LAS VEGAS—To promote healthy living among its employees and the communities in which it operates and beyond, MGM Resorts International has introduced a healthy eating mobile application that is free of cost and available to the public. The app, “Healthy Eating. Healthy You,” has already reached a major milestone of 7,500 downloads since being launched in September 2012 and is consistently growing at an average rate of 50 downloads per day.
“The healthy eating initiative and app is part of our commitment to being a leading corporate responsible organization and to expand our healthy living initiative beyond MGM Resorts to the community,” said Michelle DiTondo, senior vice President of human resources. “We value the well-being of our employees and their families and wanted to provide them with a resource that would help them to make healthy eating decisions.”
Available for download on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, the app features more than 50 recipes from property chefs, including world-class chefs 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.
Part of a Larger Health Initiative
The healthy eating app is part of a larger health initiative launched in early 2012 by Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. Coined “Jim’s Plate,” the initiative ensures that all MGM Resorts 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.
Promoting healthy eating is only one component to MGM Resorts’ greater healthy living efforts. Additional health programs include:
• 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.
• 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.
• In 2012 MGM Resorts partnered with The Jared Foundation, to develop 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.
In light of its advancements in promoting healthy living, MGM Resorts was recently spotlighted in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center health and wellness report. Click here to see it.
