Popular fast casual Asian stir-fry chain challenges guests to get healthy, eat a bowl a day
There may not be a more delicious way to lose weight and get healthy.
Genghis Grill, America’s premier build-your-own stir-fry restaurant concept, is once again challenging its fans to adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle. The trend-setting chain recently launched its 4th annual Health Kwest, in which one “Khantestant” will be selected by each of the chain’s 110 U.S. restaurants to enjoy a healthy meal at Genghis Grill every day for 60 days, for free. The goal is to lose weight, get fit and share the experience with friends.
In mid-April, one nationwide winner will be awarded a check for $10,000.
Genghis Grill provides each of the Khantestants with exercise and nutrition tips, along with suggestions for building healthy stir-fry meals using the wide variety of fresh, nutritious ingredients available at every restaurant. Dozens of recipes are available online at www.GenghisGrill.com/HealthKwest.
Competitors also agree to complete a series of social media tasks throughout the contest – ranging from Facebook check-ins and Instagram photos to YouTube videos – each of which is worth a certain point value.
The Grand Prize winner will be chosen based on his or her percentage of weight lost and social media points earned. A second-place winner will be selected based on the same criteria, but only over the second half of the competition. Additional prizes are awarded for social media creativity and audience appeal.
“There’s no secret that exercising and eating nutritious food is the best way to create a healthy lifestyle,” said Ron Parikh, Chief Marketing Officer at Genghis Grill. “What we’re trying to do through Health Kwest is develop those positive habits among our Khantestants that they, in turn, can share with their friends via social media. As each competitor loses weight and gets active, hundreds, or even thousands, of others are inspired by their success and encouraged to followtheir example.”
The 2013 Health Kwest winner, Steve Ellis, lost a whopping 70 pounds over the 60-day contest. An Albuquerque real estate executive, Ellis walked eight miles each day, and maintained a strict, low-calorie diet with few starches and small sauce portions in his bowls. Nearly a year later, Ellis reports that he has kept the weight off, and continues to enjoy his favorite stir-fry restaurant.
“I loved eating at Genghis Grill every day,” said Ellis. “One of the frustrating things about most diets is that the food gets pretty mundane. But with 80 fresh ingredients and thousands of possible combinations for your bowl, enjoying a variety ofhealthy meal options is never a problem at Genghis Grill. And though I don’t eat there every day any more, I still go back as often as I can as part of my new, healthier lifestyle.”
Sixty of the 100 Khantestants in the 2013 Health Kwest finished the contest. They lost a total of 2,217 pounds and averaged an impressive five percent weight loss. The campaign also generated more than 900 blogs and Twitter posts, 600 YouTube videos and over 400 Instagram photos.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Health Kwest. Individuals interested in competing must apply online by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, January 25th at www.GenghisGrill.com/HealthKwest. Finalists will be notified by February 4th, and initial weigh-ins will be held between February 6th and 10th. Health Kwest officially begins on February 10th and ends on April 11th. The national winner will be announced the following week.
For more information, and to find a Genghis Grill near you, visit www.GenghisGrill.com.
ABOUT GENGHIS GRILL
Genghis Grill, the premier build your own stir-fry chain in the United States, is well known for its fresh, hot and healthy food, and for its style of fun service. Fans head over to the Fresh Market Bar where they are greeted with an array of more than 80 delicious, fresh ingredients from which they can build their own bowl. Theythen hand their bowl to our grill masters who cook their creation to perfection on a large, sizzling, circular grill. Currently, there are 110 locations in 23 states nationwide. For more information about Genghis Grill, visit www.genghisgrill.com.
