I have a million dollar idea, because most of my brain power is used thinking up ways to be an overnight millionaire, and quite frankly, I’m surprised no one has pounced on this one yet.
Actually, maybe I’m not surprised with the way America is backwards when it comes to health.
Why are there no low calorie restaurants?
Why are there no “safe” restaurants where you are not constantly worried that even though you ordered the most healthy sounding dish, they soaked all the veggies in butter? Why are there no restaurants that don’t have a “light choices” section that is over crowded with tempting, fattening choices, because the whole menu is light and healthy? Why are there no restaurants that allow the health minded individual to choose what they want to eat based on what sounds good, instead of choosing from the three menu items under 1,000 calories?
The obesity epidemic is no secret. It’s everywhere- so much so, I am actually sick of typing the words “obesity epidemic.” We are trying to change it. We have calorie count laws to help people choose the best menu options, or at the very least know the calories in what they are eating. We have banned trans fats in most places. We even have universities pushing to make overweight students take a weight loss class.
Yet, it seems when it comes to food, the culprit of obesity, we are so reluctant to make real change. Why are there no restaurants that make only healthy, fresh and delicious dishes, in proper portions, with no added calories or fat?
Too expensive? Sure, fresh foods are more expensive than a junk diet, but I for one would be willing to pay a little extra for a fresh and healthy meal out. Quality ingredients have always cost more (hello, fillet Mignon!) and, quite frankly, getting two tacos for a dollar doesn’t give me much confidence in the quality of the ingredients.
Too boring? No way. Fat and grease is the lazy man’s way to make food tasty. Quality ingredients, lots of spices and a variety of flavors are the traits of a delicious, and healthy meal.
But would it be lucrative? Would a low calorie restaurant be able to make it today in America? Doubtful. Food is still thought of as entertainment, and as long as we view it as such, the meal will be more important than the experience. We think of eating out as a special occasion where we can cut ourselves some slack and eat things we normally wouldn’t, or couldn’t, prepare on our own. It used to be that way, and that was OK, but now we eat out more often than we cook at home, so ‘special occasion’ doesn’t really apply anymore.
Restaurants give the people what they want- they have to, they are businesses that need money. So far, the people have asked for bigger portions, with more extras, at cheaper prices. And that’s what we get.
However, there has been a shift in recent years. With the increasing concern over our nations obesity epidemic (there it is again) fast food restaurants are offering lower calorie options, Starbucks has quit using artificial ingredients and at many places, sides can be swapped out for healthier options. Yet, no one has made healthy eating easy by vowing to make all their meals healthy.
The hardest thing to counsel my nutrition clients on is how to make healthy choices when dining out. Part way through my ‘red flag words’ and ‘how to ask for substitutions without getting your food spat on’ speech, their eyes glaze over and they lament, “why does it have to be so complicated?” I wish it weren’t. It doesn’t have to be. Give us our low calorie restaurant!
Crap, I just gave someone the blueprint to my million dollar idea.
Amen! I think it’s great that many new raw and vegan places are opening, but lots of people are afriad to try them out just yet. I also think it’s deceiving because raw can be very high calorie which is ok if you eat that way all the time, you balance it out…but most people aren’t that healthy
I hate the restaurants that have “healthy” in the title (just opened one in the city I live in called “HealthFare”) but aren’t actually healthy in anyway.
On a sidenote-Kelly what happened to the final weeks of your P90X review?
Hi Sarah, Kelly’s last week of her P90X experience will be published later today.
Yeah, the P90X schedule was a switched a bit over the holidays- but I explain it all in the post.There will be one more post after that where I give my assessment results, too!
I know, I hate this. You go into a restaurant and they have one or two menu items that are healthy and you feel trapped, only able to order those things. It makes me resentful! Why should I pay so much money for a plain piece of chicken and vegetables?
I think restaurants just really need to make their portions smaller… then we’d be able to order a greater variety of things.
yeah, and then everyone you are with is like “bleeehhh, live a little.” I would like to live a little but I only have one meal to choose from that won’t make me bloat like a puffer fish. I also think people don’t realize that if you eat healthy 90% of the time, unhealthy food literally makes you sick. But that’s another article for another time, lol.
I love this idea. When I am scoping out the menu for lowfat options, and ordering substitutions and asking to leave out the dressing, mayo, etc., people with me at a restaurant will tell me, “why are you watching what you eat? you’re skinny!” well HELLO, that’s WHY i’m skinny. because i do watch calories and fat, and i am happy and used to eating that way. grease and salt and butter gross me out.