Well-Being Indicator®

The Well-Being Indicator® is your at-a-glance guide to help you navigate the cafe and make choices that meet your wellness needs.

The fuller the arrow, the better the meal is for you

A fuller green arrow means the meal contains fruits and/or vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, while sugar, salt, and saturated fat stay in check.

The number at the bottom represents the calories in one serving of the meal. It’s not directly tied to the fullness of the arrow. When packed with nutrients, higher calorie meals may earn a fuller green arrow than less balanced, lower calorie meals.

An arrow will be found on menu items that are typically consumed as a full meal whereas beverages, condiments, desserts, and sides not associated with a full meal will show calories, but no arrow.

Crave more information? Full nutrition facts are available on ssf.cafebonappetit.com. Visit the menu page and click on the nutrition information link to view more.

At Bon Appétit Management Company, we cook from scratch with seasonal ingredients to bring you the best flavor year round. The Well-Being Indicator® is designed to give you the information you need to make choices, while giving chefs the creative freedom to offer an exciting variety of foods you love.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chefs use our proprietary software to evaluate menu items against a set of criteria developed by registered dietitians, which includes nutritionally important ingredients and cooking methods. Criteria are built based on the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation for a successful nutrition rating, the 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, and current updates in research. The fullness of the arrow is greater when desirable ingredients (fruits, vegetables, lean/plant-based proteins, and whole grains) are included in the dish and nutrients of concern (sodium, saturated fat, and sugar) stay in check . Meals with the healthiest attributes appear with a fuller arrow, while meals with fewer healthy attributes appear with a less full arrow. In some cases, meals may have an empty arrow. This can occur if a meal offers no nutritional value OR if it contains one or more of the following:

More than 800 calories
More than 40 grams fat or 18 grams saturated fat
More than 1200 milligrams of sodium
More than 3 tsp or 13 grams of added sugar

Meals with the fullest arrows typically contain:

At least 1 cup (or more!) of fruits and/or vegetables
A moderate portion of lean/plant-based protein (~ 3 ounces)
A source of whole grains (1-2 servings)
Less than 5 grams of saturated/trans fat total
Less than 750 milligrams of sodium

We know calories are important, but they don’t tell the full story. A nutrient-rich dish that is full of fiber, healthy fats, and lean protein will keep a guest more full and energized than a nutrient-poor dish that is lower in calories. Calorie information is available for each meal and sides, but calories only affect the fullness of the arrow when a meal provides more than 800 calories, in which case the arrow will be empty.

The Well-Being Indicator ® arrow is a guide to help you make the choices that best fit your wellness goals. Choosing fuller (more than half full) arrows most of the time ensures that you’re getting a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and a moderate amount of healthy fat in your day. The occasional indulgence is part of a balanced approach to eating; we recommend choosing arrows that are less than half full occasionally. If you have goals surrounding specific nutrients like sodium, you can find full nutrition facts information online at ssf.cafebonappetit.com.