The Heart Attack Grill-Seriously America??

The Heart Attack Grill is an actual restaurant in Las Vegas.  The food at this establishment is so fatty and high in calories that it has literally sent customers to the hospital.  Well, it's a marketing ploy but come on America, do we need to make fun of our own stupidity by eating ourselves to death?  The theme is pretty disgusting...

The owner, "Doctor" John Basso, a former certified nutritionist, previously ran a Jenny Craig weight loss center.  If this was only a joke it would be funny but we have a serious obesity problem in our nation that leads to diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Why would someone choose to make themselves sick by eating this way?   

The Roach Mobile has turned trendy

In my day a food truck was better known as a “roach mobile” and definitely not trendy.  Food trucks were utilized quite literally because there was no other way to get breakfast or lunch at your job.  There is no time to drive to the local restaurant or grocery store to get something to eat so either you risk the roaches or you better have packed your own brown bag.

A couple of my friends were saying just this evening that every week there is a special event in their  Oakland Temescal neighborhood when the food trucks convoy to a popular foodie haven event.  Who knew that this was such a special sought after type of culinary cuisine!  In my pursuit to research healthy fast food perhaps this is the answer or at least one of the options.

www.roaminghunger.com lists 165 food trucks and their location in San Francisco.  I was relieved to see one truck closed for the day because it was being checked by the health department.   Good to know that they are checking.  There is quite a variety of pavement cuisine ranging from sweets to ribs to bacon to burgers but I only located one truck that looked semi -healthy featuring vegetarian and fresh healthy soups and salads.  One out of 165 trucks with healthy food.  This may be a market that is not tapped yet.  Stay tuned… 

Healthy Fast Food with Integrity

Chipotle is one healthy fast food business model that I admire.  The marketing phrase that they use on their web site is “food with integrity”.  This means that the owner and business model starts with purchasing their food products from local farms that don’t pump their animals with antibiotics in order to get massive manufactured quantities of overly fat meats and poultry.  The one obstacle is the high cost.  Chipotle charges a higher price to their consumers in order to stay in business but according to the owner, he says it is worth it.  The enclosed video, “Back to the start”, is a good depiction of Chipotle’s mission.

I would like to create a similar business model that would support the local communities by utilizing their farms and businesses to support a sustainable environment.  How is it possible to do this and also provide a fresh organic product that is convenient, available and affordable?  I would need to rely on volume sales in order to reach higher revenues to keep costs manageable.

High cost free range organic meats and poultry are not the only way to go.  I want to invent a completely new taste experience that will provide the nutrition but without the risks to the environment that cattle create.  The new food will be a good source of protein possibly made with legumes, seeds and beans.  It may be a vegetable protein with grains combined with a healthy fat such as olive, coconut or avocado oils to provide that American comfort food buzz.  My plan is to get into a test kitchen with chefs, chemists and scientists to come up with new wonder foods that are good for you and satiate fulfillment like a juicy hamburger and French fries but without the high caloric repercussions.

Back to the Start

"Healthy" Fast Food

When the word “healthy” is connected with food it has negative connotations.  Most people have the view that if food is considered healthy it must not taste good.  I disagree and believe that in order to change people’s attitude toward healthy food, it must be marketed to the public properly.  My quest is to create a chain of affordable healthy fast food restaurants that cater to people who care about optimal health and nutrition.

The current selection of popular fast food joints include the likes of Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell and KFC that serve up a fast food feast that packs a full day’s worth of fat, sodium, sugar and grease in one over- sized meal  and typically for under $5.00.  Fast food is convenient, cheap and affordable but most consumers have no idea what they are doing to their own bodies by eating this type of food three or four times a week.  What if there was another alternative?

If a new fast food competitor came on the market and served an affordable healthy selection of organic, locally grown sustainable and most importantly good tasting fast foods, would the public be interested?

Could an effective marketing program change the public’s negative opinion of “healthy” fast food and turn it around to make it as popular and trusted as McDonald’s?  These are the questions that I will explore in the FOODKWEST blog and would welcome your innovative ideas.