Democratic Convention Host Committee Develops Suggested Lean ‘N Green Guidelines
June 05, 2008
List outlines ways caterers and restaurants can create healthy, environmentally sound meals
Denver, CO - June 2, 2008 - The greening task force of the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has developed guidelines for caterers and restaurants to adopt as part of Denver's efforts to create a sustainable local environment for this summer's Democratic National Convention.
The Lean 'N Green guidelines were developed to showcase the connection between healthy eating and a healthy planet. While the task force encourages local caterers and restaurants to utilize the guidelines, they are not mandatory and do not preclude local businesses that do not adopt them from participating in Denver's hosting of the convention.
"The Host Committee must balance many factors in selecting our vendors," said Elbra Wedgeworth, President/Chair of the Host Committee. "We prefer but do not require proven experience with greening. Denver's hope for the greening efforts is that it is accelerating our community's collective progress down the path to sustainability."
The Lean 'N Green guidelines are part of the Host Committee's overall efforts to green the events it holds during Denver's hosting of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. To that end, the Host Committee has also sponsored and organized a series of green-oriented workshops for various businesses, including the hotel and printing industries.
As part of this broad greening effort, Lean 'N Green meals will be based on healthy nutrition guidelines and will include a percentage of ingredients that are locally and/or organically produced. The Lean N' Green guidelines provide a simple framework for restaurants, caterers, and others to offer at least one healthy and green option to customers each day during convention week. Staff and volunteers from the greening initiative will be available to provide support in incorporating the green guidelines.
Lean
- Half of the meal (or 50%) of the plate is made up of fruits and/or vegetables
- A colorful meal - include at least three of the following five colors: red, green, yellow, blue/purple, and white (Garnishes not included)
- No items are to be fried
Green
- 70% or more of ingredients by pre-cooked weight are certified organic and/or grown or raised in Colorado
- 70% or more of ingredients by pre-cooked weight are fresh and (not pre-processed)
The Lean 'N Green guidelines were created by a knowledgeable group of volunteers from various groups, including the Colorado Smart Meals program, and were approved by the Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
The additional guidelines included in the Catering Request for Proposal are based on standard environmental best practices. Guidelines include using reusable serviceware rather than disposables, making green choices for any disposables that must be used, avoiding use of individual water bottles in favor of pitchers or other such dispensers, encouraging staff to take advantage of alternative transportation, providing recycling and composting, and calculating and offsetting the carbon footprint of the event using a calculator that will be provided. These guidelines are designed to provide options and alternatives in order to make their implementation as easy as possible.
The green guidelines are one of many components the Host Committee balances during the RFP selection process. While green practices are preferred, not all awards will include all of the guidelines listed.
|
About Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee
The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has four contractual partners in its work. Those partners are the Democratic National Convention Committee, the City and County of Denver, Kroenke Sports and its own Executive Committee.
|
|
|
|