Mestizo, Mid-City Market receive first Well-Spots restaurant designations

The Department of Health and Hospitals recognized its first three Well-Spots this week. The DHH’s initiative is part of the Well-Ahead program started in April, which recognizes establishments around the state that voluntarily champion and embrace health and wellness. The Capital City’s three Well-Spots include AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Chef Don Bergeron’s Mid-City Market and Mestizo Restaurant. All three were designated as Level Two Well-Spots.

Mestizo and Mid-City Market are 100% tobacco free, and both have a number of healthy menu options for adults and children. The two restaurants also accommodate for dietary restrictions and are what DHH calls “5-2-1-0” partners, meaning the restaurant managers and CEOs encourage everyone to eat five fruits and veggies daily, limit all screen time to two hours or less, get one hour or more of physical activity each day, and drink water or low-fat milk instead of sugar-sweetened drinks.

Mestizo’s CEO Jim Urdiales says recent changes made to the restaurant correlated perfectly with the state’s Well-Ahead mission.

“We know how important it is to accommodate all customers, and we identified the need to provide healthier menu options for our patrons,” he says. “Customers of all ages are choosing to live healthier lives, so I knew we could accommodate their needs with the same great flavor and quality they expect form Mestizo.”

For more information on the Well-Ahead program and Well-Spots, click here.