The Truth About Seed Oils and How to Prioritize Protein with Nicolas Jammet
Jan 31, 2024
auto_awesome
Nicolas Jammet, Co-Founder of Sweetgreen, talks about their decision to remove seed oils from their meals and the importance of transparency in the food industry. They discuss the benefits of extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil compared to seed oils, as well as the evolution of Sweetgreen's menu and the introduction of protein plates. They also emphasize the significance of prioritizing protein, their partnerships with regenerative farming practices, and the importance of personalizing one's diet for overall well-being.
Sweetgreen made a deliberate shift away from seed oils and focuses on quality fats like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil.
Sweetgreen introduced protein plates to their menu to cater to a wider range of dietary preferences and provide convenient, healthy, and protein-rich options.
Sweetgreen partners with organic regenerative farmers to improve soil health, enhance flavor, and increase nutrient content in their ingredients.
Sweetgreen prioritizes using clean and pure ingredients, avoiding refined sugars and opting for alternatives like honey, maple syrup, and organic coconut sugar.
Deep dives
Sweet Green's Shift Away from Seed Oils
Sweet Green, a billion-dollar restaurant empire in the US, made a significant announcement about moving away from seed oils in their cooking. This decision reflects their commitment to rethinking the fast food model and providing transparent, high-quality ingredients to their customers. By using extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, Sweet Green aims to offer healthier options that are both delicious and sustainable.
The Nuanced Conversation about Seed Oils
The topic of seed oils in the health space is often controversial and nuanced. Sweet Green recognizes the complexities surrounding seed oils and took the time to understand their impact on health. While seed oils can vary depending on factors such as type, usage, and cooking temperature, Sweet Green made a deliberate shift towards extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil for their numerous health benefits and superior fatty acid profiles.
Expanding Beyond Salads with Protein Plates
Sweet Green recently introduced protein plates to their menu, expanding their offerings beyond salads and catering to a wider range of customers' dietary preferences. The new protein plates feature center plate proteins such as herb-roasted chicken and miso-glazed salmon, providing generous amounts of protein ranging from 35 to over 50 grams per plate. This innovation responds to the increasing demand for convenient, healthy, and protein-rich options, particularly for dinner.
Supporting Regenerative Agriculture for Nutrient-Dense Food
In an effort to prioritize nutrient density and sustainability, Sweet Green has been investing in partnerships with organic regenerative farmers and growers. By working with farmers who practice regenerative agriculture, Sweet Green aims to improve soil health, enhance flavor, and increase the nutrient content of their ingredients. This commitment aligns with their vision of creating a healthy food system and educating consumers about the relationship between their food and their health.
Supporting Regenerative and Organic Farming Practices
Sweet Green emphasizes the importance of being a great partner to farmers and growers. They prioritize supporting regenerative farming and organic farming practices. While they may not be 100% organic, they maintain transparency by sharing which foods are organic and which farmers they work with. They are committed to telling the stories of farmers and the sustainable practices they use.
Avoiding Refined Sugars in Food
Sweet Green focuses on using clean and pure ingredients in their recipes. They avoid refined sugars and use alternatives like honey, maple syrup, and organic coconut sugar. By prioritizing cleaner sweeteners, they aim to provide food that is not only delicious but also leaves customers feeling good.
Creating a Whole Food, Nutrient-Dense Menu
Sweet Green encourages a whole food approach to eating. They emphasize the importance of a diet rich in nutrient-dense, unprocessed food to promote better health. Their menu includes protein plates and focuses on hydration, staying hydrated, and incorporating a variety of grains, such as wild rice and quinoa, to cater to different dietary needs.
When we hear "fast food," we often picture highly processed, questionably sourced ingredients. But in our hectic lives, we crave quick, wholesome options that boost longevity instead of fueling disease. Meet Nicolas Jammet, one of the masterminds behind Sweetgreen—a game-changing solution now thriving in countless locations nationwide.
Today on The Dhru Purohit Podcast, Dhru sits down with Nicolas Jammet, Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer of Sweetgreen, a healthy fast food restaurant that prides itself on creating quality food. Nicolas shares how and why Sweetgreen came about and why it was Sweetgreen’s mission to focus on creating with transparency. He also shares why Sweetgreen decided to shift away from seed oils and focus on quality fats and how Sweetgreen continues to be an innovator in the restaurant space.
Nicolas is the Co-Founder & Chief Concept Officer of Sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand that serves healthy food at scale. Sweetgreen’s vision is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast food but far more transparent and honest. Nicolas has been recognized as a key innovator in food and business and was named Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.”
In this episode, Dhru and Nicolas dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):
The shocking decision behind removing seed oils from Sweetgreen’s meals (2:24 / 2:24)
Are seed oils harmful (3:52 / 3:52)
Innovation in the fast food industry space (19:20 / 16:43)
The customer response from an innovative decision (23:30 / 21:08)
The importance of high-quality protein and the benefits of eating protein (25:50 / 23:15)
Working with regenerative growers (47:46 / 43:08)
Collaboration with farmers (51:30 / 47:02)
Avoiding sugar in dressings (54:35 / 50:05)
Choosing the appropriate grains for Sweetgreen’s menu (56:52 / 52:00)
Core health principles (58:40 / 53:54)
The why behind building Sweetgreen (1:03:35 / 58:00)
The future of Sweetgreen (1:09:00 / 1:04:32)
Advice for entrepreneurs ( 1:14:38 / 1:09:55)
For more on Nicolas, follow him on Instagram and @nicolasjammet on Twitter/X.
Start the New Year off right and dial in on your sleep. Go to bioptimizers.com/dhru now and enter promo code DHRU10 to get 10% off any order.
Right now, get 40% off your Cozy Earth sheets. Just head over to cozyearth.com and use code DHRUP.
Find out more about Sweetgreen and their newest protein plates at www.sweetgreen.com. New Users of the sweet green app can use the code "Dhru5" for $5 off.
