See our map of area restaurants here.
By Moses Leos III
From McDonald’s to Popeye’s and everything else in between, fast food restaurants are becoming more prevalent in Buda and Kyle.
Of the 92 businesses shown on our map, 24 are dedicated fast food establishments with a drive through. Roughly half of those 24 are located along the IH-35 corridor.
But with more fast food establishments opening, is there a concern of too few healthy eating options in the area?
Buda Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Ann Miller said there’s no concern at this time.
According to Miller, Buda residents have not expressed interest in organic or vegan restaurant opportunities. However, she did say two new restaurants, which she declined to name, would have healthy options on their menus.
Miller said the EDC is focusing on attracting more full service, sit-down restaurants. It’s part of the Retail Coach’s Gap Opportunity Analysis, which tracks a city’s economic progress to assist in retail recruitment.
According to the Gap Opportunity Analysis, Buda currently has $80 million in retail leakage in food service and drinking establishments.
But she said many food service establishments offer healthy menu options.
“That doesn’t mean we turn away fast food if they talk to us, but we want to meet the needs of residents,” Miller said. “They want sit down restaurants.”
Buda Chamber of Commerce Managing Director JR Gonzales said he’d welcome healthier eating options in Buda. However, he didn’t believe they would be cost effective, as opposed to fast food establishments, along the IH-35 corridor.
“Along I-35, a lot of business is not coming from Buda, but highway traffic,” Gonzales said. “The sheer economy of putting a healthy restaurant along I-35 is not cost effective.”
Kyle Chamber of Commerce CEO Julie Snyder said there has been no clamor for healthier eating establishments. But Snyder said she’s also seen more restaurants offer healthy options. She referenced options such as burgers without a bun, or different oils to fry its food.
Ultimately, she said it’s based on personal preference.
“There’s always a healthier option on the menu,” Snyder said. “Most of our businesses offer a healthier option.”
Spokesperson Jerry Hendrix said in an emailed response that Kyle Economic Development works to diversify services and employment in the city. However, they cannot “dictate what business goes into a specific lot” as long as it meets zoning requirements.
Hendrix said there haven’t been discussions targeting healthy options for specific restaurants. He added more restaurants are offering healthy options.
And much like Buda, Kyle is also seeking more sit-down restaurants. However, Hendrix wrote fast food establishments are the “precursor to the full service, sit down type restaurants.”
As fast food establishments continue to pop up, Hays CISD stresses healthy eating outside of school.
In 2012, Children’s Optimal Health released a study on child obesity within Hays CISD schools. Nearly half of all elementary and middle school students during the year 2010-2011 were overweight or obese.
Concentrations of students with high body mass indexes were prevalent along I-35 east of Buda, Kyle and in east Hays County neighborhoods.
Hays CISD spokesperson Tim Savoy said all campuses follow strict guidelines under the USDA’s Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act. It regulates what can and cannot be served during campus hours.
In addition, high school campuses are closed during lunch hours, though parents can bring in food for their children.
Savoy understands the convenience fast food establishments bring. He said it benefits families “trying to keep up with schedules,” or with students in multiple activities.
Making the right choices at the sales counter is his advice.
“We encourage kids to keep making healthy choices. It’s not that you can’t (at fast food restaurants), but you try to make the healthiest choice on the menu,” Savoy said. “There are tools in place that help people make the healthy choices that weren’t there a few years ago.”
