Fast food chains have been gearing towards the healthy bandwagon that a lot of people seem to be jumping on. The several cases of people claiming fast food restaurants made them fat caused a lot of negative publicity and a decline in sales, causing them to react. “McDonald’s low-fat beef burger, the McLean, flopped. Pizza Hut’s addition of lower-fat pizza toppings failed. Then, things started to turn around. For example, Burger King’s grilled chicken sandwich, the BK Broiler (now called the Tendergrill), was more successful” (Nerac). Now, they still do have high fat, high cholesterol, and high sodium items on their menus, but they’ve started to add healthier options like salads.

Above are Wendy’s Garden Sensation salads: Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad, Baja Salad, BLT Cobb Salad, and the Apple Pecan Chicken Salad. These actually sound pretty good to me, but I’ve never tried them.

McDonald’s also had their fruit and yogurt parfait that contains strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, and granola.

According to Nerac Food Science Analyst Shanon Trueman, sales for all of these have been strong. However, even though items like these are marketed as healthy, they may not be as healthy as consumers think. For example, below is the nutrition label for McDonald’s fruit and yogurt parfait.

So, 1.9 grams of fat isn’t bad for breakfast. But 19 grams of sugar? That’s basically eating 5 straight spoonfuls of sugar. I don’t know about you but that sounds disgusting to me. 

I rarely eat fast food but everyone craves a burger, salty fries, and a McFlurry every once in a while. Now that seemingly healthier menu items are on the rise, I may opt for those instead of indulging in a cheeseburger (even though most still aren’t healthy, whoops).

Source: https://www.nerac.com/as-fast-food-goes-healthy-what-opportunities-await-food-companies/

Tampa's Tastiest: 5 Places You Must Try

If I could eat out every day, you better bet I would. Too bad I'm a college student living on a budget. Mac 'n' cheese, ramen noodles, and frozen veggies consists of most of our diets with the occasional burger (yay!). I have, however, had the chance to go to a few of these amazing eateries that the Food Network suggests in their Tampa Eating Tour article.

1. Taco Bus: One of my favorites. Taco Bus is a food truck out of an actual old school bus. Cool idea, right? They serve authentic Mexican food and have grown to five locations because of their popularity and unique menu here in Tampa. 

2. Buddy Brew: Are you a coffee lover? This is the place to be. Breakfast lover? This is the place to be. Tea? You guessed it, Buddy Brew is awesome. It’s a cool, relaxing place to get some work or homework done. 

3. Oxford Exchange: Located right across from the beautiful University of Tampa, it only makes sense to have a beautiful place to eat, hang out and get some coffee or tea. I don't know anyone that's had a negative experience here. Their lunch? To die for. Their breakfast? Don't even get me started. You'll have a new favorite every time you order something different. As one of Tampa's #1 spots, the combination of the atmosphere and menu options will keep you coming back, that's for sure. 

4. Bern's Steakhouse: If you're looking for a more upscale place to dine, Bern's Steakhouse is a great option. It's located in what is supposedly a haunted mansion and is family-owned (there's no better combo). The large filets, locally grown produce, and large baked potatoes make me wish I wasn't a college student. 

5. Daily Eats Diner: Everyone in Tampa knows this place. Owner, Ciccio Restaurant Group, also owns Green Lemon, Fresh Kitchen, Lodge, and Ciccio Cali (probably my all time favorites). Daily eats, the casual and nutritious eatery, is the prefect brunch spot. But wait, you MUST remember to grab a shake on your way out. It might be the best one you've ever had. 

Once only chain restaurants, Tampa has grown to have special independently owned restaurants and food trucks bringing Florida back to life and todays times. 

Now, the only reason I know of these places is because of other students and professors around the University of Tampa. So from my experience, word of mouth plays a large role in the marketing efforts of restaurants like these around south Tampa.

What are some of your favorite places to eat around Tampa? I agree with Food Network. They list about ten, but these are some of my favorites! Comment your opinions below 'cause good food should never be kept a secret :)



Sources: http://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/photos/welcome-to-tampa--a-newcomers-eating-tour.html

A+ Examples to Instagram Your Food & Drink Brands

Instagram is a compete visual platform. Is your post of the new skateboard you got boring and not creative? You won't get the attention like you would if you were riding that skateboard into the sunset. The same goes for promoting a brand. Vibrant and creative posts are a must when using platforms like Instagram. Just like foodies, brands that are trying to increase brand awareness or just stay in the game need to try new things and think outside of the box. So, here are a few companies that have recently been successful at promoting their brands on Instagram. 

