# Calorie-Conscious QSR Italian Menus Olive Garden's Lunch-Sized Favorites Menu is Health-Focused By Jana Pijak | Published 2020-01-21 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/italian-menu References: [brproud](https://www.brproud.com/morning-show/new-olive-garden-menu-highlights-dishes-under-600-calories/) & [olivegarden](https://www.olivegarden.com/menu/chicken-parmigiana/prod80622) [QSR](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodcents) chain [Olive Garden](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/create-your-own-pasta) is known for its affordable and tasty Italian menu and is targeting health-conscious consumers with its latest offering. The restaurant's 'Lunch-Sized Favorites' menu is designed to be calorie-conscious and spotlights items that are both healthy and hearty -- all coming in at around 600 calories. The menu spotlights a variety of classic pasta dishes along with favorites like Olive Garden's signature Chicken Parmigiana and vegetarian-friendly Eggplant Parmigiana options. Both dishes come in at 660 calories and are served with one's choice of soup or salad sides along with a serving of two breadsticks. Known for its affordable and hearty dishes, Olive Garden targets health-focused consumers with calorie-conscious alternatives to its best-selling menu items. In addition to its lighter Parmigiana dishes, the restaurant also recently introduced [zucchini noodles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/readytoeat-pasta) or "zoodles" to its menu, furthering its healthy-focused offering. Image Credit: Olive Garden ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 38% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Calorie-conscious QSR Menus:** The trend of offering calorie-conscious options on Quick Service Restaurant menus presents an opportunity for businesses to attract health-conscious consumers. - **Hearty Dishes with Alternative Ingredients:** The trend of incorporating alternative ingredients, such as zucchini noodles or 'zoodles', into hearty dishes offers opportunities for businesses to cater to customers seeking healthier alternatives. - **Affordable Menu Items Targeting Health-conscious Consumers:** The trend of creating affordable menu items that specifically target health-focused consumers allows businesses to tap into a growing market segment and drive sales. ### Who This Affects Most - **Quick Service Restaurants (QSR):** The QSR industry can capitalize on the trend of offering calorie-conscious menus by creating innovative and healthy alternatives, attracting health-conscious consumers. - **Italian Restaurants:** Italian restaurants can take advantage of the trend of incorporating alternative ingredients in their dishes to cater to customers seeking healthier options while still enjoying their favorite Italian cuisine. - **Food Delivery Services:** Food delivery services can tap into the trend of affordable menu items targeting health-conscious consumers by partnering with restaurants that offer calorie-conscious options and promoting them to their customer base. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Artisan-Inspired Pasta Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/create-your-own-pasta.md) - [Nutrition-Minded Pizzeria Items](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dominos-menu-items.md) - [Nutrition-Focused Temporary Dining Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fords-garage.md) - [All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/never-ending-pasta-bowl.md) - [Health-Minded Fast Food Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olivers-real-foods.md) - [Sharable Fried Shrimp Appetizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shrimp-fritto-misto.md) - [Health-Themed QSR Menu Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arbys-new-year-same-you.md) - [New Health-Focused Restaurant Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saladworks-new-menu.md) - [Health-Focused Ready-To-Eat Pasta Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/readytoeat-pasta-meals.md)