What you need to know

As Americans continue to be plagued with chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, etc, there is rising interest on the part of consumers to eat for better health. Since they visit restaurants so often, they seek better-for-you (BFY) restaurant foods. However, foodservice operators still struggle with providing foods that are healthier (and often costlier), while still delivering on taste. While there are more healthy-positioned items on the menus, consumer demand for items that fit into their diets (eg gluten- and allergen-free, etc) and that are more natural continues to rise. Operators who address these challenges will gain the loyalty of the more nutritionally conscious consumer.

Definition

This report explores consumer attitudes and behaviors with respect to dining healthy in restaurants. Consumers were asked about usage, number of visits, their general attitudes towards restaurants and menu items, how they have changed their eating habits in the past year with respect to health, their eating habits when they go out to eat, what menu descriptors are important to them, and their attitudes and behaviors relating to drinking beverages in restaurants. This report also contains a CHAID analysis to showcase the key target consumer groups willing to pay more for healthier foods and menu analysis provided by Mintel Menu insights, Mintel’s restaurant menu analyzing tool. This report builds on the analysis presented in Healthy Dining Trends – US, July 2014, and July 2013, as well as the May 2009-12 reports of the same title.

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