Pursuing its health-conscious mandate, quick-service chain Island Grill has upped the nutrition quotient with a revitalised menu that now offers more ground provisions and produce under an in-house Supaah Food banner.

Existing combos such as the Yabba and Satisfaction combo range will be infused with this fresh undertaking by the Thalia Lyn-founded establishment featuring a new seven-piece medley of breadfruit, sweet corn, green bananas, pumpkin and steamed vegetables of callaloo or cabbage, made available to diners as of yesterday.

At the Manor Park branch of the franchise, chair Howard Mitchell introduced the chain’s new endeavour to a gathering of food and beverage industry types, farmers and the media.

“Consuming a Supaah Food meal is a conscious choice for a better you and a better Jamaica. In this time and age, no matter where you are in the world, citizens are more informed by the impact of the choices businesses make,” said Mitchell as he kick-started the menu launch yesterday.

The health minister Dr Christopher Tufton offered his own endorsement of Island Grill’s ‘good sustenance and healthy living’ modifications with an address that underscored his approval and highlighted the “innovative entrepreneurship and a responsiveness” to Island Grill’s customer base as well as the parallels to his “agenda to promote public health”.

This comes on the heels of Tufton’s recent Jamaica Moves healthy lifestyle initiative, which has gained traction with Corporate Jamaica, and unsurpisingly the Real Jamaican Jerk eatery has signed on as a corporate challenge partner in this governmental response to reducing non-communicable diseases — think: diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers — through the encouragement of increased physical activity and more thoughtful eating among the Rock’s populace.

“Our lifelong motto ‘Eat Good, Live Good’ continues to manifest itself in colourful ‘eat the rainbow’ ways and today we’re excited to share our new range of healthy Jamaican Supaah Food meals with you,” remarked Island Grill founder & CEO Lyn. “Every Supaah Food meal is made from scratch every day, fulfils 100% of your vitamin C needs and is full of fibre, magnesium and potassium.”

Cobbler, Manchester-based small farmer for 27 years Llewelyn Grant, who spoke of the difficulty of finding a good market for local produce, thanked Island Grill for its “interest in Jamaica and in small farmers”. While Jacemel Farms frontman Andrew Warwar congratulated Lyn & Co on their part in strengthening the Rock’s agricultural sector.

In addition to the influx of homegrown sides of “fresh vegetables and healthy starches” is the brand’s de facto pledge to protect the environment by continuing to serve meals in its now standard BPA-free regular and large-sized food containers. “Part-proceeds of every meal in our eco-friendly box goes to Mustard Seed, and though fairly new, over $1 million has been donated so far,” added Lyn.

And the Veggie Boostaah and Rootz Rockaah, courtesy of Tru-Juice, and introduced to the Island Grill menu board last year, has become a craze among consumers ready to cut or reduce carbonated drinks and juice concentrates from their daily consumption. The Veggie Boostah green juice comprises pak choi, string beans, cucumber, pineapple, callaloo, and ginger, and the Rootz Rockaah red juice — beetroot, carrots, ripe bananas and apples.

Island Grill operates 18 outlets islandwide as well as a Barbadian location at Grantley Adams International Airport, serving homestyle Rock staples with contemporary polish and portability.

Photos: Karl McLarty