Healthy Fast Food Revolution – Here to Stay!

A couple of years ago a food revolution began – healthy fast-casual restaurants. This trend has proved to be strong in Vancouver with restaurants, retailers and brands. Many fast-food chains and food manufacturers have caught on and made the switch to more wholesome ingredients. Some deciding to improve the quality of their products by; reducing artificial coloring, flavorings, sweetener and preservatives, dropping controversial ingredients from foods and even removing pop from kids’ meals. Others have chosen to accommodate special-diet needs, specifically plant-based, gluten and dairy-free options.

Overview

A couple of years ago a food revolution began – healthy fast-casual restaurants. This trend has proved to be strong in Vancouver with restaurants, retailers and brands. Many fast-food chains and food manufacturers have caught on and made the switch to more wholesome ingredients. Some deciding to improve the quality of their products by; reducing artificial coloring, flavorings, sweetener and preservatives, dropping controversial ingredients from foods and even removing pop from kids’ meals. Others have chosen to accommodate special-diet needs, specifically plant-based, gluten and dairy-free options.

At the forefront of the movement are younger consumers – the millennials. Families on the go are also thinking about their small children looking for improved food options. The concern is more with establishing long-term healthy lifestyles for a sustainable future. Why can’t we have these options in fast food too? Now with endless information online people are educating themselves on how and where to make better choices. Restaurants are joining in and basing their concept around this trend and consumers’ dietary needs.

Two successful concepts that JDG has worked with have opened this year in the downtown core. Field and Social and SMAK Healthy Fast Food are both healthy, delicious and fast. Residents, students and workers in the area have given them a victorious response with line ups out the door. If you don’t want to wait in line, order ahead online to make it even speedier.

Field and Social is the new creation from Stephen Collins and Moe Samieian which opened in late February. The fast-casual restaurant works with local farmers to bring chef-designed salads using local and seasonal ingredients as well as house made soups and kombucha tea. The open, raw and neutral space with high ceilings allows the textures and brilliant colours of the fresh ingredients to be the center of attention. You won’t believe how good and full you’ll feel from one of their salads!
SMAK Healthy Fast Food was one of the first in Vancouver to provide healthy quick service and to offer a 100% gluten free menu. If you have any type of dietary restrictions this is the place for you! JDG designed their second location that opened in August on Granville Street. Keeping with their clean, fresh and

sustainable outlook the space is clad in crisp white, greenery touches, reclaimed red cedar and purple which is the brand core colour. SMAK serves all food and beverages in locally sourced containers that are compostable or recyclable which cuts down their garbage immensely.

JDG welcomes this “obsession with health” and the industry building upon it. Let’s keep the revolution going!

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Field & Social – Scout Magazine

The concept sounds like a winner, sort of like a breadless Meat & Bread. To wit, instead of a limited menu of consistently executed sandwiches, Field & Social will deal in carefully considered salads. While that’s nothing new, the aesthetic element should prove alluring. Stephen agrees. “Why does salad restaurants always have to be tacky? Why can’t it have style?” To that end, they’ve hired Ruth Jankelowitz of Janks Design Group (see also Earnest Ice Cream) to execute the look with tight branding by Lucy & Guy Browning of Workhouse Collective. Come opening day in early 2016, the interior will see a white marble counter, plenty of copper sinks and pendant lights, and plenty of long communal tables. The exposed concrete pillars and floors will stay unclad. To give you an idea, take a look at the mood board…

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Parklet – Urban Design Vancouver

September 1st rolled in fast and brought with it rain, the chills and constant yawns. Coffee intake has multiplied and panic set in that summer has come to an end. However a little rain never hindered Vancouverites from enjoying the outdoors. Thanks to Viva Vancouver there are over a handful of urban spaces to stop and relax for a while.

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