Americans Demand Healthy, But Eat Fat

According to research firm Technomic, 47% of Americans would like fast food restaurants to offer healthy alternatives to the typically high-calorie foods offered, however only about half of that amount (23%) actually order those foods.

Because there is a demand to bring healthier foods to fast food restaurants, many companies have attempted to answer the call by offering up lower calorie foods only to be met with lukewarm sales from these items. From salads to fruit and yogurt parfaits, healthy alternative items pale in comparison to their fatty counterparts when it comes down to the bottom line. Sales for these items are so sparse that many restaurants, including McDonald’s do not disclose exact sales figures for them. It is because the fattier menu items remain top sellers that newer heartier and heavier foods are being rolled out by companies left and right.

There are plenty of possibilities to explain the weak sales of healthy menu items. One suggested possibility is the fact that healthier menu items tend to be the more expensive than the typical fast-food fare. Personally, I rely on a more colloquial reasoning as to why healthy items at fast food restaurants: a healthy eating and fast food simply don’t go hand-in-hand. If one decided that they wanted to eat healthy, one doesn’t immediately think to hit the closest Burger King to grab some healthy grub. One would probably just buy healthier food items at their local grocery store or snack on more fruits and vegetables.

Whatever the reasoning, Americans have spoken. It’s just a shame that what we’re saying and what we’re doing aren’t really on the same page — an unfortunate fact that may be costing us a healthier lifestyle.