| Let's get out the crystal ball and see what 2010 | | | | themselves. |
| has in store for the food industry. I believe that | | | | Consider starting a cooking course for children. |
| this year, people will become more informed | | | | This is an up and coming trend that will bring in |
| about the food they are putting into their bodies. | | | | the families to your restaurant. Consider a free |
| People are truly learning the effects food has on | | | | meal for parents whose children are enrolled in |
| their bodies, and many are considering the impact | | | | the course, and have the children cook and serve |
| nutrition, ingredients, and origination of food has on | | | | the meal. Parents love to see what their children |
| their health. | | | | can do! |
| Types of Foods to Expect to See More of in | | | | Get fancy and creative! Transform a generic hot |
| 2010 | | | | dog or hamburger into an extravagant indulgence. |
| Customers are searching for local and all-natural | | | | Create a special sauce from scratch, and |
| foods that will increase their energy and health | | | | advertise the fact that they can't get that item |
| levels. | | | | from anywhere else. |
| Suggestions for casual dining restaurant owners | | | | Buy locally and natural. People are really focusing |
| Not only will you see people adding new foods to | | | | on the environment and origination of their food. |
| their diets, but as restaurant owners, you will | | | | More people will shop at local stores that receive |
| need to recognize the changing trends forming in | | | | food from local farmers. Many people will begin to |
| 2008. | | | | cook their meals from scratch, rather than from |
| Jump on board the fast track. Millions of people | | | | a box. The local trend is not only restricted to |
| are ordering food by their cell phones. Therefore, | | | | consumers, food manufacturers are picking up on |
| patience is a thing of the past. People expect | | | | the trend that ready made meals with ingredients |
| everything to be at the tips of their fingers, | | | | from the same region that the product is sold is |
| especially food. Casual dining restaurants should | | | | in more of a demand. Casual dining restaurants will |
| consider packing up orders and delivering them | | | | benefit from buying locally produced products and |
| curbside. Customers tend to like the food casual | | | | purchase foods that have been produced with |
| dining offers, however, they tend to go to the | | | | more natural ingredients. Consumers are becoming |
| fast food chains more often due to drive thru | | | | more aware of what is in the food they eat, and |
| service. Another thing to offer to show respect | | | | are expecting "unnatural ingredients" to be purged |
| for a customer's time is to offer tableside bill pay. | | | | from food. Manufacturers are seeing a demand |
| Customers like that they do not have to wait in | | | | for eliminating superfluous additives and reducing |
| line to pay a bill, and it is more convenient. | | | | high-fructose corn syrup. |
| Especially for people with small children. | | | | Go green. With the trend of "going green" |
| Consider putting nutrition information on the menu. | | | | increasing in many areas of our lives, the food |
| Healthy eating has become a very popular trend. | | | | industry is no exception. People will respect your |
| With health and diet concerns becoming a priority, | | | | restaurant knowing that you print your menus on |
| consumers will feel more comfortable coming to | | | | recycled paper, buy uniforms made out of wholly |
| your restaurant knowing they have access to the | | | | natural materials and eliminate bottled waters. |
| nutritional information. | | | | More and more people are considering our |
| Take the kids meals off the menu, and add child | | | | environment and the future of our planet. |
| size portions of regular menu items. Parents are | | | | Future generations are dependent on the choices |
| rebelling against the traditional choices kids have, | | | | we make for our families. People are trying to |
| such as, greasy chicken fingers and fish sticks, | | | | make an effort to build a solid, healthy foundation |
| hotdogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. Because | | | | for the generations to come. Health is in for 2008. |
| more and more families are venturing out to eat | | | | Make some changes in your casual dining |
| with their children, parents want to have more | | | | restaurant to keep up with the needs of |
| choices for their children, and they also want the | | | | consumers, and help do your part for the health |
| option to choose a child size portion for | | | | of the families of today and tomorrow. |