How Healthy Could Win the Restaurant World

A bowl of cruciferous vegetables dressed with a cilantro-lime vinaigrette. A grilled vegetable and goat cheese panini dished up with hearty lentil soup. An herbal tea, pomegranate, strawberry and soy smoothie served as a liquid lunch.

A decade ago, most Americans wouldn’t consider a bowl of Brussels sprouts or blended fruits as fast food, let alone a meal. But millions of diners, fueled by concerns about their health and propelled by a general distaste for highly-processed food, have begun to shun the ubiquitous chains that have long shaped the American culinary character. And while speed and convenience matter as much as ever to American diners, they also want to know what they are eating and how it was made. They’re also willing to pay more to have a reassuring sense that what they’re eating is healthier fare.

Seventy-one percent of consumers said healthfulness was important in how they purchased food and beverages, according to a 2014 study from the International Food Information Council Foundation. That’s a 10 percent rise from just two years prior.

The shift toward a healthier diet can be felt even more strongly among younger people. Data from the 2014 Health & Wellness in America report found that while only 26 percent of Generation X would pay more for healthier food products, 41 percent of Generation Z said they’d shell out extra for healthy options.

In light of this trend, plenty of brands like to claim they offer healthy products, but restaurants like Smoothie King and Saladworks have the science to back it up.

Saladworks is a unique restaurant concept, offering customers the ability to design their own entrée-sized salads with more than 60 ethically sourced ingredients chopped in-house daily. Customers can also choose one of 12 suggested “signature salads,” a variety of warm, filling soups or one of many sandwich options. All salads and sandwiches are made to order by the Saladworks team. Providing a vast array of healthy choices is what Saladworks is all about.

“As the under 50 generation sees their parents age, and the picture is not always a pretty one, we realize that while our parents may get a free pass, we know what we are putting into our bodies,” said Paul Steck, president and CEO of Saladworks. “While we may choose to eat a fatty, high calorie meal, we typically temp that with meals that are better for you. In light of this, we do indeed see people much more interested in healthy living and certainly in healthy lunch time dining.”

Steck believes that eating healthy isn’t always about smaller portions. A typical fast food meal consists of a quarter pound burger—that’s only four ounces. A Saladworks salad generally contains 18 to 21 ounces of food.

“You get more choice and more food that is obviously better for you. This is an easy choice for most of us,” said Steck.

Smoothie King also uses words like “healthy” and “natural” to describe their menu, and they’ve already built a large and loyal following with their health-conscious, custom-blended smoothies. Fruits, vegetables, high-quality protein, almond milk—these are all ingredients that Smoothie King uses to help their customers feel good about the products they’re consuming.

“Healthy eating while on the run has become part of a daily routine. As the modern workplace evolved, so has the pace of work, typical commutes and traditional breaks. Healthy alternatives to the typical grab-and-go fare are becoming the norm. People want to feel good while on the run," said Davis Jaeger, Smoothie King's food scientist. "Smoothie King literally offers rapid, nutritious and healthy alternatives to that on-the-go consumer. We cater to their healthy lifestyle and fit right in with their fast pace lives. A Smoothie King smoothie is a meal you can enjoy with one hand. Now imagine the possibilities."

As restaurants like Smoothie King and Saladworks continue to grow their fan base, they’re helping to bridge the gap between health and convenience by changing the entire landscape of fast casual dining.

“Would you rather have a soggy burrito or a flavorful smoothie packed with the vitamins and minerals your body craves and needs? If that was my lunch break, I know which one would help me perform better throughout the rest of the day," said Jaeger.