What you order at a restaurant depends on where it is on the menu - and it can help the planet!

Ever wondered why you end up ordering what you do at a restaurant? It turns out, menu design might be nudging you in ways you never noticed! A fascinating study from the University of Surrey reveals that simply placing vegetarian options higher up on hotel menus can significantly boost plant-based choices—and in turn, help cut carbon emissions. No guilt trips, no lectures, just a clever little tweak that makes sustainable dining the easy (and delicious) option!

A sneaky but sustainable trick?
Researchers conducted a series of field experiments across two hotel restaurants, testing how different menu layouts impacted what guests ordered. The result? When vegetarian dishes were placed front and centre, diners were far more likely to choose them.

“By simply restructuring how hotels present food options, they can enable guests to make more sustainable choices,” Sofie Voss, lead author of the study and PhD researcher at the University of Surrey told Science Daily. “It's not merely about reducing meat consumption; it's about creating an environment where plant-based choices are the norm rather than the exception.”

The power of a well-placed lentil curry
The study tested different menu setups on 647 unsuspecting hotel diners. Some received a default menu, while others saw a version where vegetarian options were subtly highlighted through framing and anchoring techniques. The results were clear: these gentle nudges led to a big boost in veggie orders—proving that a strategically placed lentil curry might just be as irresistible as a cheeseburger!

Why does this matter?
Food production accounts for nearly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with meat taking a hefty share of that impact. Hotels and restaurants have a huge role to play in shaping sustainable dining habits, and this simple menu tweak could make a major difference.

What does this mean for diners?
Good news: No one's forcing you to ditch your favourite dishes! Instead, this approach makes it easier—and more natural—to pick a plant-based meal. So next time you open a menu and see a delicious veggie option at the top, maybe give it a shot. You’ll be making a choice that’s good for your taste buds and the planet.

Who knew a simple menu tweak could have such a tasty impact?