A healthy treat from The Original Soupman: Lobster bisque combo (Side salad with balsamic bleu cheese, 5-grain bread, banana, clementine and lemonade)

 

More and more Americans are throwing away their burgers and are replacing them with healthy salads. In response to this trend, restaurants and products have changed so they could target the rising number of health-conscious consumers. Aside from these restaurants, many businesses that offer low-carb, vegetarian, all-natural and organic food selections are bursting out in the market.

Based on Datamonitor’s survey, the natural food and drinks market is expected to exceed $27.5 billion by 2007. Furthermore, the number of natural food users in the U.S. is expected to hit 266 million in 2007, up 50 million from 2002. Because of this, health-conscious consumers are now getting healthier food options and it also paved the way for health conscious businesses that offer fresh and healthy food options.

If you love your health or you’re conscious about it, you better read on the following fresh food franchises. On the other hand, if you’re one of those health-food-savvy entrepreneurs, you should go through with the list as well. That way, you’ll have a glimpse of what healthy-fresh-food franchises can offer you and your future consumers.

Blendz. Just by the name itself, you’ll already realize what this three-year-old franchise and fast-food substitute has to offer. Blendz offer an extensive list of smoothies and freshly-squeezed juices as well as soups, made-to-order salads and panini sandwiches. Currently, they’re located through California and the franchisor is planning to expand in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

Energy Kitchen. Instead of going to burger joints, franchise owners and area developers can look into Energy Kitchen’s high-protein, low-fat dishes that’s prepared by grilling, baking or steaming. Serving breakfast/lunch/dinner, Energy Kitchen’s menu includes beef substitutes like turkey, bison and ostrich.

Indigos Fruit Smoothies. Aside from being popular of its Signature Fruit Smoothies, this Florida-based franchise is also famous for offering other health foods like fresh-squeezed juices, salads, pitas and soups. They have also initiated the “Create-Your-Menu” promo, which is focused on high-energy food groups, continuous employee-customer interaction and a wide variety of healthy foods.

Just Fresh. Ten years ago, Just Fresh opened its first location at North Carolina and has added opened more locations throughout southern East Coast. Franchisees can choose to buy either a single store or develop a geographic location.  They offer bakery items, made-to-order salads, wraps, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, all sans a fryer.

O’Naturals. As part of their expansion on the fresh-food concept, they serve their natural-organic-and-vegetarian-customers with hormone-free, slow-roasted beef, wild Alaskan salmon sandwiches and stir-fried Asian noodles. Aside from their menus, O’Naturals gives franchisees the opportunity to build relationships with local non-profit organizations. This usually happens in the “Ten Percent Community Night” wherein stores donate 10% of the night’s revenues to the hosting organization.

The Original SoupMan. The name itself may be famous among pop-culture aficionados because of the famous “Soup Nazi” episode of Seinfeld. But this eatery has already been serving local diners since 1984. After introducing franchising opportunities for the past years, they’ll be expanding throughout the East Coast and parts of Canada. So, if you’re into health-conscious soups, The Original Soupman offers you variety of soups, including lobster bisque or chicken gumbo.

Saladworks. From having salads as main courses, Saladworks have also added wraps, sandwiches and soups. Since it started in 1992, it has been spreading in various locations’ like in food courts, strip malls and transportation centers.

Now, that you already have the list of healthy-food locations, don’t you think it’s time for you to go and try on these restaurants? They’ve got the best healthy food choices. So, you better start from the first one on the list!