Do you have a specific question about nutrition or the foods that are served in your Bon Appétit café? Please browse the previously asked questions below or contact your Bon Appétit registered dietitian by filling out the form below.
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Healthy Food Choices
Q: I have been trying to eat a healthier diet. Will I be able to find healthy food choices in the Bon Appétit café?
A: Congratulations on your nutrition goals! Nutrition is a personal issue for many people. In fact, when I talk to our guests, I hear about a wide range of foods, diets and eating patterns they define as “healthy.” Bon Appétit is committed to offering choices that fit many nutritional goals.
We start with a simple set of “Kitchen Principles.” The principles were created by Bon Appétit to ensure the highest level of food quality. All Bon Appétit chefs follow these standards, which include use of fresh, sustainable products and cooking from scratch. You will find our foods are alive with flavor and nutrition and look, smell and taste delicious.
The result of following these principles is a menu that reflects an ever-changing variety of healthy foods from basic fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, to exotic ethnic, vegetarian, vegan dishes and more! You can request many items cooked to order in our exhibition-style stations, and find foods that meet many personal nutrition goals, be it disease prevention, sports performance or more specific dietary needs.
Our cafés also use a unique labeling program to help you identify café items with certain nutritional qualities. We use color-coded stickers to identify items that are vegetarian, vegan, organic, made without gluten, well being and/or in balance with 2010 US Dietary Guidelines and/or abide by our environmental and community programs of Farm to Fork and Seafood Watch. In addition, please talk to our onsite chefs and managers who will be happy to direct you to the best choices for your specific needs.
Food Calories
Q: Can you tell me how many calories are in the foods in the Bon Appétit café?
A: I can certainly help you identify healthy choices in the Bon Appétit cafes but exact nutrition content information, like calories, is more difficult.
Bon Appétit menu items are prepared fresh, from scratch in our kitchens each day. Our chefs take advantage of local and seasonal ingredients and do not follow specific, standard recipes in which the ingredients are weighed or measured. In fact, menu items that do repeat may be slightly different each time they are served because of seasonality and availability of the freshest ingredients. We cook like many people do at home, tasting and adjusting throughout preparation so that the final menu items meet our standards for flavor and quality. Without a standardized recipe, specific nutrition information is likely to be inaccurate.
It is, however, fundamental to our principles to incorporate as many healthy cooking techniques as possible. Our chefs are required to use healthy fats, focus on healthy, nutrient-rich ingredients, as well as to consciously put healthy food choices on the menu. Our chefs are trained in what we call “stealth nutrition” so that they think about core nutrition principles as they plan their menus.
If you are looking for a calorie controlled meal choice in your Bon Appétit café, think about choosing one of our “In Balance” items, which contain a balanced portion of whole grains, fresh vegetables, and lean proteins all prepared with a minimal amount of healthy fat, and typically contain approximately 600 calories.
The Nutrition Analysis section on this website provides the average calorie information for foods that are commonly served in the Bon Appétit cafés. We also recommend looking at the USDA’s new guidelines for a balanced diet, at choosemyplate.gov
Café Offerings
Q: What types of choices should I expect in a Bon Appétit café?
A: The offerings will vary somewhat from café to café. However, all Bon Appétit menus are driven by our passion for great food.
A few examples of items you will always find in our cafes:
- An extensive salad bar including fresh greens, twelve or more vegetables, beans, lean protein options, composed salads, crunchy toppings and house made salad dressings.
- A fresh deli bar featuring turkey and roast beef, slow-roasted on site as well as a variety of other meats, cheeses, vegetables, condiments, spreads and breads.
- A selection of house made soups, always including a vegetarian option.
- Two or more hot entrée options with tasty sides including whole grains and fresh vegetables.
- An exhibition area where we cook to order for you. The menu will vary from basic stir-fries to ethnic and regional favorites.
- Our cafés also include an extensive grill, pizza and dessert menu, fresh fruits, beverages and a wide range of condiments.
Menus
Q: How often do the café menus change?
A: The answer is simple—all the time! Bon Appétit does not run our kitchens from a corporate menu cycle.
Our on site chefs write menus and create new items each week. While favorites may be repeated, you can expect new and exciting dining options each week. The menus in our retail operations are restaurant style with set items plus daily specials.
Food Allergies
Q: How will you handle my concerns about a food allergy?
A: Bon Appétit takes food allergies very seriously. We are careful to train our staff on food allergy awareness issues, but because of the complexities of food allergies, we prefer to work individually with you on your specific dietary needs. Our onsite chef and/or manager will meet with you individually to develop a plan that may include special menu items, ingredient identification, special preparation and communication to necessary staff to ensure that you can eat safely. You may also use our corporate registered dietitian as a resource for food allergies.
Weight Management
Q: I’m concerned about my weight. Does Bon Appétit offer diet foods?
A: These days the approaches to weight management are more varied than ever. Some people swear by low fat while others have gone to low carbohydrate or just count calories. Bon Appétit will not try to dictate which is right for you. Our menus provide choices for all of these approaches. All Bon Appétit menus include a wide selection of fresh lean meats and vegetarian proteins, extensive salad and fresh vegetable options, whole grains and beans, as well as milk, soy milk, yogurts, fruits, which is the right portions, will support weight management.
Special Dietary Needs
Q: How does Bon Appétit address religious dietary needs?
A: The availability of kosher foods and other foods that are important in religious dietary observances vary from café to café. Please contact your onsite dining services for the options that are available in your café.
Q: I follow a specific diet for (lactose intolerance, celiac disease, diabetes, etc) and need to be able to stay on my diet. Will this be possible in the Bon Appétit café?
A: The use of multiple stations and exhibition areas encourages a “have it your way” system, allowing you to follow any personal diet that you desire. However, if you have trouble identifying which items meet your needs, we are here to help. The General Manager and Executive Chef can answer questions and help you get to know what foods work for you in the café. In most cases, the choices are already there. If not, we will also work with you to prepare items that meet your dietary needs. When appropriate, you and the onsite staff can also consult with our corporate registered dietitian for help with making menu choices.
