Jason's Deli, MD Anderson's New Summer Salad is Low-Cal and Nutrient Dense

“Strike Through Cancer” Campaign Benefitting MD Anderson Cancer Center Also Features In-Store Tributes to Loved Ones Affected by the Disease

BEAUMONT, Texas, June 17, 2015 /PR Newswire/ – Approximately one third to one half of all cancers are preventable. That's why Jason's Deli and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are expanding their healthy alliance by introducing a new, nutrient-rich Quinoa, Shrimp & Mango Salad as part of the “Strike Through Cancer” campaign.

Jason's Deli's Quinoa, Shrimp & Mango Salad
Jason's Deli chefs and MD Anderson dieticians and cancer prevention researchers collaborated over several months to develop the salad, specifically designed with nutrition in mind. The chefs worked with different combinations of nutrient-dense ingredients identified by the MD Anderson team until they landed on a taste and presentation they knew would delight Jason's Deli guests.

“Our alliance with Jason's Deli extends far beyond fundraising. It is based on our mutual interest in providing people with accessible and healthy dining options, especially promoting a diet that is largely plant based and may have the potential to reduce the risk of cancer,” said Therese Bevers, M.D., professor, Clinical Cancer Prevention at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “This collaboration is a great reminder that there are steps we can take every day to reduce the chances of a future diagnosis.”

The nutrient-rich salad is specifically designed as a convenient and healthy dining option in accordance with the American Institute of Cancer Research's and World Cancer Research Fund's guidelines for cancer risk reduction.

Not only is the salad packed with flavor and fresh ingredients such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains, it only contains approximately 310 calories for an entree portion.

Watch the trailer for the salad here. Nutritional information can be found here.

“Strike Through Cancer”
In addition to co-creating the new salad, Jason's Deli is hosting the “Strike Through Cancer” campaign during the month of June in stores throughout the country to raise money for cancer research and prevention at MD Anderson. Guests who contribute one dollar to the campaign will receive a Sharpie^® marker at the point of purchase. They can use the marker to create a tribute for a loved one on the in-store display. Guests are also invited to photograph their tributes and share via social media using #EndCancer.

“We are deeply honored to continue the ‘Strike Through Cancer’ campaign with MD Anderson,” said Joe Tortorice Jr., CEO of Jason's Deli. “No one is immune to cancer and many of our employees and their families have been touched by it. Supporting cancer prevention through high-quality menu options and funding cancer research through generosity of spirit is a deeply meaningful pursuit for us.”

The “Strike Through Cancer” campaign was originally launched in 2013 after several Jason's Deli employees and their family members rebounded from cancer thanks to the care and expertise provided by MD Anderson experts.

Jason's Deli helped expand MD Anderson's research efforts by donating money from in-store bottled water sales to the world-renowned cancer center. Specially designed labels on Jason's Deli-branded water bottles called attention to the effort by featuring stories and photos of Jason's Deli employees and their families touched by cancer. The water bottle campaign, which is ongoing at Jason's Deli, has raised more than $300,000 to date and was recently honored by the Cause Marketing Forum (CMF) with a Golden Halo nomination for excellence in health-related campaigns. Awards will be announced May 28 at the annual CMF conference in Chicago.

About Jason's Deli
A family-owned deli restaurant chain, Jason's Deli was founded in Beaumont, Texas, in 1976 by Joe Tortorice, Jr. and now has more than 250 locations in 29 states. In 2005, Jason's Deli was the first major restaurant concept to ban artificial trans fats in the U.S. and later became the first to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup. At Jason's Deli, regardless if you seek gluten-free or vegetarian options, healthy kids' meals, or if you would like to build your own salad at their famous salad bar, you will be delighted by the bigger choices of better food, from healthy to indulgent. For more information, please visit www.jasonsdeli.com.

About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). For the past 25 years, MD Anderson has ranked as one of the nation's top two cancer centers in U.S. News & World Report's annual “Best Hospitals” survey. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).

Media Contact:
Meghan Butler
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