Arya Indian Restaurant and Café in Narre Warren South was one of 24 food outlets to be awarded a 2006 Choosing Healthier Options in Casey and Cardinia Eateries (CHOICE) Awards. Chef Hayad Singh Pahar with some of their cuisine.
TWENTY-four food outlets in Casey and four in neighbouring Cardinia Shire have proved that fast food can be healthy but still affordable.
The 28 outlets were all awarded the 2006 Choosing Healthier Options in Casey and Cardinia Eateries (CHOICE) Awards on Wednesday, 20 September.
The City of Casey launched the program in 2005, and this year, Cardinia joined forces to establish the program across both municipalities under the Sprouting New Ideas initiative funded by VicHealth.
City of Casey mayor Kevin Bradford and Shire of Cardinia councillor Kate Lempriere presented the awards to the food outlet owners at the Beaconsfield Community Complex.
“Achieving the CHOICE Award is a great credit to these local food outlets who are showing the community that they care about providing healthy and affordable options in their menus for the whole family,” Cr Bradford said.
Local restaurants, hotels, cafes, bistros, takeaway and sandwich shops interested in taking part in the healthy food program were encouraged to apply for accreditation under the CHOICE Awards.
The award recipients have all passed the key criteria which includes safe food handling and hygiene, nutrition, and affordability of healthy foods.
“I encourage residents to congratulate their local food outlet CHOICE Award Winners and, particularly in light of the growing problem of childhood obesity, to also strongly consider choosing healthier options when ordering meals,” Cr Bradford said.
All participating food premises underwent a thorough assessment conducted by Cardinia Shire and City of Casey Environmental Health Officers and an Accredited Practising Dietician from the Cardinia-Casey Community Health Service.
Premises were assessed on safe food handling and hygiene, nutrition, and affordability of healthy foods.
The City of Casey 2006 CHOICE Award winners:
Arya Indian Restaurant and Café,Narre Warren South, Bubba Pizza, Pasta and More, Berwick, Castellos-Berwick Springs Hotel, Berwick, Cheeky Chicken, Narre Warren, Chicadee Chix, Berwick, Chick’n D’lish, Hallam, Clover Cottage Restaurant, Berwick, Deso’s Catering, Endeavour Hills, F1 Charcoal Chicken, Narre Warren South, Fishtastic, Berwick, Georges on the Avenue, Narre Warren South, Healthy Habits, Narre Warren, Kellys Motor Club Hotel, Cranbourne, Kids Space Café, Hallam, Pinky’s Pizza, Narre Warren, Positano Restaurant, Hallam, Race Track Café, Cranbourne,Subway, Hallam, Subway Narre Warren, Thao Thao Vietamese Restaurant, Hampton Park, The Big Catch-Fish and Chips, Cranbourne, The Courthouse Restaurant, Berwick, Tooradin Inlet Lounge, Tooradin and Wild Cherry, Berwick.
Shire of Cardinia 2006 CHOICE Award winners are;
100 Monkeys Wholefoods Organics, Kooweerup, Beaconsfield News-agency and Milk Bar, Beaconsfield, Bullsraw Steak and Sushi Restaurant and Bar, Beaconsfield and The Grayn Restaurant, Pakenham.
The award is valid for one year and all food premises are welcome to participate again in 2007.
For more information on the CHOICE Award program contact Project Officer Sprouting New Ideas Sara McAlister on 9705 5200.
