Cafe question

[Jakki098]

Hi, if there was such a thing as a low carb cafe selling all the familiars we used to love but sugar free versions of dinks inc cakes, dairy free versions of dinks, and low carb sandwiches etc would you use it on a regular basis, or would you still prefer the major players in that game that's out there already?

 

[Mark T]

Sounds an interesting idea, although I suspect the economics of such a cafe would work against it. Most of the major players do offer dairy free drink alternatives (soya, coconut milk) - so there isn't a lot to gain there.

Usually if we stop out then I can often find something low carb on the menu - usually a salad or a soup. It would be nice to have a bit more choice, but you would imagine most cafe's would struggle to compete if they started offering high protein breads, or other alternatives, as people will tend to go for things they recognise.

 

[Brando77]

Only go in them for a caffeine fix....packed lunch in car or at work, keeps my mind at ease. Restaurants, gotta just go with the flow and try not to chow down like a piglet....sometimes though *oink*

 

[Jakki098]

Kinda what I thought. Not that I was planning on starting one up, I may have the ponderings but not the finances lol...I don't think I trust the coffee shops to deliver what they say. Many times I've heard people taking drinks back because it's the wrong milk or a sandwich labelled as low carb had 68 grams per half of two pack sandwich when checked on the label. ( One would think theyd check first not complain later ) and not the stated 28 grams on the front of the pack.
I just wondered if there was a specialist cafe that could be trusted and given certification by the powers that be, would it be used rather than or more often than the standard cafes.
Here in the north east (Hull to be exact ) we had 2 Starbuck's, one of which has closed down, 3 Costas, one of which has closed and 3 cafe Nero's one a wheelchair user cannot access as it's steps only and another to close.
Cafes in general don't seem to be doing that well - least of all not here anyway! I wondered if maybe it's because they're neither one thing nor another and with diets needing to change for everyone the cafes too need to change in order to survive.

 

[weecee]

I sometimes go to Costa and their website is brilliant at giving the full info on all their items. Calories, Carbs, Fat, and all else. I can work around this and always enjoy my goodies guilt free.

 

[CathyB]

Hey Jakki, it’s an interesting idea and I wish there were more options for us. My daughter has just persuaded our local Costa to make slimming world friendly drinks so I wonder if enough of us asked for diabetic options would it work? The drinks are not the problem for me but it would be nice to have a snack like everyone else rather than sneaking my nuts or sugar free biscuits out of my bag 😳

 

[Radders]

I would welcome this but on the other hand most people don’t go to cafes alone so for the same reason that I, as a vegetarian, rarely eat in vegetarian restaurants, I probably would make limited use of it. In cafes I tend to eat cooked breakfasts and drink tea which are quite easy to make low carb.

 

[Drummer]

As I have been eating low carb for decades I have never been in the habit of going to cafes for any reason - neither for food nor drinks.

I usually eat early and late, so it is easier to eat at home and carry something to drink with me.
I have once had a cup of coffee from Costa - at least that is what I asked for but the liquid served up was quite vile.

 

[Mark T]

I live in what is possibly the Costa capital of the world - there are at least 9 stores I can think of. Plus we have a couple of Starbucks, Nero and a number of others. So certainly booming around here. I suspect it depends on local conditions.

For me, Costa tend to be the best for having something lower carb since I can find things that are less then 15g/Carb per portion. No much choice though...

But at least these big chains do publish the nutrition information and make it fairly easy to find. That's something the smaller cafe's and coffee shops are unable to do.

 

[dirtydancing24]

I sometimes go to Costa and their website is brilliant at giving the full info on all their items. Calories, Carbs, Fat, and all else. I can work around this and always enjoy my goodies guilt free.

thanks for this. very helpful.

 

[Barbie1]

OH runs a small independent café in a small market town, which also boasts Costa, Subway and Café Nero. Whilst he has every sympathy with me (and others of my ilk) there is no way he could afford to supply low carb versions of the cakes and biscuits because of the need to buy more than he would ever sell (suppliers have minimum order values), so contributes to the food waste mountain.
And what about all the other diet requirements of various groups? Small independents couldn't do for them all!

Interestingly he sells more "gluten-free" stuff by not advertising it as such, and people eat it whether or not they need to. And very nice it is too. But if he puts a label on saying gluten free, most non gluten intolerant people avoid it like the plague, even though it tastes yummy

 

[Robin]

Interestingly he sells more "gluten-free" stuff by not advertising it as such, and people eat it whether or not they need to. And very nice it is too. But if he puts a label on saying gluten free, most non gluten intolerant people avoid it like the plague, even though it tastes yummy

That's interesting. I always go for gluten free brownies if I'm in a café, because they're nicer than ordinary ones....and they're usually lower carb as well.

 

[Maz2]

I have no problem with going into cafes. I will have either tea or coffee and then find something low carb to eat like a salad or soup or something like that.

 

[Mark T]

Gluten free brownies are yummy - shame I can only have a little bit 😛

My wife however has IBS and nuts are a trigger for her, so she has to stick to conventional brownies.

 

[Edan]

I wouldn’t specially seek it out as I don’t eat a special diet. If it sold normal coffees and was convenient at the time I was looking for one then maybe I would.

 

[Matt Cycle]

I generally go in cafes for a coffee but if I want something to eat I have what I want and bolus accordingly. I would choose a veggie/vegan cafe over others though.

 

[mikeyB]

Bit thin on the ground outside cities, though, exclusively veggie/ vegan cafes. At the moment, anyway.

Things are changing, though, the big supermarkets have started ranges of veggie/vegan ready meals. Though my suspicion is that they will be created with the same preservatives and artificial texture adjusters as their normal ready meals.

 

[grovesy]

Bit thin on the ground outside cities, though, exclusively veggie/ vegan cafes. At the moment, anyway.

Things are changing, though, the big supermarkets have started ranges of veggie/vegan ready meals. Though my suspicion is that they will be created with the same preservatives and artificial texture adjusters as their normal ready meals.

I saw someone talking on tv recently about the more readily available vegan meals and food but they were saying many is not that healthy.

 

[Stuart B]

Perhaps if you are meetings no people for lunch at a planned date and time, call and ask if they can provide an alternative. That way they are just buy enough for one, or can talk to you about what they already have on offer. I go to a cafe sometimes that makes salads that feel as though you are having a treat. I usually go for bacon and chicken with mayonnaise.