To encourage customers to eat more healthy foods like seafood, Carlsbad, California, U.S.A.-based Luna Grill Mediterranean Kitchen is offering its customers free access to registered dietitians.
The operator of 51 restaurants in the U.S. states of California and Texas said it is the first restaurant chain to offer its rewards club members personalized, one-on-one nutrition guidance from dietitians.
The collaboration with digital dietitian service Dietitian Live offers one free visit with a dietitian. Customers can then choose to schedule additional sessions that would come at “little to no cost” through their health insurance, Luna Grill said.
Dietitian Live features virtual sessions with licensed dietitians, live Q&A events, expert-crafted nutritional information, menu recommendations, and ongoing education.
“Dietitians are powerful educators and credentialed experts in their field. We’re hoping their personalized guidance will naturally steer guests toward lean proteins like seafood, as well as plant-forward options that support heart health and other benefits,” Luna Grill Chief Marketing Officer Billy Grenham told SeafoodSource.
The initiative is about more than just driving traffic, according to Grenham.
“It’s about creating trust, building community, and helping people feel good about how they eat. By giving our rewards members direct access to registered dietitians, we’re removing barriers to wellness,” he said. "I believe this program will increase excitement for those clean protein choices.”
Partnering with Dietitian Live is an ideal extension to Luna Grill’s brand mission of inspiring good food choices and making clean eating approachable, “not overwhelming,” Grenham said.
“Luna Grill is leading a new era of wellness-focused dining by making the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, which is rich in vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats, both accessible and highly personalized,” Dietitian Live Director of Partnerships Amber Hinson added.
Luna’s seafood offerings include flame-grilled salmon and Garlic Bonfire Shrimp that its guests can get in the form of a kebab, in a bowl along with any custom combination of ingredients, or on top of any salads. Its menu features a range of flame-grilled kebabs, signature wraps, bowls, and salads made from antibiotic- and hormone-free proteins and fresh produce.
The company buys around 30,000 pounds of seafood monthly from Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.-based SK Food Brands and Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.A.-based Hofseth North America.
Grenham said the company has seen a shift toward seafood in recent years, especially among younger, health-conscious diners.
“Increased awareness around the Mediterranean Diet, coupled with a desire for leaner, high-protein meals, has helped drive that trend,” he said.
