MGM Resorts Get Healthy With 'Smart Plate' Initiative

In the United States, obesity has reached epidemic levels and people are looking to become more health conscious, and MGM Resorts International is taking its guests' health seriously. They are reinforcing the company's commitment to healthy living with the addition of Smart Plate®, a new program providing guests and visitors delicious and healthy menu items at 700 calories or less per dish. The exclusive calorie-conscious items are available on select in-room dining menus and at participating cafes. Smart Plate selections, designated on menus with a specialized logo, will be updated frequently, offering guests new choices throughout the year.

"The Smart Plate program is an excellent resource for Las Vegas visitors wanting to manage their healthy lifestyle on the go," Mandalay Bay Vice President of Food and Beverage Sean DiCicco said in a release. "In order to positively impact eating decisions, it's important to provide guests flexible options that cater to their dietary needs. Smart Plate menu items provide all of the essential nutrients required per meal while allowing guests the opportunity to stay on track and motivated throughout their travels."

Guests can get healthy and experience the Smart Plate program at Café Bellagio with grilled Atlantic salmon served with a side of broccolini and topped with yellow tomato and cucumber salsa (690 calories, top). Over at Raffles Café at Mandalay Bay, try the blackened ahi tuna sandwich served with a side of fresh cut fruit (510 calories). Monte Carlo Resort's The Café at Monte Carlo has a very healthy club wrap made with Boar's Head ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo, served with a pickle and side of fresh cut fruit (620 calories). The Pyramid Café at Luxor is featuring chicken breast topped with balsamic glaze and served with a side of steamed vegetables and quinoa pilaf (580 calories). Market Café at Vdara is serving a primavera pizza made with summer squash, artichokes, red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, fresh basil, crumbled feta cheese, nonfat mozzarella cheese, black pepper, olive oil and raw garlic (700 calories). Further down the strip, the Garden Grill at Circus Circus has a healthy chef's salad made with spring mix lettuce, turkey breast, ham, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, croutons, cabbage, carrots, hard-boiled eggs and red onions and topped with balsamic vinaigrette (680 calories)

In-Room Dining is getting resort guests healthy as well.  The ARIA resort will deliver a cracked wheat fettuccine mixed with chicken fennel sausage, shrimp, asparagus and tomatoes (570 calories) right to your room. If staying at the MGM Grand why not call down and ask for their caprese sandwich made with buffalo mozzarella, yellow and red tomatoes, balsamic pesto aioli, fresh basil and pickled vegetables (690 calories). In-room dining at The Mirage has market fresh greens with chicken a spring lettuce mix, tomatoes, cucumbers and radishes, topped with balsamic vinaigrette and served with a fresh fruit cup (630 calories) that is sure to put a spring in your step. Not to be left out, The Monte Carlo Resort has a rich red bean chili bowl with cilantro, onions, and cheddar cheese (260 calories) that will warm you up.

Promoting healthy eating is one component of MGM Resorts' greater healthy living efforts. In February 2013, the company announced the launch of 'Healthy Eating, Healthy You,' a complimentary mobile app, featuring more than 50 recipes from property chefs, including Julian Serrano, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck. Calorie counts and other nutrition information are included with each recipe as well as photographs of the finished dish. Additional healthy living initiatives include:

MGM Resorts also partnered with The Jared Foundation on a comprehensive program to cultivate a healthier workforce, healthier schools and ultimately a healthier community. Founded by weight loss icon Jared 'the Subway Guy' Fogle, the foundation is committed to raising awareness and developing programs that educate and inspire kids to live healthier, happy lives.

Valuing time, cost and quality care, MGM Resorts introduced the Direct Care Health Plan option in 2012. The plan focuses on patient engagement with a strong emphasis on prevention, early detection and annual physicals.

MGM Resorts employees were introduced to "Jim's Plate," a program coined after Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International Jim Murren. The initiative ensures that all employee dining rooms offer healthy meals daily with recipes created exclusively by chefs at MGM Resorts properties. Each recipe has been reviewed by registered dieticians and is modeled after the United States Department of Agriculture's MyPlate.

Since 2011, MGM Resorts has partnered with Wellness Coaches, USA to provide on-site wellness coaches at five Las Vegas properties: Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, MGM Grand, and The Mirage. Wellness Coaches work with employees to build personalized health plans centered on reaching fitness goals and reducing health risk factors.

With all of these programs in place, The MGM Resorts guests and employees are sure to be the healthiest on the famed Las Vegas strip.