New Quality, Healthy Meals at Long John Silver's are a Step Up

In this health-conscious age, consumers can marvel at the surfacing revolution within the quick-service restaurant industry in terms of healthy menu options. According to a 2008 survey by the National Restaurant Association, 83% of adults declared that quick-service restaurants now offer healthier meal selections than they did two years ago. One such restaurant Long John Silver's has significantly upgraded its image and made notable progress in offering healthier meal selections. Long John Silver's has heeded the preference of 81% of over 1,000 Americans who expressed their desire for fast food restaurants to offer more seafood options particularly grilled fish in a survey by the San Francisco based Hale Group for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. In reply, Long John Silver's launched its Freshside Grille Menu in late October 2008 that includes grilled bowls with the choice of tilapia, Pacific Salmon, or shrimp scampi accompanied by rice and a vegetable medley of steamed green beans, carrots, and corn. Long John Silvers' new concept is depicted by its slogan "Throw Boring Overboard."

With headquarters in Louisville, KY, Long John Silver's first opened in 1969, adopting its name from a character in the novel Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson. In 2002, Long John Silver's was franchised to the company Yum! Brands by Sid Feltenstein, chairman and CEO at the time. Other brands that make up the Yum! Brands franchise include A&W All American Foods, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Currently, the majority of Long John Silver's restaurants are franchised, while 30% are corporate-owned.

Prior to this year, Long John Silver's menu consisted solely of batter-dipped fish, chicken, and shrimp along with the sides of hush puppies, coleslaw, and fries that were available in combo baskets and variety platters. These classic menu choices are higher in calories and fat than the items on the new Freshside Grille Menu as referenced by Long John Silvers' interactive nutrition calculator that is available on the website www.yum.com. In comparison to the 260 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 790 milligrams of sodium in one plank of battered fish, a portion-size of grilled tilapia contains 110 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 250 milligrams of sodium; and the grilled Pacific Salmon contains 150 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 440 milligrams of sodium. Then in analyzing the traditional sides, a platter portion of French fries contain 230 calories and 10 grams of fat; the coleslaw contains 190 calories and 14 grams of fat; whereas the new vegetable medley contains a meager 50 calories and two grams of fat.

It is without question, that the American public, who is engaged in a healthy food trend, will embrace the new Freshside Grille Menu items. Long John Silver's has definitely stepped up to its competitors, Subway and Chic-fil-A, who are well-known for their healthy meal selections. Consumers are sure to see more restaurants jumping on the bandwagon to offer healthy and tasty meals for the well being of the public.

Sources

"Long John Silver's to Roll Out Healthy Menu" (20 Oct. 2008) Reuters. http://in.reuters.com

Welch, Laine. "Americans Eating More Seafood." http://www.sitenews.us

www.ljsilvers.com

www.restaurant.org/research

www.yum.com