The end of this year will bring the implementation of the new menu-labeling law that will require all restaurants with more than 20 locations to post the calorie content next to every menu item. While it’s generally accepted that this will be either good or neutral news for restaurant customers, there is definitely more discussion — and disagreement — about what it means for restaurants. After all, many people might balk to find out that nearly every item on a given menu contains over 1,000 calories. And indeed, restaurants that make no attempt to tweak their recipes to bring the calorie count down may find themselves hurt in the end. But on the flip side, analysts are predicting that those restaurants able to quickly adapt to the new menu-labeling regulations by adjusting their recipes and offering at least some lower-calorie options stand to benefit and come out ahead of the crowd.
Don’t Buck This Trend
So what do you do if you are a restaurant with some pretty alarming calorie counts next to your menu items? Instead of bemoaning the inevitable, talk to a nutritionist about ways to make your menu offerings healthier. Remember, not everything on the menu needs to clock in at under 500 calories. The point is to provide options. If the 1,500 calorie fish and chips meal is what your establishment is famous for, then by all means, leave it be. Folks will order it no matter what. But do your customers a favor and provide them with at least some meal options on the lighter side. More and more people are adopting healthier lifestyles and along with that, are demanding to know the nutritional information of the food they consume. Don’t waste your energy swimming against the current.
Not Just for the Big Chains
Are you the owner of a mom-and-pop restaurant or one with just a few locations? Just because you may be legally exempt from the new menu-labeling law doesn’t mean you should just ignore it. More than likely your customers don’t live in a bubble in which they only visit restaurants with fewer than 20 locations. Once people get used to seeing those calorie numbers next to the food they eat, rest assured that they will come to expect it. If your restaurant doesn’t also provide this information, it could get left behind.
Take the Time to Listen to Your Customers
There is still some time before the new law goes into effect, albeit not much time. But before you make drastic changes to your menus and recipes, it would be wise to find out what is important to the customers who come through your door. Maybe they will order the aforementioned fish and chips no matter what, or maybe they would appreciate it if you made it somewhat healthier. Surveying your customers, either formally or informally, will give you an idea of what you can safely tweak and what is best left alone.
Don’t Worry
In the end, people usually know that eating out isn’t always the healthiest for them. They do it anyway, because they want to splurge or treat themselves. That won’t change, no matter how large the numbers on the menu. Providing them with this information will just help the health-conscious ones make informed choices about what they eat for the rest of the day.
Need help with providing your customers with complete nutritional analysis of your menu items? MenuTrinfo can help. Contact us today to find out about our services.
Image used under Creative Commons from Dan Taylor.
