Lyfe Restaurant to Launch

Two former McDonald’s executives are starting a fast-casual chain, called Lyfe (an acronym for Love Your Food Everyday) Kitchen, focused on serving healthy food options. The company is working with Oprah Winfrey’s former chef, Art Smith, and has also partnered with vegan chef Tal Ronnen to help develop vegan menu options. There will be no butter, cream, or high-fructose corn syrup used in menu items, and desserts are projected to be dairy-free, though the restaurant plans to avoid using terms such as “vegan,” “gluten-free,” and “dairy-free.” Lyfe Kitchen’s first location is due in Palo Alto, Calif., this summer, with 250 more restaurants planned nationally.