Following an extensive two-year renovation and expansion, the Riverside Convention Center in Southern California reopened this month with healthy menu options developed in consultation with Loma Linda University Health (LLUH).
Widely known for its pioneering work on nutrition and impact on health, LLUH balances out the internal and external renovation of one of the leading convention and events centers in the Inland Empire.
Officials of LLUH and Raincross Hospitality Corporation, managers of the convention center, entered into an agreement for menu items with a focus on seasonal specialties and healthful ingredients. Consistent with LLUH standards of excellence and nutrition, the specialized menus are to complement the creations of Executive Chef Brad Martin.
LLUH nutritional experts will also work closely with the convention center’s culinary staff to supervise their knowledge and techniques for proper preparation of vegan and vegetarian meals recommended for inclusion on the specialized menu.
“We’re privileged to share our experience with vegetarian cuisine and our message of healthy living to the 250,000 guests of Riverside Convention Center each year,” said Daniel Fontoura, chief wholeness officer, LLUH.
Also involved in other aspects of food service at the facility, LLUH will be conducting a nutritional assessment of all food items on the menu. Internship opportunities for LLUH students in nutrition and dietetics programs include a practicum to complete their advanced degrees.
“We are enormously pleased to have this unique opportunity to cooperate with such a well-respected organization as Loma Linda University Health to promote important principles of nutrition, while providing our valued guests with the best opportunities for healthful eating,” said Ted Weggeland, president, Raincross Hospitality Corporation.
“The Riverside Convention Center is committed to representing the promise of healthy living in a socially responsible community,” Weggeland added.
Completing a $43 million renovation and expansion this year, Riverside Convention Center reopened on Mar. 1.
