Draw Attention to Healthy Options
May 2016
Diners demand healthy menu items—it’s not new news. More than three-quarters of Americans say they’re more likely to visit a restaurant if healthy options are offered. Today, simply adding healthier options to the menu is not enough. Diners want to know—without a doubt—which dishes are better for them. It’s up to you to spell it out.
Whether or not diners actually order them, they find comfort in knowing that better-for-you choices are available. Use these tips to make it clear that your operation offers healthy options:
- Use your floor plan to your advantage. If your operation has a salad bar, put it front and center. A more prominent position will help diners associate your establishment with healthy options.
- Highlight healthy. Use a larger font or green text to point out better-for-you recipes. Also consider creating an icon to denote your healthiest choices.
- “Healthy” goes beyond calorie counts. There’s value in promoting menu items that are natural, organic, low carb, low sugar, low sodium, gluten free, etc.
- Be sure your menu claims are accurate. According to the FDA, food can only be associated with a health claim if it does not contain more than 20% of the daily recommended amount of fat, cholesterol or sodium.
If your operation isn’t already serving healthy options, try using turkey in place of beef or pork in an existing recipe. With fewer calories and fat than most of its protein counterparts, turkey is an ideal ingredient in healthy recipes. Get a healthy head start by trying the Mediterranean Power Salad packed with popular “superfood” ingredients, the Turkey Avocado Open-Faced Sandwich or Banh Mi Turkey Wraps. Find more healthy menu inspiration in our Culinary Center.
SOURCES
Cobe, Patricia. 8 Health-Boosting Tips from MenuDirections, FoodService Director. March 4, 2016.
Henderson, Sara. How to Market Your Restaurant to Health Conscious Consumers, Foodservice Warehouse. July 16, 2015.
