Why are the healthier menus so insignificant and put aside?

Then someone else would be making your choices for you. Pick and choose…yourself.

Restaurants and grocery stores are in the business to make a profit, so the wider variety of choices that they offer, the more profitable they will be. There are restaurants that cater to the health food group, but most people who are willing to splurge on a meal out want to opt for a treat, typically meaning something non-healthy. Healthy items are offered to accommodate those that want to adhere to their personal lifestyle while enjoying the company of someone else. A fair amount of restaurants today will denote the healthier items on the menu. Some even offer the option of a half-portion.

I eat healthy most days. I also usually make healthy choices in restaurants, but occasionally I go out to eat for the sole purpose of indulging a little bit. I think many people feel the same way – you go out to eat to indulge.

I agree with what everyone else has said. Also, they really can’t cater to every diet out there. There are so many diets these days that it would be hard to have several options for each one. I like going out for meals from time to time and when I do, how healthy it is is usually the last thing on my mind. Going out is about enjoying the food and the people I’m with. It’s not time for me to worry about my calories and all that stuff.

For an interesting look at why the food industry does a lot of what it does, I’d recommend reading The End Of Overeating by Dr. David Kessler. It’s truly fascinating (and scary).

It’s fine to order whatever you want, as long as you don’t overeat. And don’t fall prey to the value marketing.

There can be problems with the low-fat, low-carb, low-whatever stuff also. Often they can be more processed and use ingredients that are far worse for us than just eating the damn butter.

Portion size is more of a problem in restaurants – they use larger plates and our primary visual cortex can’t distinguish portion size by itself – only by relation to what’s around it.

If I go to a restuarant I want to eat what I like. People have a right to eat what they want and buy what they want from the grocery store. Last time I checked the grocery store has many options healthy and not so healthy. The individual has the right to choose what goes into his/her body and it isn’t the the business of the grocery store, the restuarant, the government, or the anyone elses but the person consuming it.

I personally would prefer that calories and fat grams were right on the menu. I am all for allowing restaurants to offer whatever they want to offer, I don’t want high fat foods illegal or anything like that, but it is annoying to me how much fat restaurant cook with. I think if the public was more aware, maybe they would choose better options, and the restaurants would simply create and sell dishes that the public desires. It frustrates me that the lite section of a menu is all turkey and salads, rather than simply preparing a large variety of foods in a healthier way.

My classic example is Outback has on their menu steamed green beans when they arrived on my plate I could see an obvious bit of butter on them. When I questioned it the waiter said that they steam them in the package they come in, so I guess that mean they microwave them, and the seasoning in the package is in the butter. I find that to be deceptive and a disgrace. Who the hell thinks steamed veggies are going to be rolling in butter?

Restaurants cater to what their customers want. More and more of them (or is it just the ones I use) are providing healthy choices. Ask, complain, and let them know your preferences.