Restaurants adding more healthful dishes

As recruiters in the hospitality industry, we are seeing more “healthy” restaurant chains emerging as well as more “healthy” choices added to the menus of our current favorite restaurants. After researching this trend, I found that an actual study has been recently completed. The findings are below as reported in an article in Nation’s Restaurant News.

Number of dishes labeled as “healthy” jumped 65% from last year

Data released Wednesday by the Chicago-based market research firm found the number of menu items that restaurants labeled as “healthy” increased 65 percent from the second quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010.

The study also found the number of menu items featuring fruits or vegetables increased 10 percent between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2010. Menu items labeled as vegetarian increased 12 percent during that same three-year period.

Mintel said it monitored 350 of the largest chain restaurants, 200 independent restaurants and 25 beverage-centric restaurants for the study.

In another study that polled 2,000 adults online, respondents told Mintel they were eating more healthfully when dining out, and ordering more fruits and vegetables when choosing their menu items.

“Healthy menu development opportunity exists in providing vegetable and seafood appetizers, soups, salads and entrées,” said Eric Giandelone, director of food research at Mintel. “An added bonus in offering these ingredients is if [they are] prepared thoughtfully, they will naturally cut down on the fat and calories of a menu item, making it a more favorable choice for their patrons.”

Giandelone also said operators should follow guidelines recommended last month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which urged restaurants to pay more attention to creating healthful kids’ menus in order to fight the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic.

“Restaurants should start considering how they’re going to make kids’ menus healthier,” Giandelone said. “It’s important to get feedback from both parents and kids to provide a healthy balance on the menu that kids will want to eat and parents will approve of.”

Back

What Clients Say About Patrice & Associates

  • Ed Liedke is amazing to work with! 

    He asked questions about my career preferences to find me the best opportunity out there.  Ed Leidke provided the best practices to guide me through the hiring process and nail the interviews.  I would definitely encourage others to utilize his expertise to find the career of their dreams.              

    Thank you Ed!

    Dusty

    Ed Liedke is amazing to work with! 
  • Ed Carroll was an absolute JOY to work with! 

    Our initial call was extremely casual which made me so much more comfortable talking with him.  He stayed in touch and updated me for every step of the hiring process.  He placed me with a company that is a great fit for both parties.  I could not have asked for a better experience!      

    Thank you, Ed and Patrice and Associates!

    Beyond Thankful,

    Rebecca M.

    Ed Carroll was an absolute JOY to work with!
  • Jobs & Recruitment News - Patrice & AssociatesPradnya Kulkarni was a pleasure to work with 

    She was very patient with me and always very informative.  She always seemed to be in great spirits when I talked to her on the phone witch encouraged me to keep going.  She did such an awesome job!  Highly recommend.

     

    Many thanks,

    Henry T.

    Pradnya Kulkarni was a pleasure to work with
  • Working along with Carlie Knauer was a pleasure! 

    Carlie was always very helpful in assisting with finding my new current job! She is a hard working professional that maintained contact with me throughout the entire process and provided me great guidance all together.  Thank you, Carlie!    

    Kind regards, Isabella

  • Bruce Leininger is TOP NOTCH! 

    He is nothing short of a true asset to Patrice & Associates!  Your company should clone him!!    

    Thank you

    Dave Morrison

    Bruce Leininger is TOP NOTCH!