Sustainable Restaurants? Find them via REAL

Rainforest Alliance gives its seal to sustainable agriculture. LEED recognizes buildings for green merit. Fair Trade sets standards for farmers and workers.

Now American restaurants and food providers have their equivalent.

REAL wants to let you know the food you're eating is produced and offered by businesses "committed to holistic nutrition and environmental stewardship." Sounds good to us.

The group, a project of the US Healthful Food Council, reviews food's sources, storage, preparation, serving choices and more, using "a flexible, point-based system that is implemented with the assistance of independent, third-party registered dietitians." Criteria include whether the seafood is sustainable, the portions available in "reduced" size, the grains whole. Sugary beverages are frowned upon – but not nearly as much as dishes that are deep fried.

If the entire package meets REAL's standards, the foodservice facility receives certification that lasts for one year. A database of current REAL-certified enterprises is posted on the group's website, at https://eatreal.org. Certification can also be applied for here.

The USHFC launched the program about five years ago, and currently counts about 500 restaurants and other foodsters, in over 30 states, as REAL certified. Some of the restaurants are chains – including Fresh & Co. and Sweetgreen – some local operations.

The program is welcome, beneficial and necessary. When you eat out, you should definitely see if you're getting the REAL deal.

--By Maria-Theresa Baldi, freelance journalist