Omega-3s Rising

One chain that’s taken this concept onboard is Ted’s Montana Grill. Chris Raucci, corporate chef, says the servers tell first-time diners that the bison featured on the menu is grass-fed, then finished on grain to provide some marbling, and that they are rich in omega-3s. “We do pride -ourselves in educating the servers about bison and whether it’s antibiotic-free, steroid-free, we like to talk about whether it’s free-roaming and raised natural, and that omega-3 is in there and it’s high in iron,” he says, noting the omega-3 message helps sell the bison dishes, particularly to a better-educated clientele. “People looking for the omega-3s are more educated about food, more health-conscious, and they know what they are looking for.”

HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS

At BFS Restaurant in Albany, NY, Shaw Rabadi, chef-owner, uses his menu to call attention to his omega-3-rich Mediterranean fare. BFS participates in the Heart Healthy Restaurant Program, organized by the Center for Preventive Medicine & Cardiovascular Health, Albany, NY. The menu states that BSF’s Mediterranean cuisine features “the use of omega-3 fats from multiple sources, including walnuts and almonds.”

Rabadi says he cooks with olive oil, a tremendous amount of grains, legumes, nuts, beans and a lot of fish. “These all happen to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids,” Rabadi adds. He says that calling out the omega-3 fatty acid content of certain items on the menu “absolutely” encourages diners to order omega-3-rich dishes.

“People come here to improve their diet, rather than relying on taking a supplement,” says Rabadi. “The way is not to take a supplement, but to begin with yourself and your diet—to make those changes in small, incremental, deliberate and gradual steps, but with a deep commitment. Our restaurant menu lends itself to these types of changes.” He notes the BFS Heart Healthy Restaurant Menu website is getting 10,000 hits a week.

AN EYE ON THE FUTURE

Kara Nielsen, a trend analyst with The Center for Culinary Development, San Francisco, says consumer data from its Gen Y studies have indicated young people “are clear about omega-3s found in fish and order fish expressly for that reason.” However, they likely didn’t come to that conclusion all on their own. “We attribute that to the fact that their boomer parents have been talking to them about nutrition their whole lives. They have nutrition knowledge that will bode well for the future.”