Start healthy, finish strong

76% of consumers said starters must look and sound amazing and would appeal more if they included healthy options.*

For maximum appeal your starter and dessert menu should include indulgent AND healthy options.

Here are some tips on boosting flavor, adding excitement and making them healthier.

*2009 American Express MarketBrief – March

Soups are a great low calorie way to utilize virtually any ingredient. Garnish or create a signature soup through the use of herbs, nuts, fresh vegetables and low fat yogurt.
Salads are great starters, they help balance a meal, help towards 5-a-day and appeal to guests looking for a healthy option.
When creating risottos use less butter but flavor the rice by simmering in a full flavored low sodium stock (stocks contain salt so cooking instructions must be followed to avoid over salting).
Excite guests by mixing tropical fruits with seafood, such as mango with shallots and shrimp. Soups are a great low calorie alterative that you can make with virtually any ingredient. Top herbs, seeds, nuts, fresh vegetables or low fat yogurt.

Make a fruit dessert with some stewed fruit, fat free yogurt. Add currants to the dessert for sweetness.
Use sweet fruit or raisins to flavor cakes and biscuits.
Sorbets are light, quick and can give a real flavor hit. Try creating a fruit sorbet with an extra unusual ingredient such as tea. Try Orange sorbet with chamomile, or mango sorbet with Earl Grey.
Offer puréed stewed fruit with custard or yogurt. Use toasted wholegrain bread crumbs as a healthier topping to a favourite pudding.