SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Luna Grill, the San Diego-based Mediterranean restaurant chain, has just announced that they have achieved REAL Certification, the emerging national standard for foodservice nutrition and sustainability.
The Certification, coming on the heels of Luna Grill opening its 18th restaurant in Southern California and the Dallas/Fort Worth area, is a welcomed acknowledgement for Luna Grill and co-founder Maria Trakas Pourteymour, whose passion for wholesome and nutritious food led to the creation of the original restaurant in 2004.
“We are really proud to be a part of the movement to help people be more aware of what they’re eating. It’s important to know where our food comes from, to strive for the best ingredients possible, and that we continue to provide Real Food Crafted With Care. We are so excited to be REAL Certified because the USHFC shares our philosophy and together we’re providing more healthy options when eating outside of the home,” said Maria.
Luna Grill is the first Mediterranean restaurant to be awarded REAL Certification west of Colorado, and the ONLY restaurant chain of any kind with this achievement in Orange County or San Diego County.
REAL, or Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership, is a holistic nutrition and sustainability certification program for the foodservice industry modeled after the LEED green building certification program. The REAL Certification process requires an audit whereby a USHFC (United States Healthful Food Council) approved registered dietician reviews menus, ingredients, preparation methods, and sourcing, and awards points based on a wide range of criteria such as the use of nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits and whole grains, scratch cooking and minimally processed foods, healthier cooking methods, moderate portion sizes, unsweetened beverages, and healthy children’s options. Those that satisfy the necessary requirements are awarded and recognized as REAL Certified.
Luna Grill is owned by Premier Food Concepts LLC, headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information contact Jan Bennett, V.P. of Marketing, 858-450-1188, visit our website, like us on facebook, and follow us on twitter.
