4. Play up health-halos
Finally, comfort foods can be updated simply by using better quality ingredients. That means eliminating preservative-laden foods, as well as ingredients made with artificial flavorings, colorings or sweeteners. According to Technomic’s Healthy Eating report, for 61% of consumers, the claim of natural ingredients is what they look for on menus when ordering healthy items, while 35% look for organic options, so these health-halo callouts can help attract those diners. In short, operators need not only focus on the fat or sugar content of a dish, but also on the quality of the ingredients being used in the kitchen overall.
Upgrading these ingredients can help entice diners who are interested in better-for-you foods and not just lower calorie/lower fat dishes. Another way that operators can attract diners with health halos is to emphasize the health benefits of reducing the amount of meat consumed by incorporating more plant-based options. For instance, eating more plants can reduce the risk of heart disease, and it’s easy to do—swapping in mushrooms for a portion of the meat used in items such as a burger or meatloaf is a healthier way to enjoy those comfort foods.