Healthy beginnings

With healthy eating topping the nation’s January resolutions list, are you tapping into the opportunity to drive up sales while giving customers what they want?

Eating better is the most popular New Year’s resolution and you can help your customers start 2023 the way they mean to carry on with a host of healthy dishes, drinks and snacks for all dietary requirements.

Outlets that offer a variety of high-quality, healthy dishes, highlighting the nutritional benefits, will see customers return again.

FREE FROM

When it comes to excluding certain food groups, such as gluten or soy, consumers avoid at least one food group partly because they perceive free-from products to be healthier than their conventional counterparts. See if you can extend your ‘free-from’ offering beyond gluten and dairy to show awareness and make sure you clearly label these options.

January is the perfect time to promote your vegan menu, to add new dishes for a new year or to introduce vegan options if you’re not already doing so. For an easy win, look for ready-made plant-based ranges, such as Garden Gourmet and Clive’s Purely Plants, which has recently launched a new range exclusive to foodservice (check out pages 6-7 for the latest new products from both brands).

FRESH GOODNESS

Fruit and vegetables are a key driver when customers look for healthier foods. How quick and simple does that make it to get a wide range of food and drink choices on your menus straightaway? Just a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter or bar, or a snack of fresh veg with a proteinpacked dip will demonstrate your commitment to providing healthy options.

However, today’s health-conscious consumers are looking for more; they’re seeking functional foods that offer additional or enhanced health benefits beyond their basic nutritional value. Most foods, including fruit and vegetables, are functional but others include a particular functional ingredient, such as probiotics, or are fortified with a nutrient to include more of it, all designed to improve health.

Natural wholefood ingredients rich in important nutrients include nuts, seeds, wholegrains, seafood, herbs and spices, such as ginger and turmeric, and drinks such as coffee and green tea. Fortified foods include juices, yogurt, granola and milk alternatives such as almond, coconut and rice milks. Make it clear which of your dishes contain these ingredients.

REVEAL ALL

Consumers are no longer just concerned about levels of fat and sugar; now more than ever they want to know what’s included in their food as much as they want to know what it doesn’t include. Make sure the ingredients used in your dishes are clear to see with labelling and descriptions on menus.

Research shows a significant number of people would go elsewhere if there were no healthy options on menus, so highlight your healthy dishes for healthy sales to start the new year.

Try these tips to have healthy eating covered so you can help your customers stick to their goals

»Yogurt is a great choice for breakfast, particularly plain versions as flavoured ones can contain added sugar and calories. For a real flavour hit, try adding fresh fruit to whole-milk or low-fat plain yogurt for fibre, or go for Greek yogurt for a protein boost. Sprinkle with homemade granola and fresh fruit.

»Choose flavour-packed dishes for lunch that are both speedy and delicious, packed with nutrition and also served to go. Plant-based eating remains big business, so highlight your options. »For those with a sweet tooth who want to stay healthy, focus on fresh fruit flavours, low-sugar and no-alcohol and you’re on to a winner.

»Cater to busy customers who are shunning traditional mealtimes and want to grab a healthy bite while on the move. Think trail mix, raw veg pots with hummus or a vegan lemon and dill cashew dip, no-bake peanut butter cookies or chicken protein pots (spiced lentils topped with cherry tomatoes, cooked chicken and tzatziki).

»Customise your dishes to upsell: offer add-ons or ingredient swaps to dishes, which support your customers’ choices and help streamline your menu, or offer lower-calorie fillings or an added protein portion to accompany a dish.

»Shatter the illusion that good for you means it costs more by communicating a clear value-for-money message, for example, offer a free healthy snack with a hot drink purchase, or a mini smoothie with a lunch dish.