You don’t need me to tell you that nutritious choices have been gaining popularity in recent years. People everywhere are more health conscious than they’ve ever been. If you dine out as much as I do, you’ve probably noticed calorie counts and nutritional information popping up on menus that didn’t have anything of the sort just a few years ago.
Healthier menus are here to stay. Even if your restaurant’s cuisine leans on the unhealthier side of things, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a few nutritional choices. Just a few healthier choices can make all the difference.
The New Normal. As the pandemic continues, people are thinking more about their health, nutrition, and how what they’re consuming can improve their immune systems. After all, a strong immune system can help combat a potential COVID-19 infection.
If you’re wondering whether or not people are actually trying to eat healthier because of the pandemic, the answer is yes. According to a report from Datassential (via the National Restaurant Association), nearly half of all consumers (44%) are responding to the pandemic by deciding to eat healthier.
Like so much else, these implications will be felt for long after the pandemic is over. It’s why implementing healthier choices now will continue to benefit your restaurant over the long term.
Generational preferences. If your restaurant is targeting millennials and Gen Z (who isn’t?), you’ve got another great reason to pursue a healthier menu. The Food Industry Association recently reported that 21% of the two youngest generations are eating much healthier than they were because of the pandemic.
Millennials and Gen Z are already more health conscious than previous generations. They care about locally sourced and organic foods. They want to know what ingredients are in their food along with what the health benefits are. These generations continue to gain spending power, and catering to their healthier preferences will set your restaurant up for success.
Plant-based proteins. Of course, the pandemic isn’t the only reason people are eating healthier. A number of hot food trends this year are focused on nutrition. The most significant? I don’t think I’m the only one who would tell you it’s plant-based proteins.
As it turns out, many experts agree with my assessment. When surveyed for the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Industry 2030 report, experts identified plant-based protein food products as the second most-likely food/menu trend for the entire next decade.
Plant-based protein isn’t just a nutritional fad. It’s a major trend that’s already resonating with customers in a big way. A report from Technomic found that nearly half of consumers (49%) are likely to order plant-based meals. On top of that, a third of consumers are making a conscious effort to reduce their meat consumption. With an asterisk though; they’re not willing to sacrifice taste.
That’s a key point to remember as your restaurant experiments with healthier fare. People can eat healthy food that doesn’t taste good at home. They’re dining out because they expect your food to taste good.
Succeed With CoGoBuzz
With CoGoBuzz, we’re here to help your restaurant succeed as it moves forward from the pandemic. Our state-of-the-art digital marketing service can help your restaurant build and maintain a strong base of loyal customers, which will ultimately help your restaurant survive.
Our service directly promotes your services to customer mobile devices. Leveraging advanced WiFi, SMS, and Email solutions, CoGoBuzz promotes your restaurant both in-store and out. It comes packed with a fully digital, text-based loyalty program, allowing you to let your customers know what services you’re offering – all with just a simple text. Click here to learn more about CoGoBuzz.
Whether you’re one of our current customers, or you’re interested in joining the CoGoBuzz family, we’re committed to helping businesses affected by COVID-19.
For current customers, we’re providing free text message service, allowing you to send a link to order online, purchase gift cards, and/or notify customers of new hours.
For new customers, we’re offering our hardware at cost, donating our services, time, and covering shipping costs. Prepare for the future with CoGoWiFi Free to collect your customers’ phone numbers. There are no contracts or monthly fees, and we offer unlimited customer data storage.
Message from our CEO
“From pricing to packaging, our mission has always been to provide customers with unbeatable value. That’s why, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we are seeking to provide the most aggressive offers to help suffering restaurants survive. We believe that half of small restaurants will fail in the year after operations return to normal. The restaurants that survive and thrive will be the ones that win loyalty and focus on bringing customers back over the following year.”
– Steve Gould, CEO
Click here for more details on how we’re handling the crisis.
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Has your restaurant introduced healthier choices since the pandemic started? Let us know in the comments.