As a professional chef or restaurant owner, you’re aware that no two diners are alike. Health trends come and go all the time, but sustainable ingredient choices and a reduction in over-processed foods are more popular than ever. Restaurants miss out on a significant number of customers when they don’t include a healthier section of their menu. Healthy doesn’t mean boring! You can include some delicious and hearty menu options while paying close attention to the ingredients you add. If you’re unsure what to include beyond a salad, approach it with a fresh perspective.
Include Leaner Meats
Not all health-conscious diners will skip the meat. They may skip red meats, like beef or steak, but they typically won’t turn down chicken breast or fish. Use healthy marinades, grilling, and baking to keep these meats healthy as they’re prepared. If you do opt for oils, keep the amounts minimal, list the ingredients, and opt for healthier fats like olive oil. A lemon-marinated baked chicken breast or salmon filet will likely be a great hit. If you want to include beef options, utilize tenderloins or similar cuts. Other lean meat options include turkey, pork tenderloin, tilapia, and crab.
Diversify the Protein
Many healthy eaters eliminate meat from their diets entirely or opt for leaner cuts of meat only. To cater to vegetarians and vegans, you can get a lot of interest in some meat-free protein menu options. Protein helps provide energy, support muscle growth, and promote weight loss, so that patrons will be looking for these diverse, lean protein options. Nuts, tofu, and beans are some of the most common options. Bean dip or tofu meatballs can make excellent appetizers. Nuts are an extremely popular menu ingredient. Stuffed peppers with walnuts can be flavorful and nutritious. Stir-fry vegetables with cashews can add pizzazz to a meatless entree. For chefs responsible for creating boxed catering lunches or room service menus, healthy nut snacks can serve as convenient, pre-packaged solutions. Since nuts are a known allergen, you may want to opt for other meat-free and nut-free sources of protein, including soybeans, tofu and tempeh, lentils, beans, quinoa, oats, and leafy greens. Experiment with different flavors, textures, and combinations to cater to all sensitivities and health needs.
Lower the Carbs
While diet trends come and go, the most common healthy eating habit involves lower carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are great for energy in small doses, but excessive amounts can be calorie-dense and lead to weight gain. The foods people tend to avoid in lower-carb diets are potatoes, bread, pasta, and rice. These foods are often the staples of restaurant dishes, so you’ll need to get creative if you include some low-carb dish options. Instead of grain rice, opt for cauliflower rice. Focus on vegetable-based dishes without starches, like broccoli, asparagus, spinach, and green beans. Chicken, turkey, and leaner cuts of beef and pork are lower in carbs, depending on the preparation method. Seafood is also an excellent source of low-carb and lean protein.
Prioritize Flavor
Healthy food doesn’t mean flavorless. There are many ways to season and flavor food without high-fat or high-carb items like butter. Herbs, spices, and citrus zest can add a ton of flavor. Make some healthy marinades, dressings, or sauces to flavor up vegetables and meats. Garlic, onions, and fresh herbs really pack a nutritious and flavorful punch. If you need to add sweeter flavor profiles, use natural sugars from fruits or small amounts of apple cider vinegar.
Use Minimal Processing
You don’t want to include a lot of processed food in your healthy menu sections. Overly processed foods are the enemy to health-conscious diners for the most part. Ensure your ingredients are whole, such as whole wheat flour over refined flour. Avoid artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives in your ingredients and dishes. Opt for a pork tenderloin instead of an ultra-processed hot dog. Use natural chicken breast instead of reconstituted chicken nuggets.
Label Items Clearly
You want your diners to know what is in your healthy food options. Label menu items as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, and list certain common allergens. Use minimal symbols and define them in a key to keep your menu design clean. When you’re transparent and informative about your ingredients, you’ll cater better to your health-conscious diners.
Welcome Customization
Diners looking at healthy menu options may often have dietary restrictions that they need to take into account. From allergies to diabetes, not all health conditions can handle some ingredients. To make everyone feel welcome, you should be able to customize orders to patrons’ liking. They may enjoy a stuffed pepper entree, but can’t enjoy the cashew topping. Allow them to change the ingredients safely, and always inform customers when certain allergens have been exposed to ingredients and kitchen surfaces.
Don’t Make Salad the Only Option
When most people picture healthy eating, they often picture a salad. Salads are excellent options for light meals, and many health-conscious eaters choose them. However, providing more options can make healthier diners opt for your restaurant. Salads shouldn’t be the only healthy choice on the menu. Grilling, baking, and stir-frying can create healthy menu options beyond a basic salad. You can also consider soups, grain bowls, or veggie burgers. Sometimes, simply choosing whole-wheat alternatives or less processed meats can make a significant difference.
Conclusion
Just like any menu addition, you’ll want to diversify the choices and test to see which dishes are successful and which ones aren’t biting. Change the menu according to your test results frequently. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback, especially from your healthy diners, to see what they avoid and what they’re interested in. Healthy eating is a vibrant part of dining culture, and it would be a lost opportunity not to include it on your menu.
