San Diego-based Healthy Dining is teaming up with the Poway Unified School District Foundation to launch Healthy Dining School Rewards, an innovative partnership with local restaurants to raise funds for school fitness and wellness programs at Poway elementary schools. The groundbreaking EAT. SCAN. PLAY. concept, whose development is funded by the National Institutes of Health, will be unveiled at a red carpet celebration and tasting event TODAY at 4:30 p.m. at Monterey Ridge Elementary School, 17117 4S Ranch Parkway, San Diego, CA, 92127.

Parents and the Poway Unified School District community are encouraged to download the free Healthy Dining School Rewards App on their Apple or Android devices and use the app to find participating Healthy Dining restaurants. After they EAT at a participating restaurant, diners will SCAN the Rewards QR code as they leave the restaurant to track their fundraising visit. The money raised from this project will then enable local Poway area children to PLAY at newly funded fitness and wellness programs in the Poway school district.

“We are excited to partner with Healthy Dining in launching this grassroots community initiative that supports our mission of enhancing our school fitness and wellness programs,” said John Collins, Superintendent, Poway Unified School District. “We are also thrilled to be a model for future school districts in California and nationwide as they look for innovative ways to promote the health of their students.”

The kick-off of the new program, poised to be adopted in schools across America, is being celebrated by government officials locally and nationwide. Poway Mayor Steve Vaus has declared Wednesday as “Healthy Dining School Rewards Day” in Poway. San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob has declared Wednesday as “Healthy Dining School Rewards Day” in San Diego County. Recognition for the first of its kind program has also come from the offices of California State Assembly member Brian Maienshcein, U.S.Congressman Darrell Issa and U.S. Congressman Scott Peters.

Local participating restaurants include the Broken Yolk Cafe, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili’s, El Pollo Loco, Sombrero Mexican Food, Souplantation, The Kebab Shop, and Wendy’s. Additional restaurants will be added after the Inaugural launch. Each of the participating restaurants serves Healthy Dining and Kids LiveWell menu choices, featured on the app, which emphasize healthful ingredients, including lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fats.

“I commend the Poway Unified School District for helping us launch this first-of-its-kind fundraising and educational program,” said Nicole Ring, RD, vice president of Healthy Dining. “And we give a huge applause to the participating restaurants for showcasing their leadership in the community by offering Healthy Dining choices and also giving back to the health and wellbeing of the families they serve through this innovative fundraising program.”