Article

Making your restaurant keto-friendly is easy, profitable

Not adding keto options to your menu could mean leaving money on the table.

October 25, 2018

By Laura Buckler, contributing writer

The popularity of the ketogenic diet is on the rise, promoting the launch of new products on a regular basis. A health-conscious group of consumers and having a better understanding of the role that fats play in vital processes are both fueling the popularity of the diet. Not making keto options available on your menu could mean leaving money on the table, said Marcus Guiliano, owner of Aroma Thyme bistro, a restaurant 90 miles north of NYC.
 
"We have a lot of Keto guests that come in," he said "The main key is to make sure your chef and kitchen staff understand the main guidelines. Of course, the big one is the carb restriction. Make sure your kitchen does not get upset with special orders."
 
Guiliano has made other additions like replacing Omega 6 oils with high-quality olive oil or coconut oil.
 
"We also use coconut anemones in place of a soy-based Tamari on request. It's not that difficult if your staff is willing to accommodate," he said.
 
Understanding the specifics of the keto diet
Doing a bit of research is the first step toward delivering any new product, so it's helpful to understand that the aim of the keto diet is to put the body in a state of ketosis— burning fat instead of carbs for fuel. For the purpose, the ratio of macronutrients must be adjusted, requiring 70 to 80 percent of the calories consumed on a daily basis coming from fat. Anywhere between 20 and 25 percent are derived from protein and 5 to 10 percent will come from carbs.
 
Simple product swaps: It's all about variety
According to KidsHealth, keto is a very strict low carb, high-fat diet. In general, people on a ketogenic diet are used to having limited options when they dine out, so it's a niche that is waiting to be filled.

It is a common misunderstanding, however, that the ketogenic diet does not feature fruits and vegetables. This isn't the case, but it does advise against starchy vegetables and large fruits like potatoes and bananas. A few simple recipe swaps will be sufficient to produce keto-friendly options that keto-following clientele can order.
 
If a restaurant makes regular pizza, for example, it can easily cater to the needs of the keto crowd by featuring a cauliflower crust pizza.
 
According to Keto Vale, grains are typically not a part of the keto diet. Standard grains, however, can be replaced. There are recipes for keto mac and cheese out there, for example. Getting a bit creative and knowing how to substitute common types of carbs will expand the menu. Such swaps may even encourage customers to explore new options and to seek those, even if they're not on a ketogenic diet.
 
Make your services comprehensive
As already mentioned, those on a keto diet suffer from a limited number of choices. Thus, they're often forced to make meals on their own. Another way to reach these types of diners is to consider offering a keto meal delivery service. As customers grow to count on your brand for the delivery of quality keto meals, they may become a regular client, said Betsy Craig, a dietician and founder & CEO of MenuTrinfo.

"Being in the restaurant nutrition help desk business, we at MenuTrinfo see many different requests from brands looking to satisfy the transparency hunger of their diners, said Craig, who lives by the keto diet. "Nutritional requests are many and varied ranging from religious, fad, medical, nutritional, allergen, gluten-free diets and much more."

Craig has noticed an uptick from their partner clients asking about keto and Paleo diets.

"(They're) looking to know what on their menu or in their kitchen today meets the demands of these diets," she said. "Looking at keto,  it's fairly straightforward.  We focus on fats, protein and carbs", she said.

Do effective marketing
Even if a brand has the best keto meals available, it will still miss the mark in the absence of an effective marketing campaign via digital channels. Promotion through social media or pay per click ads is cost-effective, and it also helps reach a targeted audience. These people are already looking for the specific message, which increases the likelihood of them converting, so utilizing digital marketing as a restaurant owner is a must.
 
For many, keto is more than a diet — it has become a lifestyle — and many of these people are looking for information online. Restaurants can benefit from that by sharing their keto-friendly menus and tips. Such advertising efforts will have a positive impact on a brand's reputation and potentially create a loyal clientele,

"When accommodation is on the menu we love to help brands say yes and get it right each time turning new diners into steady regulars", Craig said.