The low-carb Atkins and South Beach diets, veganism, vegetarianism, Paleo diet, gluten-free diet; there is clearly no shortage of diet options in today’s hyper health-focused world. It has become more critical than ever in the dining service industry to be aware of the ever-changing landscape of food and diet trends as well as guest expectations.
As an organization that takes great pride in its level of commitment to excellence, we are always in pursuit of a healthier, more sustainable future. Now, with Judy Caplan, our corporate nutritionist, leading the way with a new initiative named GoBeFull, we have further positioned ourselves to strengthen the well-being of our guests and our planet.
Judy has been a registered dietitian for over 40 years; her extensive experience in the industry in multiple different capacities has earned her a variety of impressive titles throughout her career. She was the founding director of nutrition & wellness at Canyon Ranch, an innovative award-winning healthy living organization known for their focus on mind-body wellness, and is currently a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As the creator of GoBeFull, she is the perfect person to tell us how it can positively affect all of Guest Services’ guests and team members.
What are your goals for GoBeFull at Guest Services?
To develop a comprehensive and integrative health awareness program that can be used company-wide to help Guest Services’ guests and employees identify healthier food options and tie those foods to their power to build vibrant health and reduce the incidence of chronic disease. The program will include the creation of a continually updated database of Guest Services recipes, identifiable health labels on food products, and the introduction of educational materials that promote GoBeFull foods and actions that lead to healthier behavior outside of our cafés.
Why is GoBeFull important to Guest Services?
GoBeFull provides a communication channel for delivering the latest scientific, preventive health information throughout all of our various divisions. GoBeFull integrates the food we serve, the educational programming we provide, and the recreational activities we offer into the components that make up a healthy lifestyle.
Health is cumulative, built one day at a time, meal by meal, over many years. Unlike most restaurants where people eat only on occasion, Guest Services often serves in locations where people eat daily. This presents the unique opportunity to influence the ongoing health and wellness of guests through food as well as promotion of an active lifestyle.
How can properties benefit from implementing the GoBeFull initiative?
They now have a way to produce and identify healthier food options via our GoBeFull green and white color-coded labels. The green labels can alert customers to items that are lower in calories and sodium, contain no preservatives, no trans fats, no processed meats, and, where applicable, contain whole grains.
GoBeFull labeling identifies all ingredients, calories, and basic nutrition facts; vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options; and the eight FDA-recognized allergens. The labels make it easier for customers to know what is in their food and make more informed choices. Our white labels are not necessarily unhealthy; they just do not meet the more stringent guidelines of GoBeFull.
How can employees benefit from the GoBeFull initiative?
GoBeFull labeling provides employees at our units with the same information we provide our customers, and employees soon will have access to GoBeFull materials at GSIEmployees.com. Additionally, preparing healthier recipes at work will help employees internalize better health for themselves and their families.
What is GoBeFull’s effect on sustainability?
Although not a vegetarian program, GoBeFull contains a significant number of plant-based recipes, which are easier on our carbon footprint; plants increase oxygen in the environment, making for cleaner air, and plant waste can be composted and returned to the soil. Partnerships with local farms can decrease energy costs and support sustainable farming practices. Our future composting initiative will enable our properties to give back to their communities by recycling vegetable waste to enrich the soil, leading to more local community gardens and beautification programs.
What are the future plans for the GoBeFull initiative?
As preventive medicine keeps evolving, GoBeFull will stay abreast of the latest culinary, health and fitness trends through pop-ups. This approach will make it easy to stay fresh, fun and most of all, full. GoBeFull may soon be expanding into the fitness realm with “GoBeFit” and into sustainability with “GoBeEco.”
How can managers get involved with GoBeFull at their property?
We will be providing training on our new software system, which identifies recipes that meet the GoBeFull criteria and produces corresponding labels. For more information, please request a GoBeFull brochure from Marketing.
If you are interested in the program, please discuss this with your department head or district manager and then contact Katelynn Cook at cookk@guestservices.com.