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INCLUSIVE EATING

Customers enjoying a meal in a modern cafe, chatting happily. A diverse group of friends sharing salads and pasta, with natural light streaming in

MENUS TO MEET EVERY DIET

Today’s customers have a multitude of needs and desires. Whether it’s GLP-1, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, halal, low salt/sugar, or eschewing alcohol…it’s critical to offer a variety of choices for everyone at the table.

  • Vegan and vegetarian diners used to be rare, but numbers have increased, especially for those that aren’t strict and just focus on plant-based ingredients. Including meat-free options can increase customer traffic and repeat business/loyalty.
  • Easy-to-substitute ingredients that can make recipes gluten-free include cauliflower rice, almond flour, lettuce wraps, rice noodles, and corn tortillas.
  • GLP-1 dieters prioritize lean proteins and load up on fiber-rich, whole produce. Smaller portions and healthy fats like avocados are also key.
  • Gen Z drinks less alcohol than any previous age group, making mocktails a profit opportunity. Thoughtful combinations with social media appeal layer sour, bitter, spicy, and savory notes with fruit juices, fresh herbs, edible flowers, and house-made shrubs.

Diners are increasingly hyper-focused on high-protein and plant-based foods. Alongside all of the new-fangled, lab-based, cell-cultured options out there is the humble bean. A staple food for millenia, beans are being re-examined as a healthy, versatile ingredient worthy of menu inclusion.

  • Retro and heirloom recipes—like Southern succotash, French cassoulet, and Cajun red beans and rice—fit the bill for those in search of authenticity.
  • Most world cuisines incorporate some type of bean in their classic dishes. Think feijoada in Brazil, black beans and rice with plantains in Puerto Rico, and garbanzo beans in Israel. Modern interpretations of these recipes are packed with produce and herbs.
  • The creamy texture of mung beans is proving an ideal substitute for those that are eliminating soy from their diets.