First, we have McDonald's. Now to a foodie, McDonald's probably isn't a first choice or a choice at all. But, they have really pushed the envelope with their branding recently. They have tried to steer clear of the unhealthy, cheap image and create bright, positive and real portrayals of their image.  

Next, we have Dorset Tea. This company has used Instagram to bring their brand in full circle. The visual platform is working well to their advantage with all of the landscape, nature and lifestyle posts that seam their products right together. 

Lastly, we have Coca-Cola. This brand seems to be all about happiness and that doesn't fall short on their Instagram account. Their posts are colorful with a whole lot of red and the people in them are always smiling and having a great time making memories. 

According to Instagram.com, Instagram has over 500 million monthly active users and over 300 million daily active users. That's a lot of people. A lot of people that you can reach with your creative, vibrant, and attention-getting posts. If you do it right, you can tremendously increase brand awareness through this visual platform. 

How do you use Instagram? For personal reasons, social, for your business? Let me know what you think about using Instagram for all these different reasons in the comments section! :)

Sources: https://www.instagram.com/press/?hl=en

UberEATS: Probably the Best Thing Ever for a College Student

All of us in the Tampa Bay area know what Uber is. We’ve used it to go to and from a bar, a house party, and even the airport. It’s a brand we all recognize, one that we trust. With just a few clicks you have a quick, safe, and inexpensive ride that gets you to and from your destination. Now, the well-known company is bringing people around the world their favorite foods with UberEATS. Below is a little bit on how they work. 

UberEATS makes it easy for you to explore different types of food at the tap of your smartphone. They’ve partnered with all kinds of restaurants to offer you convenience, fresh meals, and treats. For example, Fabrica Woodfired Pizza in Tampa’s channel district has had some difficulty giving their customers what they want: a delivery service. Owners Estefania and Jonathan Perez want to give their customers what they want, but they didn’t want to compromise their product just to increase numbers. UberEATS is their solution.

UberEATS went live at the beginning of September, offering things from McDonald’s fast food to upscale restaurants. “While other food delivery services have been offered in Tampa for some time — among them GrubHub and Doorstep Delivery — restaurant owners say Uber's name recognition in this market, combined with the company's technology and marketing plans, make UberEATS stand out” (bizjournals.com). Adding to bizjournal.com, for example, the University of Tampa is here. Most of the students that attend the university use Uber. The recognition of the brand makes it easier for Uber users to trust the new delivery system. UberEATS even gave me a $10 credit when I signed up and gave me another $10 each time a new member used a code linked to my account on their first order. Who doesn’t like free food? Especially a college student. And good food at that.

Here is the link to their website if you want to check out the different restaurants UberEats has partnered with in the Tampa Bay area: https://ubereats.com/tampa/

Have you used UberEATS? Tell me a little bit about your experience below! J

Sources: 

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2016/09/07/even-with-a-steep-fee-most-tampa-restaurateurs-are.html

https://ubereats.com/tampa/

Chicago's Best Dogs: From a Stand to the Best Dang Things on Earth

I don't know about you, but I find small, family-owned restaurants so much better than franchises. From the customer service to the amount of food you get for one hell of a deal, nothing sounds better to me. In every town I travel to, I always try to find those quaint but packed to the edges with people laughing and eating with smiles drawn across their faces restaurants.

I recently visited my friend in Chicago. She had always raved about Chicago's infamous hot dogs so I had to make her take me to her favorite spot. That is when I fell upon Gene & Jude's Red Hots. One word: fan-freaking-tastic. I mean who thinks to top their hot dogs with french fries and pickles? Gene & Jude do. Never had a Chicago dog? You have to try it. First, you have to have your bun. Next, you have your Vienna Beef hot dog. So then you have your mustard, you have your relish, you have your onions and your tomatoes. Then you have to throw your sport peppers in there. If you don't know what sport peppers are, they're basically small, hot peppers. Now for the grand finale: the fries. Now, they don't place your fries in any ordinary container. They wrap the fries in foil with the hot dog to make it one beautiful, beautiful, meal. Just look at the beauty above. Yum. But one thing...never, I repeat, NEVER ask for ketchup. You'll get kicked out. Almost happened to me. And another thing, there aren't any seats so make sure you wear your comfy shoes.

