Longmont City Council has asked for community input on an ordinance that would require restaurants to list healthy beverages as default choices in menus offering children’s meals. To provide detailed information on the proposed ordinance and to gather community input, a Healthy Beverages for Children’s Meals project has been created on Engage Longmont, the online engagement platform. Restaurant owners and other community members are encouraged to visit this site to learn more, ask questions, provide feedback, and tell their stories.

“Sugary drinks increase the risk of dental disease, Type 2 diabetes, and preventable diseases such as obesity,” said Christina Pacheco, division manager of Children, Youth & Families. “In Boulder County, childhood obesity rates have increased by 43% since 2003. This proposed ordinance was created to help families combat this alarming increase by making the healthy choice the easy choice.”

“The proposed ordinance does not limit what restaurants can serve, nor what families can order,” said Olga Bermudez, community coordinator for prevention with Children, Youth & Families. “It merely requires that when menus offer a kid’s meal and beverage for one price, the default beverages be water, milk, or a milk substitute without added sugar. By providing detailed information about the proposal and multiple ways for community members to share their perspectives, we hope to provide Council with the information necessary to make an informed decision.”

All related information, surveys, and engagement tools are available in both Spanish and English:

• Visit Healthy Beverages for Children’s Meals
• Visite Bebidas saludables para comidas de los niños

After the survey closes on July 30, results will be compiled and presented to City Council prior to their review of the proposed ordinance.

Any community members with questions about the proposed ordinance are encouraged to visit the links above where they can view answers to frequently asked questions as well post their own questions and comments.