As a restaurant owner, it can be incredibly beneficial to pay attention to the latest diet trends in your area. Small promotions here and there can make a huge difference to your monthly revenue and strategic, large-scale changes can positively affect your restaurant for good. Below are three diet trends we have noticed that many restaurants are already accommodating. Take a look and see what changes you might make to capture the business of these dieters.
Low-Carb and the Keto Diet
With celebrities such as the Kardashians, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, and LeBron James, committing to this diet at some point over the last few years, it is no surprise that it has taken the country by storm. What is it exactly? The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that is said to put the body in a state called ketosis. In this state, the body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat and thus assists users in weight-loss. To accommodate this diet trend, many restaurants are offering low carb versions of their popular menu items; some are even going as far as creating no carb dishes.
If you want to target low-carb dieters, you don’t need to change your menu, you could do something as simple as including messaging on your menu and social media accounts. “Being on a diet doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a night out. Order some of our fantastic dishes with low-carb alternatives. We’re more than happy to accommodate!”
Veganism
Unlike the keto diet, veganism has been around for decades. It is no longer viewed as a passing fad and is seen as a genuine lifestyle choice. In fact, with a 600% increase in the vegan population over the last 3 years, veganism seems to only be getting more popular. This growth rate, along with the overall popularization of the lifestyle-diet, have led and will continue to lead to an increase in the number of restaurants offering vegan-friendly options.
Why? Well, it’s easy to offer one or two new menu items or options that cater to veganism. And those options could be the reason a group of friends chooses your restaurant over another.
Gluten Free
The gluten-free diet has become one of the most popular diet trends in the United States, with one in five people now reducing or eliminating gluten in their diets. This is due, in part, to the awareness of Celiac disease (a disease in which gluten damages the small intestine), but also seems to be gaining traction as a popular trend. Regardless of why it is here, many restaurants have begun stamping their menu items with GF (gluten-free) to make it easier for those following this type of diet to identify dishes they can eat. It is an easy thing for restaurants to do, especially since many already offer gluten-free options.
The Hidden Diet Trend
There are always unintended food trends that arise in the wake of popular diets. In this instance, two of the diets we listed (the keto diet and the gluten-free diet) have had a similar influence on consumer habits. With more people choosing to stay away from carbs and gluten-heavy food products, there has been a rise in fatty substitutes. Menus are becoming rich in things like butter burgers, butter coffees, and butter-flavored additives (ie: garlic butter shrimp, jalapeno butter steak, cinnamon butter syrup). As this article puts it, “Butter is the new bacon.”
Here at Butterball® Farms we can help you take advantage of this trend. Whether you want to improve the ease at which you serve your butter, reduce butter waste, or are interested in creating a custom butter flavor, we can help you! Just click below to visit our site!
