Quick-service restaurants of all sizes are eagerly courting diet-conscious consumers at the start of the new year. The latest promotion comes from 60-unit Kahala-owned chain Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill, which is touting its better-for-you menu.
Now through Feb. 28, all the chain's stores will offer five nutritious dishes for just $5. The $5 meals include:
- Orange Peel Chicken Bowl, served with brown rice, 490 calories
- Teriyaki Veggie Bowl, served with brown rice, 320 calories
- Teriyaki Chicken Wrap, featuring chicken breast and brown rice, 620 calories
- Oriental Chicken Salad, 390 calories with dressing served on the side
- Veggie Yakisoba Bowl, 500 calories
Known for offering fresh, Japanese-inspired meals, Samurai Sam's Teriyaki features seven other menu items that have been recognized for their better-for-you attributes. A total of 12 dishes have been certified as nutritionally sound by Healthy Dining Finder's registered dietitians and nutrition professionals. Featured items include rice bowls, yakisoba bowls, salads and wraps, all made to order with a variety of quality proteins including wok-seared shrimp, salmon and char-grilled chicken and steak.
Other QSRs pushing better-for-you options include:
- Carl's Jr. — new entrée salads with sexy ads by realty TV star Kim Kardashian
- Taco Bell — rebrand of its Fresco line as the Drive-Thru Diet with a new spokeswoman, National Basketball Association tie-in and an infomercial
- Dunkin' Donuts — expanded egg whites as an option for all its breakfast sandwiches and wraps plus its second seasonal low-fat muffin
- Subway — new Low Fat Turkey Melt and a new co-spokesperson with a former Biggest Loser contestant
- Chick-fil-A — a new lowfat yogurt parfait
- KFC — penny per calorie two-piece dark meat grilled chicken meal for $3.95 plus new Fiery Grilled Wings
