Healthy Fast Food Trends – What’s Gaining Popularity in the Fast Food Market?
Although it may sound strange, there has been a real change in customer’s opinions and what they want from fast-food restaurants. According to a survey in the United States conducted by Deloitte, 83% of the participants stated that the typical fast-food chain did not offer enough healthy options, while more than 75% stated they had healthy eating habits.
It appears the trend of customers wanting healthier fast food, is not restricted to just America, though.
In the following post, we are going to look at some of the biggest health-conscious trends when it comes to fast food (and may help with your food marketing!)
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Healthy Fast Food Trends Transforming The Industry
Greater Variety of Options for Vegans
Veganism has been around for some time now, but it seems to have got a lot of traction over the last decade or so.
This may, in part, be down to the general public is more aware and caring more about the harm they are doing to the planet and trying to prevent that.
Or the various experts and celebrities that suggest the vegan way of life is a healthier one.
Whatever the reason, the trend for more vegan options has become more prevalent in the fast-food industry.
Many restaurants are offering a greater number of plant-based foods and partnering with famed brands such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.
Meat Alternatives Are Not Just For Vegans
Part of the increase in interest and use of meat replacements and alternatives is not just down to the boom in people wishing to not harm animals.
It is related to concerns that meat as a source of protein is showing signs of scarcity, at least based on projections for the future.
Given that agriculture and modern farming with livestock have also played a part in environmental issues, people are more aware of the damage being caused and wanting to do something about it so are interested in food that uses alternatives to meat.
More Comprehensive Range of Delivery Options
Perhaps it’s been driven by the Covid-19 pandemic (particularly at the start of the first National Lockdown when we were only allowed out of our homes in the UK for exercise and essentials) or perhaps it was already starting to take hold, but the trend of offering a wide variety of delivery options is one that all fast food restaurants are getting in on.
Some have their in-house services that they are relying on whereas others are taking full advantage of delivery service providers like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat to meet the needs of their customers.
Name a fast food restaurant, whether it’s a local name or one of the big chain brands, and it’s likely they are delivering in some form. Greggs, McDonald’s, Subway, Taco Bell, KFC, etc, etc, the list goes on and on.
The most exciting thing about the expanded delivery options trend is the fact that some restaurants and fast-food chains are looking into establishing delivery-only locations, taking a leaf out of the book of the various pop-up and so-called ghost kitchens that have become popular in recent years.
Healthy Alternatives to Butter
In line with the trend towards incorporating healthier options, many fast-food restaurants have started, even if it’s just at trial stages for some chains, offering alternatives to dairy butter.
For example, some have started to use chickpea and macadamia butter instead of more controversial oils that are considered unhealthy.
As well as trying to accommodate customers who prefer to avoid saturated oils, many brands are looking to meet the needs of those who would rather not eat palm oil.
This is because harvesting palm oil has been linked to deforestation and poses a real threat to the wellbeing of wild animals.
Healthier Sweeteners
Although there are sweeteners out there that are used instead of sugar in traditional fast food establishments, there is a lot of controversy surrounding many of these because the information about how safe or not they are is conflicting.
That is why many companies and brands are turning to healthier sweeteners that are guaranteed to be safer.
Sugar and honey alternatives that you are likely to see more of, particularly in baked goods and desserts include pomegranate, coconut, monk fruit, and even sweet potato.
Alternatives to Traditional Flour
Using alternatives to flour is a trend that is likely to increase over the next few years.
Many people now have developed or been diagnosed with gluten intolerance and offering alternatives to wheat flour is a great way for brands to sell the same kind of products without putting off customers from buying them.
Alternative flours that are expected to be used more are those made from fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Almond and coconut are already proving to be popular.
Even putting the gluten sensitivities to the side, switching from wheat flour to those made from nuts and other ingredients also offers a wide range of health benefits.
A sterling example of this is Pizza Hut that has been selling an alternative base in the form of the healthy and exotic jackfruit pizza.
Sustainably Sourced Ingredients
According to a report conducted by Nielsen, around 41% of Generation Z and 32% of Millennial participants states that they would be willing to pay a premium price for food with sustainably sourced ingredients.
McDonald’s Hiring Dieticians to Develop Healthier Offerings
Yes, you read it right. The biggest fast-food restaurant in the world has started hiring and looking to dieticians to help develop healthier offerings on their menus.
This is clearly to meet the news and demands of its customers while also providing healthier food to gain a better reputation.
This has resulted in the company sourcing chicken that is free of antibiotics and introducing more salads to its menu.
Low-Calorie Menu, Fewer Artificial Ingredients, and Cage-Free Eggs At Taco Bell
Another interesting development in a legacy brand like Taco Bell is the fact that they have devised a low-calorie menu that offers meals that use fewer artificial ingredients and cage-free eggs.
Greater Transparency When it Comes to Ingredients
As the average customer has greater awareness and cares about what goes into his or her food, fast food restaurants, and chains, including the traditional fast food brands and the new up-and-coming brands, have to be clearer and more transparent when it comes to their ingredients lists.
Just as we have seen with the Traffic Light system used in other food and other initiatives used by other food outlets, people are no longer satisfied with vagueness.
This also stems from a greater interest in chains that support and sell local foods.
Summary
It’s an interesting time in the fast-food industry, with what constitutes fast food being challenged.
As we’ve seen from the brief look at some of the popular trends and those growing in prominence, we can expect to see menu items with healthier, cleaner ingredients from local and sustainable sources, including chicken that is not pumped with chemicals, greater salad options that are not just a cop-out and non-meat burger options.
Fast food restaurant chains live or die on having a consumer base to entice, which is why they are paying so close attention to changes.
We don’t know about you, but we are curious and a little bit excited to see what fast-food chains and their restaurants will look like soon.
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