Did you know more than fifty percent of middle and high school students polled in Warren county eat out at least five times a week?

A teenager actually came up with the idea of having a healthy smart card that provides incentives and discounts for eating healthy foods at restaurants.

The Healthy Weight Kids Coalition received funding from the Institute of Medicine's Kellogg Health of the Public fund and thanks to a partnership with WKU's Office of Sponsored Program, the "Smart Bites" program became a reality.

You've heard the old saying that Bowling Green has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S.

While that's not exactly true, the options can sure derail a person's diet.

That's where the Smart Bites program comes in. Last winter, middle and high school students throughout Bowling Green and Warren county were given the option of using the Smart Bites card at ten restaurants in the area.

With the help of WKU nutritionists, items on the restaurants' menus were broken down three ways.

Students eating at places like McDonalds, Chic-Fil-A and other restaurants could swipe the card on "slow" and "go" foods, making them eligible for prizes each month.

But Project Coordinate Leah Ashwill says it's important to remember the program does not encourage students to eat out. She says one swipe makes students just as eligible for prizes as multiple swipes.

The Institute of Medicine likes the program so much, they've asked that a tool kit be developed for other communities to replicate.

Coordinators are hoping to launch a low-tech version of Smart Bites when school resumes in the fall, and are looking for expanded community support to keep the program going.

WKU's Public Health, Nutrition and Marketing departments were instrumental in developing the Smart Bites program.

In fact, WKU Public Health professor Dr. Marilyn Gardner will travel to Philadelphia in November to receive an award for the program at the American Public Health annual meeting.

For more information on Smart Bites go to www.smartbitesbg.com.