JW Marriott Hotels Offer Junior Jetsetters Healthy Menu Options

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts has partnered with nationally recognized nutritionist and author Keri Glassman to create a new JW Kids Menu, helping junior jetsetters build healthy eating habits while traveling and arming them with the skills they need to continue the practice at home. 

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The interactive menu, debuting at JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. this spring, features comfort food favorites with a healthy twist, giving little ones the chance to pick and pair foods they love while giving parents peace of mind by offering healthy options.

"With kids' food choices becoming increasingly diverse, we are looking to create dining options that are fresh, healthy and imaginatively tasty," said Mitzi Gaskins, vice president & global brand manager for JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts. "These items will not only delight kids from a culinary standpoint, but will also let parents know the JW Marriott brand cares about the well-being of their entire family."

Available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the JW Kids Menu is divided into three sections – "Kids Nosh," "Big Kids," and "This, That & the Other" – offering a variety of large and small dishes to satisfy even the pickiest palates.

• Kids Nosh – This section includes items such as fresh-cut cucumber and carrot sticks with a low-fat yogurt ranch dip or cheese cubes and grapes that will quiet grumbling tummies while kids explore their new activity book and parents peruse the dinner menu. 
• Big Kids – Catering to junior jetsetters who may not view themselves as kids, this section features well-balanced, recognizable favorites like turkey meatballs along with "mini" adult offerings for more sophisticated palates such as grilled organic chicken.
• This, That & the Other – To empower kids to make their own healthy choices, this section allows younger guests to mix-and-match with guidance from parents, letting them explore a variety of nutritious offerings while encouraging their imaginations.

"Just as adults should maintain their diet and exercise routines while travelling, kids should as well," said Keri Glassman.  "Travel presents opportunities to try new things and even lets kids bring new food favorites or habits home with them. The new JW Kids Menu helps kids accomplish just that."

The menu concept and design was created to enrich the guest experience outside of the hotel room by blending guests' passions for culture, culinary and well-being, with a special focus on sustainable, organic and locally sourced ingredients. Accompanied by an artistic activity book, crayons and a take-home reusable cup, the new kids menu layout focuses on art and features a mini "curator" cartoon who will lead kids through art activities, games and food choices, helping mix-and-match the right meal and teaching important nutrition information along the way. 

About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 60 JW Marriott hotels in 24 countries; by 2015 the portfolio is expected to encompass 79 properties in 28 countries. Visit us online, jwmarriott.com, @jwmarriott and facebook.com/JWMarriott.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

About Keri Glassman
Keri Glassman is a nationally recognized Registered Dietitian, published author and of four books including the recently released The New You and Improved Diet, as well as founder and president of Keri Glassman, Nutritious Life™, a New York City-based nutrition practice. Keri advocates the importance of a whole-person approach to health and wellness and as a member of JW Marriott's panel of experts, provides guests with her expertise to sustain a healthy, balanced life while traveling.  Keri helps millions as a trusted nutrition and health expert in the media. She is dedicated to her field and to the broader goal of educating the public, and her expertise is frequently featured on several national television programs including NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, Access Hollywood Live, The View, The Talk, The Chew, Dr. Oz, The Doctors, The Wendy Williams Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The Steve Harvey Show, MSNBC, The Fox News Channel, and CNN. Keri hosts an original series called "A Little Bit Better" which is featured on YouTube's Livestrong Woman channel. She is a spokesperson for national brands that align with the Nutritious Life mission, and is a prolific writer and commentator. She has regular columns and blogs with Women's Health magazine, Equinox, US News and Livestrong.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.