Choose Health LA Welcomes El Vaquero Restaurant!

The PHFE WIC Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH), and community members of El Sereno celebrated, El Vaquero Restaurant for its participation in Choose Health LA Restaurants. Choose Health LA Restaurants, is a partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health that encourages local restaurants to promote healthier meal options. On May 24th, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at El Vaquero restaurant to recognize them as the first to partner with CHLA Restaurants in El Sereno.

PHFE WIC was funded by DPH to implement Choose Health LA Kids in the Metro LA area including El Sereno. PHFE WIC/CHLA Kids recruited El Vaquero to participate for this voluntary restaurant adoption program to offer healthier meal options. Representatives from the Honorables’ Mayor Gil Garcetti and Councilmember Jose Huizar District 14 office were on hand to make special remarks and present awards. Zoe Phillips, Initiative Director of the Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative was also present to commemorate the occasion and present awards on behalf of LAC DPH.

This local eatery is now part of an extraordinary group of restaurants throughout Los Angeles County that are actively working together to prevent obesity. Participating restaurants are aware that the appeal for good health is actively growing and it makes good business sense to incorporate and adopt healthier options to better meet the needs of their customers.

CHLA Restaurants, features selected menu items that are reduced sized by one-third of the original menu item. Participating restaurants also have the option to develop or modify their kids menu. Healthier children’s meals include fruits or vegetables, limited fried foods, and chilled water, free of charge or milk as a healthier alternative to soda. Some of the highlights of the event included the following remarks by community members and presenters:

“As a member of this community I recognize that we have a huge problem of obesity with us as adults and our children. I think it’s great that El Vaquero is taking the initiative to participate in this program to help with this problem.” Martha Meza, community member who has lived in El Sereno 22 years.

“Having a smaller portions menu is a win-win for customers. Families have the option to make healthy decisions, enjoy traditional Hispanic cuisine without sacrificing flavor, and reduce their caloric intake at the same time achieving a healthier weight.” Stacey Medina, PHFE WIC/Choose Health LA Nutritionist.

“PHFE WIC Program empowers families to “eat like WIC”. When restaurants like El Vaquero offer healthier options; it supports our WIC message that you can still dine out with your family, although it is our job to help our children make better choices.” Kiran Saluja, PHFE WIC Program Executive Director.

“It is crucial to have partners from many different sectors to tackle the significant issue of obesity in El Sereno. Today, we are privileged to have El Vaquero join WIC and DPH in these efforts through the CHLA Restaurants program” Sharen Anthony, CHLA Kids Initiative Coordinator.

About PHFE WIC

PHFE WIC has 43 sites throughout Los Angeles County and serves almost 175,000 women that are pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum and children under 5 years of age. WIC is a premier public health and nutrition program that is funded by the USDA. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) administers the WIC Program in California. In keeping with our mission “to nourish, educate, support and empower our clients and ourselves”, PHFE WIC is currently partnering with the LA County Department of Public Health and First 5 LA to implement the Choose Health LA Kids (CHLA Kids) program in the Metro Los Angeles area. This area has some of the highest obesity rates for children. As the largest local WIC agency in the nation, PHFE WIC has been championing optimal health initiatives for over 40 years. For more information visit our website at www.phfewic.org.