Fazoli’s Expanded Smart Italian Choices Menu Endorsed By National Nutrition Expert and Author

Lexington, Ky. - Elizabeth Somer Endorses Growing Selection of Low-Fat Choices

Since working with Fazoli’s in the summer of 2004, the influence of national nutrition expert, Elizabeth Somer, is showing up in every restaurant. Fazoli’s is introducing several new items to an already hearty-sized Smart Italian Choices menu, endorsed by Somer.

“If you love Italian and are ready to make low-fat choices in 2005, Fazoli’s has options that are fresh, fast, and affordable,” said Somer.

Penne Marinara

The Penne Marinara was added to the menu, offering a new twist on a Fazoli’s favorite - the Spaghetti Marinara. The new entree offers a mostaccioli noodle with Fazoli’s signature, low-fat marinara sauce.

The Penne Marinara contains two grams of fat and 430 calories.

Grilled Chicken Panini

Building on its popular Panini line, Fazoli’s introduced a lower-fat alternative to the Italian-influenced sandwich. This new menu item is made of a whole grilled chicken breast, topped with Lite Italian dressing, provolone cheese, lettuce, and tomato on panini bread.

The Grilled Chicken Panini contains seven grams of fat and 420 calories.

Grilled Chicken Platter

The platter consists of a grilled chicken breast, a side of penne with marinara, and broccoli.

“When I first reviewed the menu, I told Fazoli’s that while there was a good foundation for building a strong menu with healthy options, one of the missing elements was vegetables,” said Somer. “Offering broccoli with a healthy entree not only keeps the calorie and fat content down, it encourages people to incorporate more dark green, antioxidant-rich vegetables into their diets.

“Far too few Americans are eating the recommended amount of vegetables and that is largely due to a society that is eating on the run and the lack of interest among quick-serve restaurants in providing healthy vegetables,” Somer said. “I give Fazoli’s high marks for making progress in this area.”

The Grilled Chicken Platter contains seven grams of fat and 400 calories.

Why Elizabeth Somer’s Opinion Matters

Elizabeth Somer is a frequent guest on NBC’s “The Today Show.” She was a monthly guest for NBC’s “Later Today” from 1999 to 2000 and nutrition correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America” from 1996 to 1999. Her one-hour special on “Age-Proof Your Body” aired nationwide on Public Television in 2001. She also appears regularly on several national television programs, including the WB’s “Daily Buzz,” “Lifetime Live,” “The Maury Povich Show,” “Iyanla,” and “The View.”

Somer is an advisory board member to Shape Magazine and has written more than 300 articles for magazines including Shape, Men’s Fitness, McCall’s, Self, Redbook, Prevention, Cosmopolitan, and Better Homes & Gardens. She also is the author of several books: The Food & Mood Cookbook, Nutrition for Women, 2nd edition, Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy, 2nd edition, The Origin Diet, Food & Mood, Age-Proof Your Body, and The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. Somer co-authored The Nutrition Desk Reference.

Elizabeth Somer consults with Fazoli’s about improving the nutritional value of current menu items, filling nutritional gaps in the menu, providing credible consumer education on nutrition and creating new ideas for a healthier, great tasting menu.

About Fazoli’s

With 376 restaurants in 32 states, no one serves Italian fast and fresh each day in the same way as Fazoli’s. The Smart Italian Choices menu and Elizabeth Somer’s consultation on nutrition is an important element in Fazoli’s 2005 efforts to provide more options for customers who are interested in improving their nutritional habits despite a hectic, on-the-run lifestyle.

“As Americans become more particular, more demanding about nutrition - and they will as the obesity rate climbs, restaurant concepts like Fazoli’s will have even more appeal,” said Somer. “Fazoli’s already offers a number of low-fat options, non-fried food items and limited trans fats. Also, the medical research about lycopene and its high content in cooked tomato products is a hot topic in the nutrition field. It’s just starting to create a buzz in the restaurant industry, but Fazoli’s is already in a leadership role by virtue of its tomato-heavy menu.”

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