OMAHA, Neb. -- Millions of people are trying to lose weight by eating fewer carbohydrates. By one estimate, 20 percent of Americans are or have been on a low-carb diet.

ATKINS DIET Menu Maker Column: Atkins Man Discuss Diet Have You Tried It?

More and more restaurants are tweaking their menus to adapt. The folks at fast-food restaurants have heard their share of special requests, from hold the pickle to hold the lettuce. But a new one has cropped up: Hold the bun.

"They'd ask for a sandwich without a bun," said Sally Schlegel, a manager at an Omaha Hardee's restaurant that took so many of these requests they decided to take action.

Hardee's now offers a one-third pound burger wrapped in lettuce with a little mayo, a smidgen of condiments and vegetable garnish, plus American cheese. All told, the sandwich stacks up just 5 carbs -- well below the 20 grams of carbs prescribed by the Atkins Diet.

"I think the good news is, restaurants are listening to people," said registered dietician Jenny Meyer.

TGI Friday's listened, and it now offers menu items approved by the Atkins Diet plan. The restaurant offers steak with blue cheese and broccoli and spinach dip with fresh veggies.

Meyer said these selections are fine, but "you need to be careful not to compromise good nutrition. Not cutting fruits and vegetables which have the vitamins, minerals, and fiber we need."

Meyer reminds clients that the only way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than the body uses as fuel, and low-carb doesn't necessarily mean low-calorie.