Is a Five Guys Nutrition Cafe Healthy?

Five Guys Nutrition is a diet and nutrition program that offers an all-you-can-eat style of eating, named "5 Guys Fast Food". The Five Guy's name is taken from the restaurant's original address, which is in reference to the building itself, which is a former bar/ tavern. It is located at the corner of North Market Street in Lorton. The building was completely gutted and resold for construction purposes, and remains structurally intact.

Five Guys Nutrition is a national franchise known for its hamburger, hot dog, and French fry recipes. The company's other offerings are salads, sandwiches, specialty foods, drinks, desserts, kid's menu, vegetarian food, kid's meals, and pasta options. Five Guys franchises are operated by independent ownership groups, rather than through mass marketing efforts. In the United States, there are only a handful of Five Guys nutrition cafeterias.

Five Guys nutrition fads come in many shapes and forms. There are Five Guys chocolate chip cookies, Five Guys sandwich spreads, Five Guys chili, Five Guys frozen yogurt, Five Guys Pretzels, Five Guys sandwich breads, Five Guys pizza, Five Guys potato chips, Five Guys granola bars, and Five Guys cereal bars. While some of these foods contain significantly more calories than the average American diet, other fads have significantly less. For example, Five Guys chocolate chip cookies contain only seventy-two calories, far fewer than the one hundred and sixty calories contained in an Oatmeal Cheddar Crunchy cereal bar.

There are two types of Five Guys nutrition cafes: Regulars and Specials. A regular is any restaurant or bar that offers five or more sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs (with or without the bun), and other similar options for a flat rate of $5.00. A special is a uniquely themed establishment with only the best products available, for example, Five Guys specializes in gourmet cookie and cinnamon toastie treats, while Omelets Come Home has a variety of egg dishes and pasta dishes. The toppings and food combinations change often but usually consist of a large salad, a baked potato, a homemade muffin, or one of at least two vegetarian dishes. Both types offer a large array of different topping options, so that the consumer can find something that suits their tastes.

While the nutrition menu at Five Guys looks like it would be easy to make good food, it can be difficult to know exactly what you are getting. All of the nutrition is listed on the back of the packaging, but if the nutritional information is not printed in bold, large letters, it's impossible to know exactly what you are getting. On the Specials menu, the nutrition information is printed in small print. If the advertising for the Five Guys restaurant says "low fat" or "no trans fats" it is likely that you will be getting unhealthy fried chicken, French fries, or frozen French fries which have a very low calorie but high fat count.

Because it is impossible to determine exactly what is in any of these foods, it is up to the consumer to read the nutrition information on the back of the packaging. Many times, when ordering from a Five Guys restaurant, the customer is provided with a pamphlet with the nutrition facts for every dish. If this is not the case, or if the restaurant is unknown, it is the responsibility of the diner to ask the owner or manager about the nutritional content of the foods being served. Even if the restaurant is a highly rated star, the quality of food may not be up to the standards set by the star. That does not mean that the Five Guys restaurant is not a good place to eat, only that it could have a lot more to do with the quality of the ingredients than the star rating.

Some things that are in the Five Guys nutrition menus may be in violation of American dietary guidelines. For example, a dish could be marked as having a low fat count even though it contains large amounts of fat and sugar. The same is true for foods that are touted as being diet friendly but that also contain large amounts of sodium or saturated fat. These two items are considered to be major contributors to the rise in obesity in the United States.

While there are some questionable ingredients in the Five Guys nutrition menus, the majority of the dishes are considered to be healthy. The focus of the business is not simply reducing calories but also improving the quality of the food. The best way to judge a new restaurant is to sample a few dishes and judge for yourself how they hold up to your expectations. If the crowd is a good size, the Five Guys nutrition cafes can provide a fun, quick way to satisfy your appetite without loading up on unhealthy gums.