Health food restaurant
Encyclopedia
Health food restaurants have been around for decades serving nutrition
al food to the public. Health food
is defined by Dictionary.com as any natural food popularly believed to promote or sustain good health
, as by containing vital nutrient
s, being grown without the use of pesticide
s, or having a low sodium
or fat
content.
of health food restaurants and events. A lot of these restaurants served primarily vegetarian cuisine.
in one meal as the body requires. The food pyramid
suggests people need a diet consisting mostly of whole grains, vegetable
s, fruit
and a smaller amount of meat
s and fat
s which a majority of restaurants go by.
A Vegetarian is a person who does not eat or in some cases does not believe in eating meat and subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and sometimes fish. There are thousands of restaurants catering to vegetarians around the world. Most restaurants have vegetarian based options.
is food grown without most artificial fertilizers
or pesticides and in a way that emphasizes crop rotation
, making the most of natural fertilizers
and ensuring that the life of the soil is maintained. People who eat only organically grown foods can also eat "organic meat" which is achieved when the animals are fed organic material.
ups and downs. Wendy's
fast food restaurants introduced drive through windows
making food delivery faster. Fast food has been notoriously known as being unhealthy and does not provide sufficient of nutrition so when people rely on fast food they can become unhealthy. Quite a few restaurants have offered healthier vegetarian options.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
al food to the public. Health food
Health food
The term health food is generally used to describe foods that are considered to be beneficial to health, beyond a normal healthy diet required for human nutrition. However, the term is not precisely defined by national regulatory agencies such as the U.S...
is defined by Dictionary.com as any natural food popularly believed to promote or sustain good health
Good health
Good health may refer to:*Health, the medical state of physical, mental and social well-being.*Good Health, an album by Pretty Girls Make Graves.*Our Lady of Good Health, an apparation of Mary in India....
, as by containing vital nutrient
Nutrient
A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to and used as energy...
s, being grown without the use of pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s, or having a low sodium
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...
or fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
content.
History
Eating healthy was the biggest craze in the beginning of the 20th century. Below is a short timelineTimeline
A timeline is a way of displaying a list of events in chronological order, sometimes described as a project artifact . It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labeled with dates alongside itself and events labeled on points where they would have happened.-Uses of timelines:Timelines...
of health food restaurants and events. A lot of these restaurants served primarily vegetarian cuisine.
- 1906 – The health food craze, that underscores today's lifestyle, introduced "AlcoholAlcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
Free Restaurants" and to promoted unprocessed foodsConvenience foodConvenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of consumption. Products designated as convenience foods are often prepared food stuffs that can be sold as hot, ready-to-eat dishes; as room-temperature, shelf-stable products; or as refrigerated or...
.
- 1912 – Ganda Chagan Kapitan opened GC Kapitan, one of the first vegetarian restaurants.
- 1927 – Due to William Childs's concerns about health, the Childs restaurants served only vegetarian food and were known as the Child's Unique Dairy Lunch. However, this meatless diet led to a severe drop in business, and the policy was soon revised.
- 1930 – A food was found with valuable corrective agents. The beneficial action of fresh yeastYeastYeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
in such cases is being relied on by leading doctors ... PoisonPoisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
breeding residueResidueResidue may refer to:* Residue , material remaining after a distillation or an evaporation, or portion of a larger molecule** In particular, in biology, often refers specifically to an amino acid...
s, -which leads to skin blemishesAcne vulgarisAcne vulgaris is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea , comedones , papules , pustules , Nodules and possibly scarring...
, headaches, colds, etc., is cleaned away by natural means.
- 1943 – By the middle of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the public was complaining that conditions of restaurants had deteriorated significantly. In September 1943 The board of healthLocal board of healthLocal Boards or Local Boards of Health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate slaughterhouses and ensure the proper supply of water to their...
, the Food Control Director, and the six restaurant inspectorsHealth inspectorA health inspector is a public employee who investigates health hazards in a wide variety of locations, then will take action to mitigate or eliminate the hazards...
, Decided to meet and was to implement improvement in sanitation, and making a required semi-annual health inspection and certificate for food handlers.
- 1965 – SubwaySubway (restaurant)Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
is founded by Fred DeLucaFred DeLucaFrederick "Fred" DeLuca is an American businessman, best known as the co-founder of the Subway franchise of sandwich restaurants. DeLuca is an alumnus of University of Bridgeport and Central High School in Bridgeport, CT.-Career:...
and friend Peter BuckPeter Buck (restaurateur)Peter Buck is a physicist, restaurateur, and philanthropist. He co-founded the Subway fastfood restaurant chain.-Education:A native of South Portland, Maine, Buck graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1952. He then earned master’s and doctoral degrees in physics at Columbia...
in 1965. Subway offers submarine sandwiches and salads as healthy alternatives to fast foodFast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurants, with franchises throughout the United States and in other countries.
- 1978 – Food products containing SaccharinSaccharinSaccharin is an artificial sweetener. The basic substance, benzoic sulfilimine, has effectively no food energy and is much sweeter than sucrose, but has a bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations...
must carry a warning label advising people that artificial sweetenerSugar substituteA sugar substitute is a food additive that duplicates the effect of sugar in taste, usually with less food energy. Some sugar substitutes are natural and some are synthetic. Those that are not natural are, in general, called artificial sweeteners....
may cause cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and other related health concerns. Diners and restaurants will find the notice printed on little sacks of sugar substitutes.
