The number of consumers who consider healthfulness when purchasing their food and beverages has shown a significant uptick in recent years, and dining out is no exception. Restaurants can appeal to consumer health and wellness needs with protein-packed appetizers, lower sodium dips and sauces, balanced meals and premium desserts. 

U.S. dairy product innovations offer restaurants and food service establishments a pipeline of new formulations, product research and support when adding dairy for flavor, function and nutrition.

A Focus On Nutrition

About half of all U.S. consumers - 51% - use nutrition information such as calorie counts when eating out at restaurants¹. Dairy ingredients can help add a nutritional punch to classic recipes, boosting nutrients such as protein and calcium. Dairy ingredients such as permeate also can lower sodium without sacrificing a salty taste. 

Protein throughout the day

According to Food Business News, approximately 6 in 10 Americans indicated they actively make an effort to consume protein, fiber and whole grains. Specifically, 57% stated that they are trying to get a certain amount of protein or as much protein as possible.

Consuming protein throughout the day as part of a higher protein diet can help curb hunger and assist in weight management. Experts suggest spacing protein intake evenly throughout the day to maximize muscle protein synthesis, aiming for 20-30 grams of high-quality protein at each meal².  

Incorporating dairy proteins, which have advantages in functionality, flavor and nutrition, into foods regularly consumed throughout the day can help consumers attain higher-protein diets. 

¹IFIC Foundation's 2014 Food and Health Survey.
²Paddon-Jones, Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, 2009.