
Donahue said the company avoids pushing the uber-healthy aspects of its dishes - focusing on the tastiness of its kale banana smoothies, for instance, instead of highlighting the kale.Įven Veggie Grill, which offers only vegetarian food, sells meatless cheeseburgers and chicken wings to entice "recovering carnivores," Dollarhyde said.

Lyfe Kitchen serves burgers with grass-fed beef and decadent chocolate desserts, all under 600 calories. And oh, by the way, it is good for you.'" "I tell our people they have got to start every message with, 'Tastes great, tastes great, tastes great. "I don't like saying the H word, because that's going to turn people off," said Mike Donahue, co-founder of Lyfe Kitchen, which has expanded to 13 locations since opening its first restaurant in Palo Alto, Calif., in 2011. Many of these restaurants cater to salad skeptics or meat lovers who shy away from anything green or overly healthy. "The big trend now is make it better for me, but I don't want to give any flavors up." "People want to eat more vegetables that are nutritious and unprocessed," said Greg Dollarhyde, chief executive of Santa Monica, Calif.-based chain Veggie Grill. Several offer beers from local breweries and menus that change with the seasons.

There are cushy chairs and communal tables, not plastic ones that are nailed down. At some, you'll find real china replacing paper dishes and foam cups for in-house eating. Many are rethinking the fast-food experience beyond food. "The most bankable word in food service is fresh," said restaurant consultant Aaron Allen. But analysts predict this sector will boom as health-conscious consumers ditch the burger and fries in favor of healthy meals. Such chains make up just a tiny fraction of the $200-billion fast-food industry in the United States. These chains, several based in California, see a juicy opportunity in the Golden State, with its bounty of health-obsessed diners interested in the latest food fads. At the same time, they are stealing customers from stalwarts such as McDonald's. These rapidly expanding restaurants want to revolutionize the fast-food industry, bringing healthy fare to the masses who typically don't shop at Whole Foods. Now, a number of upstart chains trying to tap that interest are taking aim at traditional fast food by moving leafy greens and fruits to the center of the plate. Instead, diners can order Brussels sprouts salads and kale smoothies, served with the same speed as Burger King.Īmerica's interest in locally sourced and healthy foods has spurred a boom in farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants and has expanded organic produce at the supermarket. The high-protein breakfast group experienced reduced hunger and food intake throughout the day, and gained less body fat compared to the no-breakfast and normal-protein breakfast groups ( 5).Įnjoy these egg bites on their own for a light breakfast, or pair them with another healthy breakfast food, like Greek yogurt or oatmeal, for a protein-packed meal.Some of the fastest-growing fast-food chains aren't slinging artery-clogging cheeseburgers or cooking up calorie-packed fried chicken. Some studies have found that a high-protein breakfast may help with weight loss.Ī 2015 study compared 57 young adults who either skipped breakfast or ate a high- or normal-protein breakfast. Each serving squeezes in 13 grams of protein. In addition to egg whites, these bites contain Monterey Jack cheese, spinach and fire-roasted red peppers. Sous vide is a cooking technique in which foods are vacuum-sealed in a pouch and then cooked in a water bath to achieve a precise level of doneness. If you’re looking for a nutritious breakfast on the go, these egg bites are a healthy and delicious option.