- 1987 – The non-profit health and nutrition advocacy group has helps coordinate the effort, sending proposals for food improvements to various fast food restaurants . Another group backing the healthy food proposal is the American Association of Retired PersonsAARPAARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
.
- 1999 – Restaurant Nora became America's first certified organic restaurantOrganicOrganic may refer to:* Of or relating to an organism, a living entity* Of or relating to an organ- Chemistry :* Organic matter, matter that has come from a once-living organism, is capable of decay or the product of decay, or is composed of organic compound* Organic chemistry, chemistry involving...
, which means that 95% or more of everything that you eat at the restaurant has been produced by certified organic growersOrganic farmingOrganic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
and farmersOrganic farmingOrganic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
who share in Nora's commitment to sustainable agricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
.
- 2002 – The US government introduced new dietary recommendations and created a web-based food pyramidFood pyramidFood pyramid may refer to:*Food guide pyramid, a core concept in nutritional guides around the world.**MyPyramid, the USDA's 2005 version of the food guide pyramid.**MyPlate, replaces the MyPyramid and was introduced by the USDA in 2011....
that includes exercise and offers 12 different eating plans. Ongoing studies have expanded governmental efforts to incorporate the latest nutritional scienceNutritionNutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, shifting the emphasis to eating good fatsFatsFats may refer to:*Fat, a generic term for a class of lipids in biochemistry*Fats Domino, rock and roll pianist*Fats Waller, jazz pianist*Fats Navarro, jazz trumpeter*Singing Fats, master of ceremonies*Obesity...
, whole grainWhole grainWhole grains are cereal grains that contain cereal germ, endosperm, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm. Whole grains can generally be sprouted while refined grains generally will not sprout. Whole-meal products are made by grinding whole grains in order to make...
s, and healthy proteinProteinProteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
sources. There is everything from organic markets and health-food stores.
- 2011 – KFCKFCKFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
's timing with the Double DownDouble Down (sandwich)The Double Down is a sandwich offered by Kentucky Fried Chicken . The Double Down contains "bacon, two different kinds of melted cheese, the Colonel’s 'secret' sauce... pinched in between two pieces of Original Recipe chicken fillets." It is also available with grilled chicken fillets instead of...
might seem odd when many fast food restaurants are promoting healthier menu items to please an increasingly health-conscious public. KFC's parent company, Yum Brands Inc.Yum! BrandsYum! Brands, Inc. or Yum! is a United States-based Fortune 500 corporation. Yum! operates or licenses Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and WingStreet restaurants worldwide....
, has committed to placing calorie counts on menu boards at corporate-owned restaurants nationwide by January 1, 2011. A new US federal law eventually will require all chain restaurants to do so.
General
Restaurants focused on serving healthier food to the public try to deliver as much nutritionNutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
in one meal as the body requires. The food pyramid
Food guide pyramid
A food guide pyramid is a triangular or pyramid-shaped nutrition guide divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group. The first food pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The most widely known food pyramid was introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture...
suggests people need a diet consisting mostly of whole grains, vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s, fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
and a smaller amount of meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
s and fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
s which a majority of restaurants go by.
Vegetarian
Organic
Organic foodOrganic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
is food grown without most artificial fertilizers
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
or pesticides and in a way that emphasizes crop rotation
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.Crop rotation confers various benefits to the soil. A traditional element of crop rotation is the replenishment of nitrogen through the use of green manure in sequence with cereals...
, making the most of natural fertilizers
Compost
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At its most essential, the process of composting requires simply piling up waste outdoors and waiting for the materials to break down from anywhere...
and ensuring that the life of the soil is maintained. People who eat only organically grown foods can also eat "organic meat" which is achieved when the animals are fed organic material.
On the go
Fast food has become an essential part of an increasing number of American household. Fast foods increase in consumption directly correlates to the number of single-parent households and the economicEconomy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
ups and downs. Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
fast food restaurants introduced drive through windows
Drive-through
A drive-through, or drive-thru, is a type of service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. The format was first pioneered in the United States in the 1930s but has since spread to other countries. The first recorded use of a bank using a drive...
making food delivery faster. Fast food has been notoriously known as being unhealthy and does not provide sufficient of nutrition so when people rely on fast food they can become unhealthy. Quite a few restaurants have offered healthier vegetarian options.
Benefits
Eating at healthy restaurants and improving overall health can have many benefits. Some of the benefits include:- Healthy eating is an effective weight loss solution.
- Helps prevent diseaseDiseaseA disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
- Can increase energy levelsEnergy levelA quantum mechanical system or particle that is bound -- that is, confined spatially—can only take on certain discrete values of energy. This contrasts with classical particles, which can have any energy. These discrete values are called energy levels...
See also
- NutritionNutritionNutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
- FoodFoodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
- Vegetarian
- Restaurants
- Food guide pyramidFood guide pyramidA food guide pyramid is a triangular or pyramid-shaped nutrition guide divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group. The first food pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The most widely known food pyramid was introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture...
- Healthy eating pyramidHealthy eating pyramidThe healthy eating pyramid is a nutrition guide developed by the Harvard School of Public Health, suggesting how much of each food category one should eat each day...
External links
- Resources/Support for Vegetarians
- Shattering The Meat Myth: Humans Are Natural Vegetarians by Kathy Freston, The Huffington Post, June 11, 2009
- Famous Vegetarians - slideshow by Life magazine