Area restaurants are being encouraged to join in the Shape Up Somerville spirit.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Shape Up Approved Somerville has partnered with Somerville restaurants to assist patrons to recognize options which are healthier each time that they venture out to eat.

The Shape Up Approved logo will indicate Somerville’s Shape Up Approved selections, all of which are nutritious, and they taste good, too.

Shape Up Somerville is a citywide campaign, the goal of which is to “increase daily physical activity and healthy eating” via various programs, policy work and the improvement of physical infrastructure.  This initiative involves residents from each corner of Somerville, according to the city’s website.

“Shape Up Approved is a Shape Up Somerville initiative. It began in 2006 under Shape Up Somerville, however in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the mayor also included a part-time Nutritionist beginning in FY12, who assists with Shape Up Approved, and other initiatives within Shape Up Somerville,” said Rachael Plitch, Shape Up Somerville (SUS) Coordinator.

It must be noted that, “Shape Up Approved does not serve meals.”  Rather, “The Shape Up Somerville Coordinator and Nutritionist work with restaurant owners and chefs in a number of ways to help them understand the goals of Shape Up Somerville and Shape Up Approved, work with them to post signage within their businesses related to healthy choices, and where possible, reprinting menus to display the ‘Shape Up Approved’ items, among other areas,” said Plitch.

“Somerville is a uniquely diverse community with a varied and vibrant restaurant scene that offers exciting cuisine from countries around the world. In tagging approved menu items, Shape Up Approved allows residents to take advantage of this resource, while maintaining their health.  The mayor and his administration are committed to making sure that Somerville is a great place to live, work, play and raise a family, and part of that mission includes our commitment to a healthy community,” said Jackie Rossetti, Deputy Director of Communications of the City of Somerville.

The heart of Shape Up Somerville celebrates active living, including an increased focus on recreation programming for youth and adults, alike, School Food and Nutrition Services, as well as additional items.

“SUS Approved is a branch of that commitment, and we are working on expanding and reinforcing this program throughout the city by utilizing educational resources and training with the SUS staff and nutritionist,” said Rossetti.

“A lot of our menu is healthy, including salads and wraps and prepared vegetables and meats. We don’t serve processed foods. The city asked us to be involved [in Shape Up Approved Somerville], and we were happy to do it,” said Christina Theophanis, General Manager of Dave’s Fresh Pasta.

The most important part of offering Shape Up Approved Somerville meals is “fresh, handmade, tasty food that also happens to be healthy,” said Theophanis.

Specifically, wraps, different types of tomato sauce, whole-wheat pasta and various kinds of salad make up the establishment’s Shape Up Approved Somerville menu items.

Dave’s Fresh Pasta customers’ favorite Shape Up Somerville Approved menu items include whole wheat pasta and veggie hummus wrap.

The restaurants in Somerville which are presently participating in this initiative may be found on Facebook at, https://www.facebook.com/shapeupapprovedsomerville/app_4949752878, and they are as follows: Amigos Market, Basil Tree Catering, Cafe Belo, Cantina La Mexicana, Dave’s Fresh Pasta, Diesel Café, Farmers’ Bounty, Fasika, Gauchao Brazilian Cuisine, Holland Street Café, Lemon Thai Cuisine, Martsa on Elm, Mr. Crepe, Neighborhood Restaurant, On The Hill Tavern, Out of the Blue, The Paddock Restaurant, The Pulse Cafe, Rodizio, Ronnarong Thai Restaurant, Sabur Restaurant, Sherman Café, Sherman Market, Snappy Sushi, Sweet Ginger Thai Cuisine, True Grounds, Valentim and Wang’s.

Interested restaurant owners who would like to be added to the list may contact the Shape Up Approved Somerville program at shapeupapproved@gmail.com.