I'm starting a healthy fast food chain

[willh512]

I thought this forum would be a good place to hear some good ideas and suggestions. Right now the only real option is Subway if you're looking to eat right but too busy to cook.

What would YOU like to see in a healthy fast food drive-thru?

What kinds of things would you buy on the road?

I've heard some interesting suggestions already, like offering a multivitamin and displaying nutritional information openly for all products, even desserts.

Right now, I think the menu will be broken down into:

-Sandwiches on white or wheat bread (like Mom used to make them)
-Meat portion items (grilled chicken strips/bites, breaded chicken, pork strips/bites)
-Salad Wraps w/ various dressings and chicken
-Salad Bowls to go
-Fruit cups
-Vegetable cups
-Soups
-Breads (Hawaiian, Cornbread, Sweet Roll)
-Smoothies/Protein Shakes
-Regular drink menu

As someone who tries to eat healthy, what would you want to see?

[cheeseandrice]

sounds like the food would be pretty pricy

fast food is so cheap because the food is total garbage

i'd like to see where this goes however

[Holyspokes]

Having a multivitamin seems pretty ridiculous honestly... It'd be a complete rip off, and they are easy enough to take with you. The focus should be on healthy food, not supplements.


There are quite a few healthy options already out there besides subway.


I'd like to see smoothies with all whole foods, wheat grass, spirulina, etc. Maybe have protein powder optional.

It'd probably be easiest to focus on one kind of food or just a few with variations. Like Sandwiches and soup + smoothies.

You could load the soups up with vegetables and have the sandwiches come with sides of carrots, apple, or small salad.

[Ted Nugent]

agreed with what you have and what Spokes wrote. but your most important consideration needs to be your location and clientele you will be serving. a restaraunt like this will thrive in a trendy upscale area (more wealthy people tend to be more health conscious and have extra money for these type of restaraunts, thats based on actual statistics) or in area that is health/progressivley focused (boulder, CO...portlans, OR...etc). if you put this is a lower middle class type area amid strip malls and chains you would def burn out. but start a joint like this in the right area and success is pretty much guaranteed. i am part of "that crowd" and have been to those places so i know exactly what your talking about and what you should consider doing.

[faina00]

Originally Posted by willh512

I thought this forum would be a good place to hear some good ideas and suggestions. Right now the only real option is Subway if you're looking to eat right but too busy to cook.

What would YOU like to see in a healthy fast food drive-thru?

What kinds of things would you buy on the road?

I've heard some interesting suggestions already, like offering a multivitamin and displaying nutritional information openly for all products, even desserts.

Right now, I think the menu will be broken down into:

-Sandwiches on white or wheat bread (like Mom used to make them)
-Meat portion items (grilled chicken strips/bites, breaded chicken, pork strips/bites)
-Salad Wraps w/ various dressings and chicken
-Salad Bowls to go
-Fruit cups
-Vegetable cups
-Soups
-Breads (Hawaiian, Cornbread, Sweet Roll)
-Smoothies/Protein Shakes
-Regular drink menu

As someone who tries to eat healthy, what would you want to see?

Not sure I consider white bread, sweet rolls, breaded chicken pork bites exactly healthy. Agreed that its all about location, location, location.
I eat no fast food and have not had a burger in 20+ years so I would eat at an establishment like this if it was truly healthy. Too many places are advertised as healthy when they are in fact not at all. Panera Bread for example, I remember reading that some of there sandwiches and salads have over 1000 cal, not exactly healthy. But keeping food nutrition stats open and having healthy grilled items including fish or shrimp wouild be a good start. Also maybe low sugar dessert items. There is a british frozen yogurt place near my house which sells imported soft serve which has 8 cal per oz and no sugar and they are always busy (partially due to my family)!

[CaliforniaKing]

Originally Posted by Ted Nugent

agreed with what you have and what Spokes wrote. but your most important consideration needs to be your location and clientele you will be serving. a restaraunt like this will thrive in a trendy upscale area (more wealthy people tend to be more health conscious and have extra money for these type of restaraunts, thats based on actual statistics) or in area that is health/progressivley focused (boulder, CO...portlans, OR...etc). if you put this is a lower middle class type area amid strip malls and chains you would def burn out. but start a joint like this in the right area and success is pretty much guaranteed. i am part of "that crowd" and have been to those places so i know exactly what your talking about and what you should consider doing.

