at your establishment
• Free nutritional analysis of menu items in addition to a menu option sheet highlighting the healthy items offered at your restaurant
• Opportunities to be recognized at community and health focused events in the county
• Opportunities to partner with schools, workplaces, and community organizations
• At this year’s Healthy Howard Day, more than 2,000 residents were exposed to participating Healthy Restaurants. As a participant in the program, you will also have the opportunity to work with schools, workplaces and other partners

Application and Re-certification Information

Interested in becoming one of Howard County’s Healthy Restaurants? The application is available. Download the PDF or contact Keyuri Joshi at kjoshi@healthyhowardmd.org or call 410-988-3737 ext 54 to have an application sent to you. Participation in this program is completely free and voluntary. As a Healthy Restaurant you’ll need to:

1. Offer at least 2 healthy menu items approved by the Health Department; and
2. Meet the environmental health standards listed on the application. If your establishment does not qualify in either the nutrition or environmental health categories, you’re more than welcome to reapply once you meet the requirements.

For more information

We can answer any questions you have as well as help you complete the Healthy Restaurants application. Just contact Keyuri Joshi at 410-988-3737 ext 54 or email to kjoshi@healthyhowardmd.org.  

Resources

To get the free Healthy Restaurant Toolkit to learn the simple process for starting a healthy restaurant program in your county or jurisdiction, contact Robin McClave at 410-988-3737 ext 51 or email rmcclave@healthyhowardmd.org.