A trip to Zippy’s often means ordering something fried with a large fountain drink. So it’s a pleasant surprise that the iconic local restaurant chain is now offering a special, more healthful menu for dine-in customers fighting diabetes.
Last week, Zippy’s formally launched its new menu options, which include four breakfast choices, four sandwiches and a pair of entrees. The menu was developed in a partnership with Kaiser Permanente and the American Diabetes Association, enlisting Kaiser’s Hawaii-based chief of endocrinology, Dr. Jennifer Loh, and diabetes educator and registered nurse Anne LaPorte.
The menu will be served at Zippy’s dine-in locations through Oct. 31.
"It’s the first time we’ve ever done something like this," Loh said during a visit to Zippy’s in Kahala. "I come here every single week with my kids. It means a lot to me to provide healthier options."
"We didn’t realize how prevalent diabetes is in Hawaii," said Jeanine Mamiya-Kalahiki, Zippy’s Restaurants marketing manager. "So many people have it. They’re our customers and employees. So we thought we should try to put together a diabetes-friendly menu. Everything is based off existing items. There are just slight modifications."
According to Loh, Hawaii has a higher percentage of residents with diabetes than the U.S. average. Including those who are prediabetic, some 500,000 people in Hawaii are affected by the health condition.
While the new menu isn’t a life-changing solution, it’s a great first step for those seeking a healthful meal.
"With diabetes there’s a stereotype that you can’t eat certain foods," said Loh. "That’s why we tried to put a lot of different types of foods on the menu. You can eat a whole broad spectrum of food. You just have to balance it and keep the portion size smaller than you think it should be."
Those guidelines differ greatly from what most people expect to find on the menu at Zippy’s, so the conservative size of the plates can be a shock to some diners. For those who might need more, the new menu offers a variety of add-ons, including half a papaya or a banana, or fruit with a slice of ham.
"We recognize the need for this," Mamiya-Kalahiki said of the special menu. "We’ll see what the feedback is from the customers. There’s a possibility that we could continue to offer some of these items."
Zippy’s has also partnered with the diabetes association to raise funds via "Stop Diabetes" cutout signs being sold for $1. Look for the designated boxes at all Zippy’s locations, or call the association at 947-5979.
