Color Code Your Calories

A new study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that when a menu included calorie counts, diners ate fewer calories. When the menu included traffic light-like symbols next to the calorie count (green for less than 400 calories, yellow for foods between 401 and 800 calories, and red next to foods over 800 calories) the diners ate even fewer calories.

In total, diners with the color-coded calorie count ate, on average, 121 fewer calories than those given menus without the calorie count. Adding the colors to listed calories reduced consumption by another 69 calories. If you cater to health conscious diners, it’s time to give them the green light.