WASHINGTON, July 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association announced today its award-winning Kids LiveWell initiative is marking its four-year anniversary this month with a growing list of restaurants offering healthful children's menu choices to families in every state.

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In four short years, the voluntary program has expanded from 19 to over 155 participating restaurant brands, representing more than 42,000 locations nationwide. New restaurant brands include Baja Fresh, Hard Rock Cafe, Red Robin, Schlotzsky's and Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar, among other regional chains and independent restaurants. The initiative includes quickservice and tableservice concepts, as well as theme parks, resorts and museums.

For an overview of Kids LiveWell, watch our new video: https://youtu.be/SUSQFfacb9k

"As we celebrate Kids LiveWell's fourth birthday, we are tremendously proud of the strides the industry has made to provide healthful kids' meals to families across the country," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "It's inspiring to see restaurants in every state and of all sizes making the effort to serve nutritious options for the industry's youngest patrons."

"Healthy Dining is proud to feature the Kids LiveWell menu choices on HealthyDiningFinder.com so that parents can easily find the participating restaurants and qualifying menu choices," said Anita Jones-Mueller, MPH, President of Healthy Dining. "The growing number of Kids LiveWell menu choices makes dining out a happy and healthy time for families."

Many Kids LiveWell participating restaurants are taking part in the program's fourth birthday celebrations by offering special kids' meal promotions. The program is also hosting an online birthday party from Kids LiveWell's Twitter account on Tuesday, July 28, from 1-3 p.m. ET, featuring games, giveaways and a Q&A with chefs from participating Kids LiveWell restaurants. Join in with the hashtag #4yrsOfKidsLiveWell.

To join Kids LiveWell, restaurants agree to offer and promote a selection of qualifying menu items based on leading health organizations' scientific recommendations, including the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines. The initiative focuses on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy, and limiting total calories, unhealthy fats, sugar and sodium.

Healthy Dining's team of registered dietitians works with restaurants to identify and validate menu choices that meet the program's criteria. Participating restaurants and their qualifying items can be found on HealthyDiningFinder.com, and also via a free Kids LiveWell app.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 14 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 21-24, 2016, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube. 

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SOURCE National Restaurant Association