Americans eat out on average four or five times a week, and with the lack of labels and ingredients information, it's easy for people to lose track of what exactly they're consuming. Until now. Healthy Dining and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) have joined forces to make those meals healthier.

In March, the organizations went live with a groundbreaking national program and online resource to help Americans make better food choices.

Partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.healthydiningfinder.com includes nearly 30,000 popular restaurant locations nationwide, and is "a valuable resource for those looking to make more informed food choices when dining at their favorite restaurants," the NRA says.

Healthydiningfinder.com says it aims to include a "range of restaurants -from fast food to fine dining, from one-unit independents to large chains, representing dozens of types of cuisines -even juice bars, cafeterias, home meal solutions, and more. And while some of the participating restaurants specialize in offering very health-conscious dishes, our goal is to identify 'better for you choices' at all manner of restaurants."

Though the site is free to users, restaurants that want to participate must pay a fee, which covers the costs related to operating and publicizing the Web site and program, the site says.

"It is an ideal vehicle to demonstrate the proactive efforts of the restaurant industry," the NRA says. "Some current participating restaurants include P.F. Chang's, Buca di Beppo, Au Bon Pain and Burger King." The site says independents are encouraged to get on board, too.

NRA Urges Tax Relief for Restaurants
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) cites a significant increase in job creation and employment rates industrywide. In February, 58,000 private-sector jobs were created, 21,000 of which were in the foodservice industry, according to the Department of Labor.

"The fact that our industry accounted for one in three jobs [in February] and over 348,000 jobs in the past year are indications of the urgent need to protect employment in our industry and to include targeted tax relief in the current federal minimum wage debate," said Peter Kilgore, NRA interim president and CEO. "Our economy relies on these jobs, and adequate tax relief is important in order for us to sustain this positive job growth."

NRA has been vocal in the minimum wage debate; its Coalition for Job Opportunities is opposed to government-mandated wage increases. "While no tax package can completely mitigate the impact of a minimum-wage increase, we urge lawmakers to recognize the importance of granting small businesses the necessary resources to partially offset the consequences," Kilgore said.

"Ultimately, the association is hopeful that both restaurant depreciation and the FICA tax credit extension are included in any final small business tax package. In addition to the job growth within the restaurant industry, nine out of 10 salaried employees at table-service restaurants -including owners, operators and managers -started as hourly employees; and more than nine out of 10 restaurateurs contribute to their community." -Kate Burrows

People News: Rachael Ray Teams with Dunkin' Donuts
Food Network personality Rachael Ray is appearing in an upcoming Dunkin' Donuts marketing campaign and offering her expertise in developing healthy food and beverage recipes. "We believe there is tremendous synergy between Dunkin' Donuts and Rachael Ray," said Robert Rodriguez, Dunkin' Donuts brand president.

Ray will appear in television, print, radio and online advertisements, and will participate in in-store marketing events. "I am excited to work with Dunkin' Donuts' team of chefs as they expand their menu to include new items for customers looking for more health-conscious items," Ray said.

The cookbook author and television personality is best known for creating "30-Minute Meals" using creative recipes and inexpensive ingredients. Ray, who has written more than a dozen cookbooks, launched a successful eponymous CBS TV show in 2006, which debuted as the highest-rated syndicated show launch since 2002.