PUBLISHED: 05-15-08

Taste of Chicago to offer healthier food option

At this year’s Taste of Chicago, some menu items of more than 70 local restaurants will be a little less indulgent and little more nutritious.

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events has required participating food vendors to add a more healthy option to their selection at the Taste.

Cindy Gatziolis, spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, said the office has been noticing a more calorie-conscious trend in food and wanted to encourage the vendors to offer something lighter.

“[We] asked them to be health conscious, but we certainly didn’t expect everyone to put out a Weight Watchers diet—just be health conscious,” Gatziolis said.

Restaurants like Eli’s Cheesecakes, 6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive, which offers solely desserts, will be serving a “skinny cheesecake” that is made with light cheeses and creams and has 250 calories per slice. Their other items include an Oreo Cookie Cheesecake and Frozen Chocolate Chip Cheesecake.

Gatziolis said healthier choices may be something that is implemented into future Tastes depending on how it goes, but it’s more of a way to balance one’s diet out when splurging.

Gatziolis said the Mayor’s Office of Special Events expects around 3.5 million people to attend this year’s Taste of Chicago.

The Taste of Chicago kicked off June 27 and runs through July 6 in Grant Park.

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