Chipotle, Shake Shack and Smoothie King add menus aimed at GLP-1 users

Chipotle, Smoothie King and Shake Shack have put menu items labeled "GLP-1 friendly" in front of customers, part of an effort to serve people taking weight-loss medications, ABC News reported on Aug. 25, 2026 ^[1].

The customer base behind that push is large and getting larger. A July Gallup poll cited in the report found that 11% to 12% of U.S. adults were using GLP-1 drugs in 2026, up from 3% in 2024 ^[1].

What the chains put on the menu

Smoothie King sells drinks named "Slim-N-Trim GLP-1 Mango Greens" and "Power Meal Slim GLP-1 Vanilla." Figures from the company's website, as reported by ABC News, list 19 to 45 grams of protein per smoothie, zero grams of added sugar and 190 to 450 calories ^[1].

Lori Primavera, the chain's vice president of research and development and product marketing, said the company noticed "quite a few guests on the GLP-1 journey" and wanted options that "fit their nutritional needs and what they were looking for" ^[1].

At Chipotle, a high-protein section marks a high protein-high fiber bowl and a high protein-low calorie salad, both built on chicken and vegetables, along with a cup of cut-up adobo chicken ^[1]. Stephanie Perdue, senior vice president of brand marketing, said diners were seeking "more protein-forward choices and greater flexibility in how and when they enjoy Chipotle" ^[1].

Shake Shack's "good fit" menu sorts items by dietary goal, including GLP-1 use, and offers bun-free versions of its burgers for customers who want protein without the carbohydrates ^[1].

The three chains did not move at the same time. Smoothie King's GLP-1 items appeared as early as late 2024, while Chipotle and Shake Shack introduced theirs in December 2025 ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

A label on a menu board is a marketing decision, not a treatment plan, and the items vary widely in what they deliver. The nutrition guidance cited in the report comes from the Cleveland Clinic, which recommends a diet high in protein and fiber for people on GLP-1s: protein helps preserve muscle during fat loss, and fiber helps counter constipation the drugs can cause ^[1].

Dr. Holly Wyatt, an obesity physician and researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the challenge for her patients on these medications is fitting all needed nutrients into less food. "You've got to pack it in," she told ABC News. "It's got to be very nutrient-dense" ^[1]. Wyatt said some of her clients find greasy, high-fat food unappetizing or nausea-inducing, while others want only a small amount of dessert — situations where intake can fall short ^[1].

Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, described the drugs as support for eating well rather than a replacement for it: "It's not that it's the GLP-1 instead of a healthy diet. The GLP-1 helps you to stick with a healthy diet" ^[1].

Appetite changes have not kept people out of restaurants. The National Restaurant Association's 2026 survey found GLP-1 users bought a meal, snack or beverage from a restaurant an average of 7.6 times a week, against 5.1 times a week for those not taking the drugs ^[1]. Nine in 10 users said restaurants usually carry something for people who want to eat healthy, but 89% said they want restaurants to communicate better about options tied to health and wellness ^[1].

Wyatt said her GLP-1-using clients ask for half-sized and lunch-sized portions, protein-first dishes, more control over ingredients such as vegetables, and the chance to box food before it reaches the table ^[1].

What these items cost, and whether any of them work as a complete meal, has not been reported ^[1].

What happens next

Burger King's president of U.S. and Canada, Tom Curtis, told NBC that the chain plans to test items including Whopper bites and protein-forward bowls, partly because of rising GLP-1 use, ABC News reported ^[1]. No date for that test has been disclosed ^[1].