Food advertising is all around us, from TV commercials to social media ads. It is a powerful tool used by the food industry to influence our food choices. In fact, research has found that food advertising has a significant impact on what we choose to eat, how much we eat, and how often we eat. This is because food advertisements are designed to appeal to our emotions and desires, which can lead us to make impulsive and often unhealthy food choices.
One of the key ways in which food advertisements influence our food choices is through the use of psychological appeals. These appeals are designed to trigger our emotions and desires to make us crave the advertised product. For example, a commercial for a chocolate bar might use images of melted chocolate and happy people enjoying the product in order to appeal to our emotions, or a packing company may feature its sustainable practices to highlight their social responsibility.
Another way in which food advertisements influence our food choices is through the use of persuasive language. Advertisers use persuasive language to make us believe that their product is superior to others, or that we need it in order to be happy or successful. For example, an advertisement for a fast food burger might use language such as “You deserve a break today” to make us feel like we need to reward ourselves with a treat.
Product placement is another powerful tool used by food advertisers. By featuring their products in movies and TV shows, advertisers can create a subconscious association between their product and the desirable lifestyle portrayed on screen. For example, a scene in which characters are enjoying a particular brand of soda might make viewers associate that brand with the fun and excitement portrayed in the scene. Product placement is particularly effective because it often goes unnoticed by viewers, who may not realize that they are being influenced by the products they see on screen.
Celebrity endorsements are another common tactic used by food advertisers. By featuring a celebrity spokesperson in their advertisements, advertisers can create a sense of trust and familiarity with their product. For example, an advertisement featuring a well-known athlete might make viewers believe that the product is a healthy choice that will help them achieve their fitness goals. This tactic can be especially powerful when the celebrity is someone that the target audience admires or identifies with.
Finally, promotions and discounts are often used by food advertisers to encourage us to buy their products. For example, a fast food restaurant might offer a “value meal” that includes a burger, fries, and a drink for a discounted price. These types of promotions make the product seem like a good deal, which can be a powerful motivator for consumers.
So, how can we protect ourselves from the influence of food advertising? One important step is to become more aware of the tactics used by advertisers. By understanding how advertisers try to influence our choices, we can become more critical consumers and make more informed decisions about what we eat.
Another important step is to try to avoid exposure to food advertisements as much as possible. This can be difficult, as food advertisements are everywhere, but there are some steps we can take. For example, we can choose to watch TV shows and movies that are less likely to feature food advertisements, or we can use ad-blocking software when browsing the internet.
Finally, we can try to retrain our brains to make healthier food choices. This involves consciously choosing to eat healthier foods, even if they are less appealing than less healthy options. Over time, our brains will start to associate healthy foods with positive feelings, making it easier to make healthy choices in the future.
Let’s take a look at some real-world examples of how food advertising influences our food choices:
Fast Food Advertisements: Fast food restaurants are well-known for their advertising campaigns that feature delicious-looking burgers and fries. These advertisements often use persuasive language and psychological appeals to make viewers crave the food being advertised. For example, a recent McDonald’s commercial featured the tagline “Whatever you’re craving
Snack Food Advertisements: Snack food companies also use persuasive language and psychological appeals to make us crave their products. For example, a recent advertisement for Doritos featured the tagline “For the Bold,” which implies that only daring and adventurous people would choose to eat their product. This type of language can make viewers feel like they need to prove something by eating the snack, which can lead to impulsive and unhealthy choices.
Sugary Beverage Advertisements: Beverage companies also use persuasive language and psychological appeals to make us crave their products. For example, a recent Coca-Cola commercial featured the tagline “Taste the Feeling,” which implies that drinking their product will make us feel happy and fulfilled. This type of language can make viewers associate sugary beverages with positive feelings, which can lead to overconsumption and weight gain.
Restaurant Advertisements: Restaurant chains often use promotions and discounts to encourage us to dine at their establishments. For example, a recent Chili’s advertisement featured a promotion for a free dessert with the purchase of an entrée. This type of promotion can make the restaurant seem like a good deal, which can lead to overeating and unhealthy food choices.
Food Packaging: Even the packaging of food products can influence our food choices. For example, a recent study found that food products with green or orange packaging were perceived as healthier than products with red or yellow packaging. This perception can lead consumers to choose products with healthier-looking packaging, even if the actual nutritional content of the product is not significantly different.
