Restaurants all across New York City were preparing for March 12, the day that would have banned selling large, sugary drinks. But just one day before the law would be enacted, a state judge struck down the impending ban, calling it “arbitrary and capricious,” according to this Fox News article. Although thousands of restaurant owners breathed a sigh of relief on the lift, the battle for healthier food offerings continues to rage on.
While some restaurant owners may argue that it is ultimately the consumer’s responsibility to ensure they make wise food choices, it is becoming more evident that people are actively seeking healthier menu offerings. In fact, the 2013 Technomic Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report discovered that 64 percent of consumers believe it is important to pay attention to nutrition and eat healthy. And of those surveyed, 38 percent stated they would more likely dine at a restaurant that had more healthy options even if they did not purchase those items.
Earlier this year, Restaurant.com explained what they thought would be some of the food trends to emerge in 2013, one of which included healthy food. With similar findings to the Technomic study, Restaurant.com’s survey shows:
“Sixty-four percent of restaurants surveyed noted a customer demand for healthy menu options and they’re responding accordingly: 80 percent of restaurants say they will add healthier menu items in 2013. Fifty-two percent of restaurants surveyed selected healthy options as the most influential factor in planning their 2013 menus, followed by vegetarian options (39 percent) and gluten-free options (38 percent)”
(Source: QSRWeb.com)
What happens if your restaurant isn’t serving food that people want? This certainly gives more credence to the saying “give them what they want.” And in this case, it’s actually healthy food.