If you visit your favorite restaurant for dinner this week, you may notice a long-missed staple is back. Restaurant owners are adding bread back to appetizers and entree items, which may be a shock after years of seeing gluten-free trends. Once you know why bread is back on the menu at restaurants, you might want to grab yourself an extra slice.
People Are Embracing Bread’s Health Benefits
People who think that restaurants don’t give bread anymore may feel surprised when their first round of drinks comes with whole grain, dark brown or even sourdough breads.
Bread Varieties Differ in Nutritional Value
Though traditional white bread is a classic, there are wide varieties available at bakeries and grocery stores that can support numerous health goals. Sprouted grain breadshave enhanced nutritional profiles because the seeds get more time for metabolic changes. The nutrients include vitamins, minerals and proteins. You’ll bolster your diet if you switch to a nutrient-dense bread, even if you’re dining at a fast casual restaurant.
Whole Grains Can Increase Your Fiber Intake
Whole-grain varieties are extra nutritious because they contain a high amount of fiber. One serving provides17% of the daily value for whole grain intake. If you enjoy more fiber at restaurants, you will feel fuller. And, it’s a win-win — you’ll have a satisfying meal, and the restaurant owner gets more repeat customers.
Sourdough May Improve Your Gut Health
You don’t have to make your own sourdough to enjoy its benefits. Some restaurants use it with sandwiches and other menu items. The bread is unique and requires sourdough starter yeast, which gets extra time to ferment. Fermentation produces prebiotic homopolysaccharidesthat support probiotic microorganisms in your gut.
Many people want to improve their gut functionality to digest food more easily. Restaurants serving sourdough could help you achieve that goal. Try one slice and see how it affects your stomach to gauge whether you want to eat more sourdough bread while you’re dining out.
Protein Is in Each Bite
You’ve likely seen protein-focused packaging at your grocery store. Many brands are increasing protein levels across product lines to appeal to protein-heavy diet trends. Although you might think bread couldn’t be part of that food fad, many of its ingredients have extra protein. There aresix sources of plant proteins available:
- Lentils
- Beans
- Nuts
- Peas
- Seeds
- Whole grains
You may feel fuller longer if you enjoy a serving of bread made with plant proteins. The restaurant staff can always explain their available options if you want to ensure that your bread selections will support your specific health goals.
Tips to Enjoy Bread and Achieve Your Goals
You might feel hesitant to eat more bread if you’ve spent years viewing it as something that can’t be part of a healthy diet. Use some simple strategies to integrate it into restaurant meals without worrying about your well-being.
1. Pay Attention to Fullness Cues
Healthier breads with more fiber and protein will activate your fullness cues. Practice paying attention to your body during meals to better recognize those signals. They let you know when you should slow down or stop eating before you reach that too-full discomfort that can follow large restaurant meals. Working with what your body needs will help you manage your bread intake and your new meal preferences.
2. Discuss Gluten With Your Doctor
If you’ve spent years avoiding gluten and want to eat the delicious bread at your local restaurants, you should talk with your doctor. They’ll recommend a minimal intake to reintroduce gluten to your digestive system without overwhelming it.
If you experience new symptoms, you may need to discuss the possibility of an allergy. Your doctor might note that yourjoint pain and brain fog relate to your increased gluten intake. You can always adjust which breads you enjoy at specific restaurants to find a sustainable balance for your ongoing diet.
3. Request Nutrition Information
Some restaurants will provide bread as an up-front appetizer or side. Those don’t always come with the same nutritional information as standard menu items. If you want to know more about whether your bread is good for your health, ask the restaurant owner for nutrition information. They’ll let you know exactly what kind of bread you’re enjoying so you can make the best dietary decisions for yourself.
Restaurant teams that outsource their bread might not have a nutritional label on hand. In that case, ask what kind of bread they serve. Use the terminology to research that variety and gauge your nutritional content based on the serving size they provide.
Say Hello to Gluten Menu Options
Understanding why bread is back on the menu at restaurants will help you make confident long-term choices for your diet. If you want to improve your nutrient intake, enjoy more protein or try eating gluten again, you can do that with the various breads now offered at many restaurants.
Want to unlock greater wellness?
Listen to our friends over at the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast to unlock your best self with Dr. John Lieurance; Founder of MitoZen; creators of the ZEN Spray and Lumetol Blue™ Bars with Methylene Blue.
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