Restaurants Offering Low-Calorie Menus... Targeting Dieters

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] Dining-out businesses are launching low-calorie products to welcome the summer season.

According to the industry on the 25th, a survey titled ‘Health Management Status During the COVID-19 Period’ conducted last month by Job Korea and Albamon revealed that 65.5% of respondents answered that their weight had increased due to COVID-19.

In response, the food and beverage industry is introducing low-calorie foods that balance nutrition and taste to target dieters.

The snack franchise School Food has launched the ‘Brown Rice Healthy Sausage Mari’ for the summer season. The ‘Brown Rice Healthy Sausage Mari’ is a menu created for consumers seeking healthy options, with brown rice and chicken breast sausage as the main ingredients.

Chicken breast, which is low in fat and rich in protein, and brown rice, which is high in dietary fiber and provides a strong feeling of fullness, are among the ingredients frequently chosen by those on a diet. The Brown Rice Healthy Sausage Mari, made with these two ingredients, is perfect as a satisfying meal without calorie concerns.

Barda Kim Seonsaeng’s ‘Keto Cream Cheese Walnut Gimbap’ uses egg sheets instead of rice and includes cream cheese and walnuts as fillings, making it a ‘low-carb, high-fat (LCHF)’ menu. LCHF is a diet method popular among celebrities, known to accelerate fat breakdown and achieve rapid weight loss. In June, when summer officially began, sales rose 125% compared to the previous month, proving its popularity.

Hyundai Green Food’s package for consumers seeking short-term diet management is also attracting attention. The low-calorie meal package, ‘Beauty Fit Package,’ is designed for customers who want to manage their weight in a short period before important events, with all menus containing less than 300 kcal. Additionally, it is made considering nutrition by including the three major nutrients: fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

Daesang Cheongjeongwon’s four types of ‘Soybean Noodles Made with Tofu’ use noodles made from tofu instead of flour, lowering calories while enhancing nutrition. With a variety of options such as bibim noodles, dongchimi cold noodles, and soybean noodles using savory broth or sauces, consumers can enjoy according to their taste.

Ediya Coffee’s ‘Ediya Kombucha’ has been gaining great popularity since June last year during the summer season. Kombucha is a fermented probiotic drink, and the organic acids contained in kombucha are known to break down body fat and inhibit fat cell accumulation, drawing attention.