A crazy move to reduce obesity in Central Queensland
THE Crazy Joker is a place where kids certainly get enough exercise - but before a menu change this week, it wasn't a place where they necessarily had much healthy food.
Owner Tom Newberry is conscious of that and in the hope of doing something to help Central Queensland's disturbing obesity epidemic, he has introduced a new, healthier menu.
"We've tried to go for healthier options… previously our menu had a lot of deep-fried food and we're trying to move away from that," he said.
"You've got to try and make a difference, especially with children. It's about giving them choices."
Salads, light meals, gourmet burgers and hotdogs, wraps and a large breakfast menu have been unveiled on The Crazy Joker's new menu, with a new chef employed to provide it.
Mr Newberry said their regular customers were eager to try the new food, which is on offer from today.
The new menu and cafe-style counter are just the latest developments for The Crazy Joker, but Mr Newberry says they're not the last.
"It's been a hard 14 months now, but we're still going and we're not finished yet," he said.
"We've just got to keep moving forward.
"The economic downturn in the region, that's the main issue. There's so many food venues and shops in general closing down.
"It's good that we've got a following."
Fast facts
In 2011-12, 27.5% of Queensland children were measured as overweight or obese