Celebrity Endorsements: As mentioned earlier, celebrity endorsements are a common tactic used by food advertisers. One recent example is the partnership between PepsiCo and NBA star LeBron James. The campaign features James promoting PepsiCo products such as Pepsi and Gatorade, which can make viewers associate those products with health and fitness.
In conclusion, food advertising is a powerful tool that can significantly influence our food choices. Advertisers use persuasive language, psychological appeals, product placement, celebrity endorsements, and promotions to make us crave their products and make impulsive and often unhealthy choices. By becoming more aware of these tactics and making a conscious effort to make healthier food choices, we can protect ourselves from the influence of food advertising and make more informed decisions about what we eat.
You have a new restaurant, menu, decor, and your table placement all set to go. You have everything ready, except you don’t know how the food should be presented. Unfortunately, you can’t just slop it on a plate like you are the lunch lady. No, in a restaurant, you have to have a plan and creative ideas for how to present your food well.
Food presentation is how you arrange the food on your plate for serving it to your guests. It’s very important, even though it doesn’t affect the taste. What it does, however, is prepare your guest for the dish. Also, you have to make it look attractive so that the diner doesn’t approach their meal with a negative mindset. Eating has a big psychological component to it; if something looks unappealing, it will end up tasting that way. Here are six food serving ideas for your restaurant that your guests will appreciate.
Food Garnishes
Decorating a dish gives it some pop. It is often a final touch, but only sometimes. There are many ways you can garnish, but almost all of them involve using something edible. The extra dash of flavor can complement the flavor and enhance the dish. An example of this is serving a lemon along with your fish. However, it can be edible but not meant for eating, such as in the case of parsley. Some chefs are going beyond the edible garnish and using other things to decorate their meals. Flowers or plants are very popular, and you can get creative, just be sure that the flower doesn’t have toxic components that can contaminate the food.
Abstract Looks
You can allow yourself to get creative and let your imagination run wild. Much like an artist can produce abstract art, you can create an abstract presentation design. There’s no need for forms, or color patterns, or height standards. You can position your food in a natural look or try something provocative. The abstract presentation looks like you unexpectedly plated the food, but it still looks visually appealing and interesting. It’s an order made out of chaos. A large white plate for a blank canvas is the best surface for an abstract presentation. Play around and find out what works for you.
Vertical Forms
It used to be that food presentation was based on a horizontal plane. The food was spread out on the plate on one level. However, nowadays, you can create great visual appeal by going vertically on the plate. Think of your food as the material to make a sculpture or a statue. In most cases, the main part of the dish is placed in the middle of the plate. Then, the other components of the meal are piled up in layers while the outsides of the plate remain empty, other than some sauces, garnishes, or spices.
This type of serving takes a lot of creativity and imagination. You might not like the results at first, but with some practice, you can open your mind and develop some great ideas. For the most part, this type of plating is used for fine dining, but even if you are a step down from that, you might find it appropriate for certain dishes.
Creative Cupping
Traditionally, some foods are served on plates, and some foods are served in bowls. Salads, soups, ice cream, and other food tend to be served in bowls. However, you can always choose a creative way to use bowls and cups to serve something. Take french fries, for example. You can serve them standing vertically in various food serving cups. At the bottom of the cups can be ketchup or whatever other sauces the diner wants. Each french fry would have a nice amount of ketchup, and the customer doesn’t have to worry about messes or having room on their plate. That’s just one suggestion for using the serving dish as a tool for creative food presentation.
You can also serve food in creative containers. For instance, serving sauces or drinks in test tubes or mason jars. You can use pots and frying pans for bowls and plates. You can let your imagination do the work.
Japanese Style
Sometimes presentation is about how you display food on a plate. However, with Japanese style, it’s about how the food is presented in different dishes. Also, there is the concept of minimalism. It is made beautiful by its simplicity.
Instead of serving the entire meal in one dish, every component is served differently. They never touch. As a restaurateur, you never have to worry about your colors being complementary and your dish looking coordinated and balanced. This is a great option if you need help putting dishes together but still want a great-looking meal. Remember, this is Japanese style, so you can use chopsticks if the meal is appropriate. Cut everything in small pieces, including meat and vegetables.