I'd have to disagree. If the quality it high enough and it is marketed correctly, it'll do well. An example of that would be Apple computers. They sell computers at a premium price. You can get the same performance for a much lower price if you buy a PC. The reason why their sales and market share are growing every month is the way they're marketing it. Plus, pretty much everyone is trying or wants to eat healthier, more than ever. There's definitely a place for a legit healthy fast food chain in almost every city.

[rhengst89]

Lots of fatty animal products preferably.

Whole milk, butter, eggs, beef, pork.

No "white" grains / sugars.

[bodydropcris]

i guess a bunch of trendy people will fill your establishment, but im not retarded, so i know if i want fast food i can make great choices at any one of the big chains and not spend more than 5-6 bucks for lunch... i still have a couple more meals in the day to get in all the other fancy healthy stuff...

[Elitelift]

Originally Posted by willh512

I thought this forum would be a good place to hear some good ideas and suggestions. Right now the only real option is Subway if you're looking to eat right but too busy to cook.

What would YOU like to see in a healthy fast food drive-thru?

What kinds of things would you buy on the road?

I've heard some interesting suggestions already, like offering a multivitamin and displaying nutritional information openly for all products, even desserts.

Right now, I think the menu will be broken down into:

-Sandwiches on white or wheat bread (like Mom used to make them)
-Meat portion items (grilled chicken strips/bites, breaded chicken, pork strips/bites)
-Salad Wraps w/ various dressings and chicken
-Salad Bowls to go
-Fruit cups
-Vegetable cups
-Soups
-Breads (Hawaiian, Cornbread, Sweet Roll)
-Smoothies/Protein Shakes
-Regular drink menu
As someone who tries to eat healthy, what would you want to see?

already lot of FF joint like this.

[dat]

Fat free is not necessarily healthy.

[Bigdumogre]

there is a chain in ny queens popping up with all good ****
like salmon on brownrice with veggies and all juices and stuff
great food but each meal is like $10 so not a option every day
plus smoothies are 5$

[Puddle_Pirate]

And sorry guys, but it will be some time before Iron Mittens opens up.

[MikeD4386]

best of luck to you, but i just wanna give you heads up, that healthy food is expensive, and does not last long(no preservatives). this will signaficantly raise ur costs, which will be past on to consumers that refuse to pay high premium for "fast food". best of uck tho, I hope to see it one day

[rhengst89]

Originally Posted by dat

Fat free is not necessarily healthy.

More like the exact opposite of healthy.

[ilove2run]

Originally Posted by Puddle_Pirate

And sorry guys, but it will be some time before Iron Mittens opens up.

WTF Puddle ............



















jkin

[Suzash]

I think it's a great idea OP! So what if it would cost customers more $$$$ than a typical fast food joint, it sounds like you would market your establishment to people who would be willing to pay extra for a healthy meal on the go and I think there are a lot of people out there who this would appeal to.
Some ideas:
-Oatmeal
-An omelette station (like Subway has for sandwhiches, but instead mix up everything with eggs or eggwhites)
-Sweet potato fries
-Lean meat or veggie chili
-Veggies with hummus
Wow...the options are endless really...

[Valjean]

Eggrolls! =D

[whtcavy]

where are you gonna open this? cuz, since you're asking, I don't think ppl in Milwaukee, WI (where im' at) would wanna spend a bunch of money on stuff they could make at home. especially this type of community (bodybuilders) who know the prices of healthy food. I know i spend a lot of money on food, and i'd rather make my pounds of chicken at once for the day and put it in my fridge, rather than spend more money for the same thing. I know we do it every day at applebees/panera/etc, but you're going for a way smaller market. some ppl would just rather eat at mcdonalds if it was next door for a few bucks cheaper.

[Puddle_Pirate]

Originally Posted by ilove2run

WTF Puddle ............


jkin

And it's a secret so I can't disclose the details. Just wanna get my BS in pastry arts first.

