Eat REAL and green|spaces team up to provide more transparency to Chattanooga Foodservice

Over the last 6 months, nonprofit organizations green|spaces and Eat REAL have partnered together to improve nutrition and sustainability practices in restaurants throughout the Chattanooga area. 10 restaurant locations were brought through Eat REAL’s REAL Certification and have begun green|spaces’ green|light certification.

“Historically focused on office and retail settings, we at green|spaces are thrilled to partner with Eat REAL and expand into the foodservice industry with the green|light Program. Restaurants have an enormous and approachable opportunity to minimize their impacts and we are proud to help guide their way and influence the entire industry,” notes Kelley Cureton, green|light Program Director.

The following restaurants have achieved Eat REAL Certification through this collaboration
·    Lupi’s Pizza (all locations)
·    Hummingbird Pastaria
·    Naked Foods
·    Vibrant Meals
·    Frothy Monkey
·    1885 Grill

Participating restaurants in the process of becoming green|light Certified are;
·    Tremont Tavern
·    Parkway Pourhouse
·    Feed Table and Tavern
·    Lupi’s Pizza (all locations)
·    Hummingbird Pastaria
·    Naked Foods
·    Vibrant Meals
·    Frothy Monkey
·    1885 Grill

The highly-coveted Eat REAL certification has been achieved by over 500 restaurant and foodservice providers. Utilizing a points-based audit, third-party registered dieticians evaluate establishments through interviews and menu, supply chain and operations analysis. Those that earn sufficient points in the areas of Responsible (nutrition), Epicurean (preparation), Agricultural (sourcing) and Leadership (environmental stewardship and other best practices) are able to become REAL Certified.

The green|light certification takes a holistic approach to improving business operations and is customized for each participant in order to identify and achieve industry-specific sustainability goals across nine categories.  Each restaurant pursuing green|light Certification is audited to update and improve policies and procedures in employee wellness, materials purchasing, cleaning products and methods, energy and water efficiencies, waste reduction, catering operations, and community outreach. By addressing social and environmental impacts, the green|light Certification aims to improve employee attraction and retention, create a stronger public image for locals and visitors, and provide cost savings to align businesses as environmental and community stewards.

“Chattanooga is a city rich in local food culture and community, “ says Eat REAL Project Manager Nikkole Turner, “These establishments are helping shift the foodservice environment to a more healthful and sustainable model”.

The Eat REAL and green|light Certifications together create a comprehensive change path for foodservice providers to do better for both their guests and the planet. They provide a rigorous assessment and verification that encourages foodservice operations to raise the bar in sustainable nutrition, agricultural and environmental practices.

About green|light
Green|light is the “working arm” of green|spaces, Chattanooga’s sustainability nonprofit since 2007. A voluntary third-party program, green|light was created to fulfill the growing need for a local, credible, affordable sustainability certification for Chattanooga’s businesses who are operating with purpose and celebrate their commitments to social and environmental stewardship.

About Eat REAL

Eat REAL® is a 501(c) (3) Public Health nonprofit organization based in Richmond, California. Eat REAL is dedicated to transforming food in K-12 schools, creating a healthier next generation and planet. Launched in 2012, Eat REAL Certified is a nutrition and sustainability best practices certification program working with school district food service leaders to raise the bar and make food in schools more nutritious and sustainable. Eat REAL’s core program currently supports 237 schools, reaching over 116,000 students.