by Meghan E. Toumey

Fast food restaurants, now called “quick serve” restaurants, may be healthier than you think, according to one top industry official.

Chuck DeNicolo, global Account Manager for Subway Restaurants, spoke Tuesday March 22 to the Fairfield University marketing club about healthier eating and food industry trends.

Fifty-eight percent of families go out to eat weekly and DeNicolo explained it is their demands that are driving the industries new trends. These families want healthy food that tastes good and they are willing to pay for it to be fresh.

In response to these demands the industry, that DeNicolo calls “quick serve” rather than fast food, has been offering salads, better chicken and more options for kids’ meals.

Most chains are allowing customers to customize their meals. Subway has been the leader in customization by allowing customers to choose everything from the type of bread to the amount of mayonnaise on their sandwiches.

About 40 percent of customers choose their meals based on nutrition and restaurants are moving in a more nutritious direction. Wendy’s has recently offered customers the option of replacing fries with fresh fruit.

McDonald’s is currently testing veggie burgers in some markets, but DeNicolo says this will only work if the burgers are tasty.

“It could be the healthiest thing in the world, but if it doesn’t taste good, (the customers) won’t pay for it,” he said.

Many restaurants have been focusing more on children as well. They are offering milk and juice instead of soda, and fruit instead of fries.

Jared, “The Subway Guy,” has begun working with children to battle child obesity issues, according to DeNicolo.

Although it would be nice to think that these restaurants care deeply about their customers, that isn’t necessarily the case. Restaurants have found that as they respond to these health demands the satisfaction of the customer’s increases and the restaurants make more money, DeNicolo said.

Christine Passarella ‘07 thought that deNicolo gave a well-organized speech that explained why Subway has the current advantage over the competition.

DeNicolo also mentioned that obesity and other eating related health issues are not just a problem in America.

It is a global trend that people are eating more, and obesity remains a problem in Western Europe as well, according to DeNicolo.

Restaurants are making decent strides for their customers, but some Fairfield University students would like to see a little more.

Kristen Heying ‘07 would like to see a “list of calories right on the labels” and Passarella said they should “get rid of fried food, but that will never happen.”