What could McDonald's look like if it was really healthy? We'll soon find out
I'm always hoping that the business minds behind projects like Burger King, cigarettes, and shopping malls would change jobs, and figure out how to make national betterment financially successful. What if there were as many urban tree-planting facilities as Wendy's? Or if after-school programs were funded better than jails? What if fast food aces sold healthy food, instead? Enter Lyfe Kitchen, a healthy fast food concept created by former McDonald's executives, including ex-president and COO, Mike Roberts. The first location of Lyfe, which stands for Love Your Food Everyday, is slated to open its doors this summer in Palo Alto, California, with 250 planned by 2016.
According to BrandChannel, Lyfe will be designed as a calming oasis, an alternative to the harsh energy-sucking lighting and colors at most fast food chains. In this oasis you will not find butter, cream, fried foods, high-fructose corn syrup, nor items over 600 calories. Art Smith, a former chef for Oprah, and chef Tal Ronnen are heading up the development kitchen. Dishes planned so far include a made-to-order Niman ranch beef burger with agave ketchup, oven-baked sweet potato fries, and vegan brownies, says the Chicago Tribune. The standard for meat, eggs, and dairy used will be high. Slashfood reports that the campaign director for factory farming at The Humane Society of the United States has even endorsed the project.
The price point of entrees will be between $8 and $12, which makes me worry that it'll have trouble competing with the under $10 crowd of Extra Value Meals, Burrito Supremes, and the like. They have said that the job of the first restaurant is to refine the menu and the price point, so we're hoping they get it right. According to Huffington Post, the brand will be "targeted primarily at women, who are more likely to eschew traditional fast-food joints for a more healthful alternative."
More to read:
The worst fast food products of 2010
What would you think about a ban on fast food restaurants in your neighborhood?
Fast food lies: Meals that don't live up to their ads
