Many people have been trying to eat healthier since TV shows, films and consumer groups have shown the horrific consequences of eating fast food on a regular basis.
The film "Supersize Me," as well as TV shows and other media, point out that obesity is one of the many side effects of that super burger from the fast food chain.
And it has been noted that the "burger" or chicken pieces from the fast food place may not even contain meat in many cases, but sub-par animal parts mixed together and washed in chemicals to kill bacteria.
As the young, upwardly mobile Milennials, and those who are health-concious, continue to seek out healthy and quick lunch options during their 1-hour break, business investors are watching.
One such business man, Matthew Corrin, was featured in Entrepreneur after putting together a modern-day fast food restaurant business called Freshii. Freshii has grown into a national chain, fueled by consumers' desires for wraps, kale, quinoa and other healthy items.
Often, healthier foods cost a little more, but younger consumers may be willing to spend a little more. Those with families and mortgages tend to want to save a little more and are willing to sacrifice the sprouts for the occasional non-organically grown head of lettuce. And not surprisingly, older consumers are looking to cut back on healthcare costs buy eating smart as a preventative precaution.
Whole Foods, a staple in the healthy eating sector, has become a leader in the industry. Its serve-yourself salad bar and hot food may cost a little more, but the company says it uses ingredients that are better quality. It has a list on its website of ingredients that it deems unacceptable.
The list is a heads-up to vendors that the company doesn't want to purchase items to sell to its customers that contain certain chemicals. A footnote on the list indicates that creating food products that don't contain one or more chemicals on the list is no guarantee Whole Foods will buy the product.
For those who are looking for a looser guidelines but at the same time want to eat something healthier than the typical fast food restaurant fare, Health magazine suggests Panera Bread; Jason's Deli and Au Bon Pain as its top three places to go for lunch.
The reasons?
-- Panera Bread offers healthy choices to its customers, including fare like turkey sandwiches and black bean or garden vegetable soup. It was also noted that the restaurant offers organic yogurt in squeezable form -- a hit with kids.
-- Jason's Deli made Health magazine's list because of its devotion to organics. Health says about one-fifth of Jason's food is organic.
-- Au Bon Pain, the restaurant serves food that is made with whole grains, veggies and hormone-free chicken.
And of course, if you're really in a hurry -- or if you have to eat at your workplace because of your time constraints -- there's the old tried-and-true solution: Pack your own healthy lunch that you bring from home.
