The article focuses on the dilemma that restaurants face when consumers SAY one thing – they want healthy food choices – yet DO something entirely different – like order a double cheeseburger and fries.
From the Washington Post, August 18, 2005: Hold The Health, Serve That Burger:
Quote:
… while customers say they want more nutritious choices, they rarely order them. As a result, fast food and casual dining chains -- which together account for three out of four U.S. restaurant visits -- are slowly going back to what they do best: indulging Americans' taste for high-calorie, high-fat fare.
Sadly, the availability of healthy food choices ranks 10th out of 12 dining attributes that consumers look for while eating out. And I was shocked to read that only 2.4% of McD’s customers have ordered salads. … while customers say they want more nutritious choices, they rarely order them. As a result, fast food and casual dining chains -- which together account for three out of four U.S. restaurant visits -- are slowly going back to what they do best: indulging Americans' taste for high-calorie, high-fat fare.
As a result of consumers voting against healthy choices with their wallets, not only are healthy items being taken off or moved to the back of menus, but restaurants are serving pretend ‘healthy’ food in an attempt to seem health-conscious while still giving people the same old high-calorie junk:
Quote:
Some restaurants have found that the best way to sell healthful items is to make them seem nutritious even if they're not. Fried white meat chicken strips have become popular on many menus and are big sellers, including atop salads, in keeping with the general perception that chicken is a more healthful alternative to beef. But at Wendy's, the Homestyle Chicken Strips Salad, eaten with one pack of ranch dressing, packs 670 calories and 45 grams of fat -- more than any hamburger or sandwich on the menu.
Check out the artivle and let’s talk about restaurant food -- Some restaurants have found that the best way to sell healthful items is to make them seem nutritious even if they're not. Fried white meat chicken strips have become popular on many menus and are big sellers, including atop salads, in keeping with the general perception that chicken is a more healthful alternative to beef. But at Wendy's, the Homestyle Chicken Strips Salad, eaten with one pack of ranch dressing, packs 670 calories and 45 grams of fat -- more than any hamburger or sandwich on the menu.
it's a pretty big change.
). They also have a "Smart Eating" section on the back of the menu. But does anyone order from it? Occasionally (but often replace the broccoli or sugar snap peas with fries or onion straws!). What I do sell a LOT of, though, is the Colossal Burger. From the bottom up, it consists of a bottom burger bun, lettuce, mustard, pickles, onion, 1/2-pound beef patty, jack cheese, another bottom bun, tomato, onion, mayo, another 1/2-pound beef patty, jack cheese, and the top bun. A whole pound of beef. 2 cheeses. 1.5 burger buns. All together, I believe it packs more than 1000 calories. It also comes with fries. And yes, some people still "platter it" to add onion straws and coleslaw in addition to the fries. some people also still get the salad bar first. It is INSANE. However, marketers know that they're not going to make the big bucks in restaurants by selling "rabbit food" to the minority of health-conscious restaurant diners. When people dine out, it's often as a treat or celebration, so they don't care about calories, fat, or sodium. They have to focus on the majority of their patrons--the ones who don't care if a burger has 10 calories or 1000 calories, as long as it tastes good!
