The Increase of Healthy Choices for Dining
As of recent trends, the growing consciousness of healthy eating and consumption has increased. Be it because of the pandemic, or the health-oriented influencer culture, dining has become more health-centric. Health-oriented food is widely preferred and dietary restrictions are being considered by restaurants and the fast-food industry alike. As per the calculations of IBIS World for Australia, the health consciousness level was expected to increase by 0.4% in 2020-21. This would bring the index point up to 109.4. Similarly, there is estimated to be a decline in smoking rates and an increase in consumption of healthier options, i.e. fruits and vegetables.
People are now more likely to take their diet more seriously, and make effort towards improving their intake. COVID-19 has imposed many restrictions on the lives of the consumers, and it includes their dining, restaurant visiting, and planning experiences. Consumers have taken a healthier approach after the pandemic, so much so that sales value has been boosted because of the pandemic. According to the Health and wellness country report published in February 2021, the retail value sales of health and wellness packaged items experienced stronger growth in 2020. This increase was attributed to the increasing health awareness that came as a byproduct of covid and shifted the focus of consumers on healthy diet intake.
The Growing Trend of Healthy Restaurant Dining
Since the last decade, there have been major shifts in eating preferences, and like most – you too might have experience picking up healthier alternatives. The trend has expanded to fast-food restaurants and has caused a shift for the industry to prepare healthier dining options. Consumers are planning to eat healthier, and the shift in the behaviour didn’t happen over a day. In fact, in a report by Eating Out in Australia 2017
showcasing survey findings highlighted that venues reported a growing interest in healthier food options.
Similarly, restaurants offering healthier alternatives or healthier cuisines gained popularity. While the report might seem like old news now, but it shows that healthy eating didn’t suddenly become an option. Rather, healthy food preferences gradually grew with time, and are still growing. When planning your meal, you might consider restaurants that offer diverse diet options. Thus, it stands to reason why many chains today are revamping their entire menus to reflect healthier options.
Planning Before Selecting Restaurants – Healthy Options Matter
The trend of consumption has now changed for the better, and more consumers are inclined towards eating healthy meals. Value-conscious consumers want to eat healthily and live healthy as well. This is why for any restaurant to stay operational, there needs to be a few healthy options on their menu. According to Market research on Australia Foodservice Market – Impact and Forecasts Report (2021 – 2026), it was evident that users prefer restaurants that offer a wide variety of menu options.
As a restaurant owner, you may understand the need for offering dining options that cater to your client’s needs. Or as a consumer, you may understand how planning your diet can contribute to your overall health and how it shouldn’t be taken so lightly. With growing trends of veganism and health-oriented eating, restaurants are also shifted towards offering healthier menu options such as:
- Local sourcing fresh foods
- Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
- Plant-based burgers
- Seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs
- Legumes, soy products, nuts, and seeds. Etc.
These options are only some of the many that are in demand by the consumers and are being integrated into the menu by various restaurants.
What Should Be the Masterplan for Restaurants or Food businesses?
Restaurants that are looking to boom their business must understand the importance of the consumer mindset. Customers are now more inclined towards making healthier decisions, and any restaurant that fails to provide them with this luxury will lose its traffic. To make sure that health and wellness are considered, you need a holistic approach to nutrition.
Holistic Approach to Healthy Eating
You must consider what the market is currently demanding, and with a little assistance from the professional – you can find your new way. Nutrition involves considering various factors and food choices, this could include everything from food preferences to dietary restrictions. So as a restaurant offering dining to its customers, your holistic approach is to include meal options for everyone at the table. This is hard to do at first, and may even involve rebranding, but with expert help, you can excel.
Thinking of Health Beyond Just Food
Healthy food choices go beyond just eating healthy once and practising it frequently. It has to do more with having an ultimate goal of contributing to a bigger goal. Such is the case for people who follow different diets, such as keto, paleo, or dining in vegan restaurants. Planning for such consumers can help you in helping them achieve their actual goals.
Being Transparent & Mindful of Transition Plan
Consumers today seek value and appreciate visibility. This is why many restaurants advertise their key offerings and why dining for consumers turns into an experience and not just an activity. The value-seeking customers want transparency in the taste, pricing, sourcing, ingredients, environmental footprint, nutrition, social impacts and more. People are no longer limited towards just eating and leaving, rather they are planning for a restaurant dining experience.
Offering Plant-Based Dishes with a Commercial Strategy
With numerous people demanding healthier dishes, restaurant menus need to reflect that change. However, simply following the modern trend alone isn’t enough to yield results. Rather the approach should be value-driven and embodied with a commercial strategy. Making plant-based dishes require imagination and creativity, one thing that chefs must be taught. This is why having professional help can provide you with a long-term sustainability solution.
Food Safety & Healthy Drinks
When we are planning for healthy dining options, we often forget to include drinks in it. Drinks containing sugar and processed materials can ruin a restaurant’s reputation. Some drinks options might include items that are now frowned upon by customers and aren’t according to food safety strategies. This is why there needs to be a comprehensive game plan to endorse food safety and make food drinks in a healthier manner. The key is knowing all about what matters and using it to your advantage.
Becoming Better in Food & Places
Understanding the demand of the market and taking on a proactive strategy is all success is about. To achieve sustainability in the restaurant industry and offer unique dining options to your customers – begin with a plan. Enhance the customer experience, reinforce what works, and practice in areas in which you can do better. With our professional services, we guide from A to Z, and even after. See your customers reach their health goals, and let us help you in achieving yours.
Of course, this requires a complete 360 view of things and a strategy that works, and we understand how it can be difficult to create on your own. Fortunately, the path to success is filled with rewards, and investing in the persona of your end users is always rewarded. Provide healthy holistic solutions, and embrace sustainability.