Cracking the code for catering to health-conscious consumers can feel like an impossible task for restaurants. Why? Because “healthy eating” means something different to everyone.

If you ask 100 people what they do to maintain a healthy diet, you'll likely get 100 unique responses. For instance, some consumers are cutting back on red meat, while others are focusing on reducing sugar, sodium, and other specific dietary components. While the path to healthy eating varies from person to person, most agree it’s a priority: 57% of consumers say they need to eat healthier, according to Datassential’s Healthy keynote report.

But when it comes to dining out, the challenge deepens. Some guests want restaurants to reflect their personal health goals, while others take dining out as an opportunity to indulge. How can restaurants navigate this diverse range of preferences and appeal to both sides? Following are some strategies restaurants can focus on to meet diverse health expectations and encourage healthy eating.

The Basics of Prep
It sounds simple, but consumers want healthier preparation methods - and baked and grilled are main ways to do that. Almost half (47%) of consumers would be more motivated to choose healthy options if they were baked or grilled rather than fried. Additionally, offering healthy items as part of a combo meal or providing customizable options could sway a third of diners. 

Global Flavors
Greek, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines are a win-win: they are seen as some of the healthiest options available - and all three cuisines are those that consumers are generally more interested in trying. More than half (57%) of consumers view Greek-Mediterranean cuisine as healthy, with Japanese close behind at 53%. Thai, Korean, and Indian cuisines also rank highly. Restaurants can incorporate these ingredients to offer a broader range of perceived "healthy" dishes, and satisfy consumers’ desire for global cuisines at the same time.

Remaking Tradition
Traditional American, Southern, Cajun, and Soul food are often seen as the least healthy cuisines. However, restaurants can reimagine these dishes by highlighting healthier ingredients already within these cuisines. For example, blackened seafood, shrimp, and lean poultry are great alternatives, and adding acidity like lemon juice or vinegar can cut down on heavy, calorie-laden sauces.

Salads Have Their Place
Despite the desire to indulge when dining out, over half (53%) of consumers say that healthy main dishes are important. Salads top the list of sought-after healthy menu options, with 64% of consumers saying they expect to see salads on the menu—even if they sometimes choose indulgent meals.

Lower the Sugar and Salt
Nearly half (45%) of consumers are actively trying to cut back on sugar, focusing particularly on avoiding refined or processed sugars and artificial ingredients. Restaurants can cater to this by reducing sugar in drinks and desserts or offering natural sweeteners like maple syrup or agave nectar.

Mini desserts are another option to balance indulgence with health consciousness. According to Datassential’s Desserts keynote report, 82% of consumers are interested in mini desserts, which may satisfy their sweet tooth without overindulging.

Catering to Healthy Eaters Without Compromising Flavor
Ultimately, creating a healthy food menu that resonates with a broad range of consumers may take some experimentation. By focusing on bold flavors rather than calories, and offering healthier versions of indulgent dishes, restaurants can strike the right balance.

Click the link here to access more of Datassential’s latest research on how consumers define healthy eating. If you want to access the full report, you can become a subscriber by following this link.  

You can also click here to see ECRM's full roster of Foodservice Sessions!

Datassential's Renee Wege on Consumer Trends Shaping Retail & Foodservice