Breakfast business on the rise—it gives restaurants an opportunity to tell another branding story, create new revenue streams, and allows chefs to get creative outside dinner service—and a Sense360 study has even show it’s when the most loyal customers come out to eat. As dayparting expands, it is more important than ever for restaurants to get in on the breakfast game, but today’s options must go beyond typical meat and egg sandwiches. To appease the discerning palates of American foodies, restaurateurs must offer fresh, healthy, great tasting options as well.
Diane Henderiks, who works with A-list chefs to create customized concept menus, says that as customers’ preferences change due to dietary concerns, restaurant owners must stay abreast of the market demands in foodservice and offer healthy and great tasting options. “Stevia-based sweeteners are a top trend,” she says. “Offering SPLENDA Naturals shows that your restaurant is keeping up with the times and that they care about their customers’ health.”
SPLENDA Naturals is available in both single serve packets, ideal for coffee and iced tea service, and a bulk granulated form that can be used in recipes as a sugar replacement. Henderiks uses it to help lighten up the decadent dishes of the chefs she works with. Not only does she use it in sauces, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages, but she says it’s also a smart option to incorporate in breakfast dishes. “The beauty of SPLENDA Naturals is that is has a large grain,” Henderiks says. “It’s very similar to sugar instead of being powdery like some other stevia-based sweeteners on the market, so it works great in recipes for scones, muffins, and baked goods.”
Additionally, though most stevia-based sweeteners have a bitter aftertaste because they are made with a part of the stevia leaf called Reb A, SPLENDA Naturals does not have the same bitter taste because it is made with the sweeter part of the leaf, Reb D. This makes it an ideal sweetener for almost any kind of breakfast dish or beverage.
Oatmeal is another easy, healthy breakfast option. Steel cut oats, grains, quinoa, and hot cereals are great with stevia. Simply stir in at the end of cooking and sweeten to taste. You can also make pancake syrup by pureeing fresh fruit and SPLENDA Naturals on low heat. “If it’s too watery, just keep it on a little longer and the liquid will reduce and get thicker like a syrup,” Henderiks says.
Healthy eaters know to incorporate a variety of colorful fruits and veggies into their diets, so yogurt parfaits are another breakfast menu item that is gaining steam. Mix plain Greek yogurt, cinnamon, pure vanilla extract, and SPLENDA Naturals, then top with granola, unsweetened coconut flakes, or fruit—the combinations are endless. You can also use SPLENDA Naturals to add a bit more sweetness to a breakfast smoothie without sacrificing taste, which is always a popular choice for athletes and customers looking to sneak in a few veggies the easy way.
Savvy restaurateurs know that health-conscious diners want choices, and SPLENDA Naturals is an easy way to offer that. “It’s convenient, shelf-stable, and because it has a large grain that’s very similar to sugar, it’s an easy swap or transition,” Henderiks says. “Stevia sweeteners are at the top of the no-calorie sweetener market—incorporating SPLENDA Naturals into breakfast dishes is a simple move that shows customers you care.”
