One of our most popular blog categories is the restaurant guides. People want to know what they can eat when they go out to a chain restaurant. And, I usually enjoy doing them. It’s great to have the research done when I decide to go out. There have certainly been times when I’ve checked our blog to see what I should order. But there are times that a restaurant makes me want to pull my hair out. That’s when they don’t have good restaurant nutrition guides.
Restaurant Nutrition Guides that Aren’t Linked to their Website
This is my number one pet peeve! If you want people to come to your restaurant, you need to provide them with information. It needs to be easy to find. So many times, I’ve had to search for nutritional information on a search engine because there is no direct link. It’s annoying and makes me not want to deal with any of it. On top of that, it makes you wonder how old the information is. Does anyone even check it anymore? Is it accurate information? It means I have to check if those things are even still on their menu.
No Macros Listed
Some nutritional guides have the calories and maybe the protein listed, and that’s it. Where is the breakdown of the carbs, protein, and fat in each meal? In Canada, foods (including prepackaged foods) that are being sold in a restaurant are exempt from having to provide the nutritional information. So, it’s voluntary. Well, that’s annoying. Most restaurants do provide this information in some form, but that’s why it’s not consistent.
When I did the research for this article, I found out that, in Canada, food labels prohibit calling something “low carb.” Well, now I understand why so many packages say things like, “keto friendly.” Also, there are no real regulations about what is keto friendly, so you can just slap that on anything. This is why it is so important to read labels for yourself. But, I’m getting distracted…
Restaurants are also not required to list potential allergens, such as eggs, dairy, and wheat. It’s up to you, as the customer, to ask questions before you eat. Again, many restaurants do list if one of their meals does not have a food that is commonly an allergen. But, there is no requirement to do so. It’s truly buyer beware!
Restaurant Nutrition Guides that Don’t Break It Down
Some restaurants are really good at breaking down the parts of their meals, so you can truly see what you are taking in. For example, if the meal is a steak with baked potato and vegetables, they will provide the information for the meal as a whole. Well, what if I substitute the potato for a Caesar salad? What does that do for the macros? It’s so much easier when they provide individual macros for the steak, the potato, and the vegetables. It gives me a better idea of how I can eat at their establishment and stay keto.
Some restaurants also don’t provide nutritional information on their drinks. Okay, if it’s Coke products, I get it. I can easily find that information. But, if you provide a specialty drink, say a cocktail or a kind of coffee, it would be really helpful to have that information.
The Importance of Restaurant Guides
Now that I am keto, I recognize the importance of the restaurant guides. But, it’s not just keto people reading them. It’s also people who have allergies, people who are on certain diets for their health (such as diabetes), and people who are just more conscious of what they are putting in their bodies.
Here’s the thing: as a restaurant, you don’t have to provide the information. But, if you don’t provide me with the information, I’m not likely going to your restaurant. I’ll choose the guy down the street who gives me the information and shows me they care about my needs and my business.
I understand this is a large undertaking for small restaurants. Usually, you can call ahead and they will be very receptive to telling you what information they can. Chain restaurants do not have any excuses. If you give me the information, and make it easy for me to find, read, and understand, I will give you a try! Chipotle is an example of a chain restaurant that makes their nutritional information easy to find and easy to read. You can break down your meal and customize it to your liking. They are on my good list!
I’m not going to put in here who is on my bad list, but you can read the restaurant blogs and I try to always include how easily accessible their nutrition guides are. I definitely note if they are hard to find and read! So, chain restaurants, get on your game and give us the information we need to support your business!
Wendy
