Most don't make 'healthy menu' a priority

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CHICAGO, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- When it comes to choosing a restaurant, most people don't make the healthfulness of the menu a priority, U.S. market researchers say.

Technomic, developer of The Generational Consumer Trend Report, found 31 percent of millennials -- those born from 1982 to 2000 -- chose either "often" or "very often" when asked: "How often do you choose restaurants based on the healthfulness of their menu?"

Only 21 percent of members of Generation X -- those born 1965 to 1982 -- and 18 percent of baby boomers -- 1946 to 1964 -- made the same choices.

Although millennials generally earn less than older consumers, they report they are more likely to eat at upscale casual-dining restaurants, the survey said. Forty-two percent of millennials, 33 percent of the members of Generation X and 24 percent of baby boomers reported visiting upscale casual-dining restaurants at least once a month, the report said.

Thirty-two percent of millennials, 26 percent of gen Xers, but only 13 percent of baby boomers said they were so overwhelmed by their daily responsibilities and they did not have time to cook at home as often as they would like.

The report also analyzes consumer food-service patronage, attitudes and preferences based on survey results from 1,500 respondents.