Presentation For Kids
Perhaps the diners who react the most to food presentations are kids. Think when they see something that doesn’t look appealing. They say, “eww, gross!” and eat their chicken fingers. If you can attractively present vegetables, then parents will love you, and kids will eat them. You can create meals in the shape of superheroes or the smiley faces of any other characters they love. Remember to think like a child, and your presentation will follow.
You might not realize it, but the presentation is so important for your restaurant. No matter what type of establishment you have, you want your food to look appetizing and appealing. It can take time to figure out what to do. However, with these tips to get you started, you can let your creativity roam free and come up with some amazing dishes.
The restaurant business is notoriously difficult. In fact, according to a study done by the National Restaurant Association, 60% of new restaurants fail within the first year, and 80% shutter within five years. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to be successful in the restaurant industry. With careful planning, a solid business model, and a bit of luck, you can be one of the 20% that make it past the five-year mark.
Why Start A Restaurant
The restaurant business is one of the most popular businesses in the world. There are many reasons why a person should start a restaurant business. The most important reason is that people need to eat. Restaurants provide food to the public, and there is a constant demand for restaurants. In addition, restaurants are relatively easy to start and do not require a lot of capital.
Another reason to start a restaurant is that it is a very profitable business. According to the National Restaurant Association, the average profit margin for restaurants is around 30%. This means that for every dollar that a restaurant spends, they earn 30 cents in profit. This is much higher than the profit margin for most businesses, which is usually around 10%. Finally, starting a restaurant is a great way to create jobs. Restaurants are one of the largest employers in the world, and they create millions of jobs each year. This is important because it helps to stimulate the economy and create opportunities for people who need them.
Here’s what you need to know before opening a new restaurant.
- Develop a Concept and Target Audience
The first step in starting any new business is developing a concept and target audience. But this step is especially important in the restaurant industry because your concept will dictate everything from your menu to your décor to your price point. Do some market research to determine what type of restaurant would do well in your area and who your target customers are. Then, start developing your concept with those customers in mind.
- Write a Business Plan
Every successful business starts with a well-written business plan. Your business plan should outline your restaurant’s concept, target audience, menu, décor, staffing needs, marketing strategy, and financial projections. It should also include an analysis of your competition and an explanation of how you plan to stand out from the crowd. Get an excellent blank business plan template here!
- Secure Funding
Starting a restaurant is a relatively expensive endeavor. The average cost of opening a new restaurant ranges from $250,000 to $1 million, so you’ll need to secure funding from either investors or lenders before you can get started. Put together a pitch deck or loan proposal outlining your business concept and financial projections to increase your chances of being approved for funding.
- Find the Right Location
When searching for a location, keep your target audience in mind—you want to choose a spot that’s convenient for them and visible to potential customers driving or walking by. Once you’ve found a few potential locations, negotiate lease terms with the landlord and have any necessary inspections completed before signing on the dotted line.
- Build Out Your Space
If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to hire an architect and contractors to build out your kitchen, dining room, and restrooms according to the code. If you’re taking over an existing space, you may just need to do some cosmetic updates like painting walls and refinishing floors. In either case, be sure to stay on budget and on schedule so you can open your doors on time and with a healthy bank account.
- Develop Your Menu
Now it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll actually be serving at your restaurant—aka developing your menu! Work with chefs or culinary consultants to come up with creative yet affordable dishes that fit your overall concept. Once you have your menu items finalized, price them out so you can determine how much food costs will impact your bottom line.
- Train Your Staff
One key ingredient for any successful restaurant is a well-trained staff—after all, they’re the ones interacting with customers on a daily basis! Train all employees—from servers and bartenders to cooks and dishwashers—on proper protocols for food safety as well as customer service standards.
- Market Your Restaurant
Traditional marketing methods like print ads, flyers, and radio commercials can be effective for getting the word out about your new restaurant—but don’t forget about digital marketing techniques like SEO (search engine optimization), online directories, and social media. Utilize all channels at your disposal to market your new eatery effectively.
Starting a new restaurant is not an easy task. It takes a lot of hard work, planning, and determination. In order to be successful, you need to put in the time and effort necessary to make your dream a reality. As the old saying goes, “nothing worth having comes easy.” So don’t give up; keep working hard and stay focused on your goal. And don’t forget to appreciate all the small victories along the way. As Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