I'm sure you're eager to hear the story of how Gene & Jude's came about. Well, Gene and his friends went to a game at Wrigley Field in the summer of 1945. He wasn't pleased with the hot dog he ordered so he began experimenting at home. He opened a small stand in downtown Chicago in 1946 and soon became a sensation. In 1950, they relocated to the suburb of River Grove. With nearly no hours off, they are delighted to make the best hot dogs and fries in the United States. Through the powerful concept of word-of-mouth, Gene & Jude's customers have been nothing but loyal, sticking with the small stand all the way up to today's successes. All of this information and more was thrown to me when I asked how Gene & Jude's came to be. They make you feel like family. They make you feel like you've known them for years. Those are the places I love the most. Those are the places I want to spend my money.

For your sake, here is the link to their website. You should really take a couple minutes to check it out  and see the numerous awards they've received if you're not from Chicago!

http://www.geneandjudes.com

Food, thanks for being Delish!

Do you ever wonder where people are getting their recipes from these days? Maybe traditional cookbooks or pages in magazines, but who ever would have thought Facebook would be a great source for finding deliciously looking, mouth watering recipes? I know when I scroll through Facebook, my timeline is filled with recipes and videos like the ones below from websites like Delish and Tasty. I’m not complaining, though. 

Social media is dominating modern-day society. The number of Facebook users has been on the rise for a while now. According to Statista, Facebook has 1.71 billion monthly active users so far in 2016. Young teens, college kids, parents, and even granparents have Facebook accounts. That’s a lot of people. So why would it not be a good idea to promote your brand on one of the greatest social platforms?

Delish’s recipes are exactly what their name is: delicious. I’ve recently moved into my own apartment, forcing me to cook all the time (every college kids dream, right?). Delish and Tasty both post videos showing users how to make the recipe and how much of each ingredient you need in less than a minute. To gain a clearer understanding, the video above shows users step by step instructions on how to make these 8 different appetizers for any game day. Seeing how each step of the process is supposed to look makes it easier for people like me that don’t exactly know how to cook. I screenshot their Facebook posts to save them for later and also look on their websites for easy, cheap and quick recipes to try. So far, they’ve all been a success. From zucchini tots to honeydew sorbet, they know it all. 

Have you ever made a meal from a post on Facebook? Share your thoughts below J

https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/

Attracting Foodies in the Airport

I’m sitting in a black chair connected to about ten others. In front of me is Ducky’s. Behind me is Bay & Tea Company and the CNBC smartshop. To my right: Auntie Anne’s. And to my left is Starbucks. Now, what place would have five different restaurants so close together? A mall? An airport? Well, I am at Tampa International Airport. And now, my flight has been delayed. Thanks Tampa storms. But, you could say it’s a place foodies want their flights to be delayed.

How do people choose which restaurants they want to eat at over layovers? Whether it’s a quick hour layover or a long three-hour layover, you want people to come to your place. Now, how do you attract the antsy, focused passengers that just want to get to their final destination?

You have to know who your target audience is. The layover crowd can be quite different. Are you looking for those families that head straight to the food court and the small convenience stands that run along the edges of the hallways? Or are you targeting the kind of person or group that likes to hunker down and have a few beers and appetizers between flights? These would definitely be businessmen and businesswoman who have experience with the layover situation.

What do they want? Well, people in the business-world need outlets on outlets on outlets. They’re throwing back a few beers, munching on some spinach and artichoke dip, and sending some emails. And they are drinking some beer so you probably should throw some sports on a couple T.V.’s and maybe some news channels, too.

Those who travel for business often fly through the same airports to the same final destination. You want loyal customers. You want customers that come back every time they are in that airport. You want them to tell their colleagues about their awesome experience and that awesome, unique beer they had. So, don’t go cheap. Spend a little more to get a little more.

I’m still sitting here at the Tampa airport and yes; my flight has been delayed because of the torrential downpour that magically appeared (but what’s new, right?). According to thrillest.com, Tampa International Airport is ranked 56^th when it comes to having the best food and drinks in the United States. I’d say that’s pretty good. I have now convinced myself to walk the hallways to see what options there are. Now, what restaurant suits a 21-year-old college girl who just wants to get home to Virginia for the weekend? I’d sure like to be in the #1 ranked Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Sources: https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-airports-for-food-and-drink-best-american-airports-for-eating