CHICAGO – Despite efforts to get U.S. consumers to eat healthier at restaurants, only 24% of U.S. consumers say they eat healthy when they dine out while over half of foodservice visitors say they are healthy eaters at home, according to The NPD Group. A recently released NPD foodservice market research report finds that even with an increasing number of restaurants offering healthier menu items or posting calories and other nutritional information, at the end of the day, consumers see dining out as a treat, an indulgence.

“It would benefit foodservice operators to promote the message that eating healthy at restaurants doesn’t always mean giving up your favorite foods,” said Bonnie Riggs, NPD’s restaurant industry analyst. “Providing the opportunity for menu customization will keep these healthier diners happy, while also satisfying the tastes of the more indulgent consumers.”

When dining away from home, most consumers are primarily seeking menu items that are unique, quick and indulgent, something that they couldn’t or wouldn’t make at home, finds the NPD study “Healthy at Foodservice-Consumer Expectations Put in Perspective.” Eating what they want to eat and indulging are the top reasons consumers give for not selecting healthy choices when they go out to eat.

Regardless of their wanting to treat themselves when they dine out, there are aspects of healthy that these more indulgent consumers are looking for, like freshly made, fresh ingredients, and right portion size. The 24% of consumers looking to eat healthy when they dine out, still eat what they want but are significantly more likely than others to order their meals at restaurants with a healthy twist, either by switching the protein, the preparation method, or having extras “on the side.”