Whole30, Keto, and Paleo – Demystify The Menu!

“I’m not dieting, it’s a lifestyle!”

-Your health conscious friend

Many Restaurants Are Adapting To Lifestyle Diet Trends – What Are They?

With increased awareness of how different foods affect our biology, many people have adopted Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 lifestyles. These lifestyle diets serve a variety of health-related functions and people with specific needs are infusing them within their everyday life.

Due to their popularity, many restaurants now provide Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 menu options to harmonize with their guest’s lifestyles.

Chipotle for instance, introduced “Lifestyle Bowls” containing ingredients that adhere to the diet regimen of customers following a Keto, Paleo, or Whole30 lifestyle.

It is no question that restaurants are starting to see the value in adapting to popular trends as more people convert. Have you seen these diet options in the menu but don’t know enough about them to place an order? Learn to demystify the menu today!

The Ketogenic Diet

Eat more fat to lose weight? Yes, the healthy kind mind you. Like there are good and bad carbs, there are healthy fats that are preferable to saturated and trans fats.

The ketogenic diet has gained a lot of traction with those who want to lose weight or stay lean. The diet consists of high fat, moderate protein, and low carbs. As little as only 20-50 grams of carbohydrates are consumed daily which forces the body into ketosis.

During ketosis, fat is broken down into ketones, which are then used as the body’s main energy source. In other words, the purpose of a keto diet is to essentially trigger the body to use fats instead of carbohydrates for energy.

The Paleo Diet

Inspired by our paleolithic ancestors, the paleo diet suggests that peak health is obtainable from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle that humans evolved with. It’s followers blame obesity and metabolic diseases on food processing instigated by the Agricultural Revolution.

The paleo diet consists of foods that are rich in lean meats and seafood, accompanied with plenty of fruits and non-starchy vegetables. It is protein-rich, moderate in healthy fats, and low in carbohydrates.

The Whole30 Diet

Cleanse your body. The whole30 diet is all about resetting your metabolic system by eating with a quality over quantity mindset. By temporarily adopting a pattern of quality eating, the body is being cleansed of inflammatory or digestive issues left by certain foods.

Many people participate in the cleanse to help identify the specific foods that are acting as triggers for a particular reaction. The foods to be avoided in a whole30 diet include: Added sugar, legumes, alcohol (cooking and drinking), dairy, soy, and grains.

Ingredients of processed foods such as carrageenan, MSG, and sulfites are also avoided. Lean meat, seafood, eggs, veggies, fruits, and natural fats are sought out in this diet regime.

Will Your Restaurant Menu Adapt To Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 lifestyles?

Even with the endless food options available from a variety of restaurants ranging anywhere from traditional American to fusion, people are restricting themselves in accordance with their specific dietary needs.

Like no other time in history, there is an increased awareness of the foods we are consuming and how it affects our individual bodies. Through an increase in awareness, people have become empowered over specific health limitations in their lives by choosing what to restrict and what to consume more of.

Will we see more restaurants adapt their menus to these trends to accommodate more guests? The people who follow these lifestyle diets constantly face limited options when eating out with friends. By modifying your menu to be Keto, Paleo, or Whole30 friendly, you can help others reach their health goals while increasing your business.