[Puddle_Pirate]

Originally Posted by Suzash

Wow...the options are endless really...

Exactly

You just have to find your niche and go w/ it. And like others have already stated, the location is one of the most important details. If you build, they will come.

[Scintillating]

I personally find it difficult to find restaurants that accommodate my diet. I have been a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) for years. Almost everywhere the only vegetarian options available are (1) sandwiches over-stuffed with high-fat cheese products or just vegetables or (2) pastas. I would love to see a more vegetarian-friendly chain thrive. As in, 33%+ of their options being vegetarian, and not side dishes. Especially things made from ingredients other than soy products/tofu such as quinoa, textured vegetable protein, and whey protein blends.

[Sash]

Sounds like a great idea, best of luck! As others have mentioned you wont be able to compete on price so you'll have to make sure your food is high quality.

[Rodzilla]

I'm sort of doubting you've looked into this. You may have aspirations to one day have a chain, but you normally don't just start a "chain" or restaurants. You're going to have to start with one.

So start your restaurant. Find your niche, if you want to eventually have a chain you have to compete with the big boys who already have healthier options. Organic probably isn't feasible, you'll just need some really good tasting menu-items that are cheap, and fast.

I think you have some good ideas, but for me to actually seek out a fast food place they would have to offer something I hadn't seen before.

baked/breaded chicken tenders.
cornbread - lower fat, lower sugar
baked fries - I've seen them as low as 2g of fat per 3oz in grocery stores..doesn't seem hard to do.
a FILLING vegetarian option that isn't some garbage soy patty.

[rock201]

Originally Posted by rhengst89

More like the exact opposite of healthy.

brb, eating lard

[homerunrbi]

Heres some good tips

-simple menu(look at subway they started with just sandwiches and pre-bagged chips. Than after they already had a market they moved into cookies, soups, ...)
-fresh local ingredients(less cost for transportation and you can secure low prices and claim you support local farmers. Also the food will last longer)
-in season ingredients(cheaper, fresher)
-1/3 cost ratios(aka 1/3 goes to food costs, 1/3 goes to staff, 1/3 goes to profit/upkeep)

I recommend you watch some of Gordon Ramsays kitchen nightmares(uk version only) shows. He really has some great insight into how to successfully run a restaurant(even though yours will be fast food)

[dat]

Originally Posted by rock201

brb, eating lard

300 calories of lard is argubly more nutritious than 300 calories of rice.

[homerunrbi]

Personally I think you should start off with salad wraps(subway style letting the customer see you make it and choose), pre-made fruit cups(fruits are cheap), pre-made parfaits(yogurt, granola or oats, some fruits nice and cheap), smoothies. This way you only have two menu options to make so its pretty fast. Also everything should be cheap(compete with dollar menus) and nutritious. Don't go over complicated and don't listen to people on here saying bodybuilding foods.

[robinsteal]

Originally Posted by Scintillating

I personally find it difficult to find restaurants that accommodate my diet. I have been a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) for years. Almost everywhere the only vegetarian options available are (1) sandwiches over-stuffed with high-fat cheese products or just vegetables or (2) pastas. I would love to see a more vegetarian-friendly chain thrive. As in, 33%+ of their options being vegetarian, and not side dishes. Especially things made from ingredients other than soy products/tofu such as quinoa, textured vegetable protein, and whey protein blends.

are you serious? you live in california.....

you have the food world at you fingertips out there. californis is one of the leading states in dietary restrictions. Check out Alice Waters and what she has done.

OP - the smoothies are a good idea, you should also make your own cold salads as a side - fruit salad, potato salad, pasta salad, rice and bean... you also might want to look into vegan/vegetarian/dairy and gluten free. it = $

[Gmedlo]

Real. Cheese.

[dat]

There's actually a place near me that does "healthy" foods, home-made baked products, rolls, whatever, and it's pretty darn popular. It could either be the bright colours, clear and descriptive food labelling, or the girls who have to lean forward to retreive your food; girls who always happen to be wearing very low cut tops...