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Genghis Grill kicks off annual Health Kwest Challenge

January 21, 2014

Genghis Grill is once again challenging its fans to adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle, launching its fourth annual Health Kwest, in which one "Khantestant" will be selected by each of the chain's 110 U.S. restaurants to receive a free healthy meal at Genghis Grill every day for 60 days, according to a company press release. The goal is to lose weight, get fit and share the experience with friends.

In mid-April, one nationwide winner will win 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 variety of fresh, nutritious ingredients available at every restaurant. Dozens of recipes are available online at www.GenghisGrill.com/HealthKwest.

Competitors 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 follow their example."

The 2013 Health Kwest winner, Steve Ellis, lost 70 pounds over the 60-day contest. The 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.

"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 of healthy 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 5 percent weight loss. The campaign also generated more than 900 blogs and Twitter posts, 600 YouTube videos and over 400 Instagram photos.

How to enter

Individuals interested in competing must apply online by 11:59 p.m. Central Jan. 25 at www.GenghisGrill.com/HealthKwest. Finalists will be notified by Feb. 4, and initial weigh-ins will be held between Feb. 6 and 10. The contest runs Feb. 10- April 11, and the national winner will be announced the following week.

Read more about healthy menu items.