Healthy fast food? Internet Marketing for Internet Retail : The Preston Blog

Healthy fast food?

I’m just going to throw this business idea out there because I think somebody should do it.

Background
I am having a contest with a couple of my coworkers to see who can lose 10 pounds first. My problem is that I love fast food. A lot. My wife explained to me yesterday that I can eat fast food if I’m smart about what I get (meaning I count the calories, fat, etc.).

The problem
I’m lazy. That’s really what it comes down to. I know myself too well to think that I will actually check the nutritional guide every time I go to a fast food place. I actually doubt that I’ll take the time to even learn what an acceptable amount of calories, fat, sodium, etc. I should be eating to lose weight.

The opportunity
I want a site that I can go to and (after registering) input my height, weight and desired weight. I want the site to be smart enough to make a recommendation if I don’t know how much I should weigh based on my height and my frame. Then the magic would happen.

I want to input my zip code and have the site use google maps (or some other program) to find all of the restaurants within X miles of my location (where I can choose X). Then I want to go through an interview where the program determines where I like to eat and where I don’t (like my Tivo decides what new shows to try out).

Then, when I’m ready to go to lunch, I want the program to tell me what I should order. I want to be able to give feedback on what I like and what I don’t like and have the program build me new menus as needed. Then I can print out my order (or better yet put it on my treo) and go off to the restaurant.

I like this approach because while I am lazy, I would be willing to spend 15 minutes or so getting my preferences setup with the idea that I will spend maybe a minute in the future to have a healthy order put together for me.

A few problems
I know there are a few problems that I haven’t addressed. For example, how would the program calculate your ideal lunch when it doesn’t know how many calories you have for breakfast and dinner? As a first cut, you could probably just put in what you normally eat for breakfast and allocate 800-1000 calories for dinner - something like that.

Anyway, if there’s already something like this out there, please let me know! If not, let me know when there is! I think this is a great idea because it would be easy to find people (fast food restaurants) ready and willing to advertise their healthy menus on it.

8:46 am