title: Healthy option preferences of rural restaurant customers.
abstract: In preparation for an intervention study in three rural Iowa restaurants, 250 customers were surveyed regarding their interest in dietary change, perceptions of the restaurant, and interest in healthy options. Customers were ages 18 to 88, with a mean age of 52, and 53% were women. Most agreed that the restaurant offers healthy meals. Options customers stated they were most likely to order if available included meat that is baked or broiled, whole-wheat bread, fresh fruit or steamed vegetables, and regular salad dressing on the side. They were least interested in low-fat sour cream, low-fat salad dressing, low-fat milk, low-calorie dessert, and holding high-fat ingredients. Women were more likely to indicate interest in healthy options than were men. Interest in several options was also positively associated with age. Increasing the healthy options in restaurants may be especially effective in changing the dietary intake of women and older adults.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center at the College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. faryle-nothwehr@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Faryle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nothwehr
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Snetselaar
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hradek
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sepulveda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012147:Restaurants; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats