O'Hare And Midway Promote Healthy Minds And Bodies

CHICAGO, April 22, 2014 - In celebration of Earth Day, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is pleased to share some healthy eating, relaxation and green tips for travelers and airport employees.

Guide to Healthy Eating

Experts agree that there are lots of healthy food choices at O'Hare and Midway International Airports. See what they recommend inside the pages of the new Healthy Eating: Tips and Tidbits guide. The guide highlights healthy choices, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, ranging from quick bites to sit-down meals at both airports.

The CDA continues to challenge itself to capitalize on opportunities to make its airports even greener, and strives to lead by example in the global aviation industry and beyond.   

O'Hare Aeroponic Garden and Farmers Market

The first Aeroponic Garden at any airport in the world is at O'Hare! Located in Terminal 3 on the mezzanine level of the Rotunda Building, the garden provides fresh produce for Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless (Terminal 1B & 3K), Tuscany (Terminal 1B), Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi (Terminal 2), Wolfgang Puck (Terminals 1, 2, 3) and other airport restaurants. The garden is open to the public and features seating for relaxing and taking a break. Stop by and check it out!

Passengers can purchase locally-grown food and healthy snacks, at the Farmers Market store, located directly below the garden near the entrance to Concourse G.

Producing and purchasing locally grown foods strengthens the local economy and job market, provides a unique learning opportunity for travelers, and reduces urban sprawl, traffic congestion, habitat loss, and pollution from transportation of produce. 

Relax & Un-Wind

 You can de-stress and be pampered at O'Hare with Spa Services in Terminals 1, 3, 5 and a Yoga Room at Terminal 3 (Rotunda) just steps away from the Aeroponic Garden. The Yoga Room features a sustainable bamboo wood floor, floor to ceiling mirrors, exercise mats, and an area to place personal items. Frosted windows let in natural light while providing privacy from adjacent public spaces. Wall-mounted video displays provide examples of yoga exercise techniques and imagery of nature accompanied by soothing sounds. A public restroom nearby on the mezzanine is available for changing clothes.

If time permits, you can also get some exercise in between flights at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Athletic Club, located near O'Hare's Terminal 2 on the lower level. It's a full-service health club featuring workout equipment and amenities such as massages, steam room, sauna, lap pool with Jacuzzi, full locker rooms with showers and secured locks, as well as vitamins, health bars and protein and supplemental drinks. A full day pass is $20.

O'Hare Honey

O'Hare is also home to an apiary of over 1 million bees that produce more than 1,200 pounds of honey a year. The honey is used in beelove™ honey and body care products sold at Hudson stores at Midway and O'Hare airports, the Farmers Market at O'Hare, and the new XpresSpa at O'Hare's Terminal 5.

F.I.T. City Initiative & Healthy Fare for Kids™ at Midway

Many Midway Airport food locations follow the F.I.T. City initiative, serving fresh, seasonal ingredients; using innovative preparation styles that make dishes healthy, nutritious and tasty!  F.I.T. City certified selections are available at Miller's Pub, Manny's Express, Manny's Deli, Harry Caray's Seventh Inning Stretch, Tuscany Café, Sprigs, Landings, and many more concessions.

You can also find "Healthy Fare for Kids™" at 16 food locations at Midway. Offerings include antibiotic-free meats, whole grain breads, smaller portion sizes, lower salt, no deep-fried anything, local ingredients and non-sugared. Look for the "Healthy Fare for Kids™" logo on menu boards next to certified menu items.

Green Concessions

O'Hare and Midway stores and restaurants operate under the Chicago Department of Aviation's Green Concessions Policy that is among the first of its kind in the airport industry. The Policy requires that all stores and restaurants meet strict guidelines regarding sustainable packaging, containers, and utensils; use green cleaning products; use and sell sustainable foods; donate surplus food; and incorporate  Sustainable Airport Manual© (SAM) guidance to achieve a Green Airplane Rating. The SAM is an integral part of CDA's ongoing efforts toward implementing sustainable buildings and infrastructure, incorporating best practices in planning, operations and maintenance of all airport facilities and functions and those of its tenants.