| Greetings!
Welcome to my monthly update to help marketing, food, and health professionals keep up with away-from-home health trends. If you know of others who could benefit from this information, please forward this email to them.
Did you know I also write two other enewsletters? See my note to the right.
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| New Menu Items |
 Espresso-based McCafe drinks are now available at half of the US McDonald's locations. While nonfat milk is available, there is no decaf option. A large nonfat Latte has just 120 calories.
Chick-Fil-A is testing low-fat breakfast products including fruit and yogurt smoothies (Blueberry Pineapple or Strawberry Banana) and yogurt parfait.
KFC is rolling out Kentucky Grilled Chicken this month. Each piece has between 70 and 180 calories and 4-9g fat. |
| Trends: Small Plates |
 I've been talking about smaller portions at restaurants for a couple of years... there continues to be movement in the small (or tapas) plates. Last year, we saw miniature desserts at P.F. Changs and the "Right Portion, Right Price" menu at T.G.I. Friday's.
Add Chipotle and The Cheesecake Factory to the growing list. Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing a "Low Roller Menu." The Cheesecake Factory has a 16-item small plate menu including Beets with Goat Cheese, Ahi Tartare, Pizettes, and Shrimp Scampi Crostini.
Quickservice restaurants have added smaller sandwiches including Burger King Burger Shots. Quizno's introduced the Toasty Torpedo in addition to their small Sammies. Jack in the Box just added mini sirloin burgers to its menu. QSR magazine offers this interesting article about how quickservice restaurants can be even more innovative. |
| Trends: Nutritional Information |
More and more restaurants are posting nutritional information. A number of UK chains including Pizza Hut, Burger King, and KFC have started to post calories on the menu.
A recent study found that people will make healthier choices if restaurants provide nutritional information. Yet, another study found that out of 4311 customers observed at McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, and Au Bon Pain, only six customers examined the available nutritional information before making a choice.
I'm wondering how many...like myself, have considered the nutritional information on the website sometime before coming into a restaurant - or keep ordering the same lower calorie favorites, so there's no need to consult the nutritional information. |
| Trends: More Water, Less Soda |
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Adult consumers continue to drink less regular carbonated soft drinks (2003 = 76%, 2008 = 67%) and switching to bottled water and sports drinks. Energy drink consumption has doubled since 2003, mostly due to increases by young adults.
Factors involved in this trend include weight control, health concerns (including high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweetners). Read more in this article. | |
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I've been working as a spokesperson for Canola Info for years. I'll be working with them at their booth at the American Diabetes Association conference in June and the American Association of Diabetes Educators in August. If you're attending, please stop by our booth and say "hi."
Also, I've just finished my "Carb Counting in Restaurants" presentation kit - includes everything you need (PowerPoint, script and handout) to educate people with diabetes how to watch their carbs when dining out. The product will be available on my website later this week.
Sincerely,
Joanne "Dr. Jo" Lichten, PhD, RD
Author, Speaker, Media Spokesperson |
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Are you receiving my weekly Escape from the Monday Madness enewsletter that comes out every Monday morning? This quick-read will help you stay healthy, sane, and productive.
I also write a weekly enewlsetter for dietitians who want to Make More Dough in Dietetics. If you're not currently on my list, click "change profile" at the very bottom to add this to your profile.
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