In recent years, as awareness of health and nutrition has increased, more attention has been paid to various dietary trends. New, popular dietary trends such as the Mediterranean diet, plant-based diet, veganism, and vegetarianism, to name a few, have dramatically grown in popularity. This has forced consumers to take a close look at their eating habits and the nutritional value of what they regularly consume.
All this said, with so many new dietary trends, businesses (foodservice providers in particular) need to cater to the health-conscious consumer to be successful. They have to make sure their menu offers options that align with these trends and continue to stay up to date, adjusting their food offerings accordingly.
Using a nutritional value calculator can be immensely helpful in this case. It allows foodservice providers to know exactly what they are putting into their dishes and to relay this information to consumers. It can elevate their businesses by showing they are attentive and aware of what goes into their dishes, and therefore care about the health of their valued customers.
Dietary Trends in 2020
The Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is widely adhered to by people in Greece and Italy. This diet primarily consisting of whole grains, good fats (fish, olive oil, nuts, etc.), vegetables, fruits, fish, and very low consumption of any non-fish meat, is popular for its proven results to lower heart disease, obesity, and other life-threatening diseases.
Many consumers are flocking to this diet for its numerous nutritional benefits, which emphasize high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods. In addition to combating many chronic diseases, if adhered to strictly, it is extremely effective for weight loss.
DASH Diet
The DASH Diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This specific diet, which is less well-known than others, focuses on portion control. This is a common problem for consumers, especially in the United States.
Designed to help lower blood pressure, the DASH diet plan prevents osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and strokes. It does this by forcing consumers to reduce their sodium intake.
In North America, many studies show that portions are double, and sometimes even triple, the recommended amount compared to other parts of the world. A key component of weight loss is eating a balanced diet in terms of nutrients and portion sizes. Many consumers fail to read the nutrition label to see the suggested serving size and do not measure their food accurately, leading to overeating and eventual weight gain.
Using a nutritional value calculator for your business can help you and your consumers be more aware of serving sizes and the proper nutrition you consume. It provides transparency, which helps build trust between your customers and the company.
The Plant-Based Diet
A plant-based diet consists primarily or entirely of foods from plants. For instance, some of these food products would include vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fruits. Animal products are either mostly or completely eliminated from this diet, depending on its severity and how strictly the participant adheres to these practices. Meats and cheeses are being replaced with plant-based products, providing more appealing options to consumers who are electing to participate in this movement.
Aside from the health factor, it also appeals to people who are environmentally conscious and want to live as sustainably as possible. A plant-based diet is very animal-friendly, for it does not require the use of animals or their products, and supports farms and agriculture as a whole. Serving these customers can bode very well for your establishment. It means that you’re supporting a good cause and you are willing to cater to your health-conscious consumers.
The Value of Good Nutrition
It is of the utmost importance to learn about and practice good nutrition in your foodservice practices. When all is said and done, consumers want to be healthy in mind and body. They need healthy options to choose from when dining out and access to accurate nutrition information to appropriately select and monitor what they put into their bodies. A nutrition analysis software can do this by shedding light on the composition of a foodservice professional’s menu.
Having detailed nutrition information on their menus shows that foodservice providers are being transparent about the ingredients in their dishes and the overall nutritional value. Accurate nutrition labels produced by nutrition analysis software not only help foodservice providers and customers become more educated and aware of proper nutrition, but it also helps people live healthy lives. This also gives the foodservice provider credibility, resulting in satisfied and loyal customers for the establishment.
Nutritional Value Calculator Software
It can be challenging for foodservice providers to stay on top of the latest dietary trends, as new ones continue to emerge constantly. What consumers want is consistently changing as more information becomes available on nutrition.
MenuSano is a nutritional value calculator that helps you adhere to these dietary trends and adjust your menu accordingly. The software provides numerous benefits. Most importantly, however, it provides foodservice providers with detailed, accurate information about the ingredients they use. As a business, this will allow you to be transparent with your customers. This also shows that you are aware of the latest dietary trends and are doing your best to cater to consumers currently participating.
MenuSano’s nutritional value calculator software is a dynamic tool that enables foodservice providers to target and serve healthy consumers. Restaurants can also appeal to a broader customer base, thereby boosting their popularity in the food industry. These professionals can prove they are putting in the effort to create healthy dishes by creating, printing, and showcasing accurate nutrition labels.
This process allows the foodservice industry to bridge the gap between the latest dietary trends in 2020 and their menu offerings, which ultimately leads to success.
MenuSano makes it easier to make a nutrition label that’s accurate and professional for your food business. It also works as nutrition analysis software, so updates don’t mean recalculating everything manually.
