You’ve probably noticed the growing conversation around healthy eating. There have been arguments in favor of shutting down 24-hour eateries.  In Malaysia, this conversation is more urgent than ever. The obesity rate in Malaysia is alarming. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022, about 50.1% of Malaysians are either overweight or obese. This is a serious issue. Obesity is linked to various health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

But here’s the thing—restaurants can help change this. You can take action by promoting healthier eating habits through your menu. And the best way to do that? An electronic menu. Not only can it make ordering easier for your customers, but it can also help you play a part in fighting obesity in Malaysia.

Why Displaying Nutritional Information Matters?

When I visit a restaurant, one of the first things I look for is nutritional information. I’m sure you’ve seen more customers being curious about what’s in their food. People are becoming more health-conscious, and they want to know how many calories they’re consuming, whether a dish is high in fat or sugar, or if it contains any ingredients that don’t fit their dietary needs.

This is where you can make a difference. By using an electronic food menu, you can display all this information simply and clearly. When customers can easily see the nutritional value of each dish, it encourages them to make healthier choices. Research shows that customers are more likely to opt for healthier meals when they can see calorie counts and nutritional information upfront. It’s a win-win situation—your customers get healthier options, and you get their loyalty.

Why Traditional Menus can’t Promote Healthy eating?

Now, I’ve heard many restaurant owners say that they would love to include nutritional information, but they face one problem: paper menus. With traditional paper menus, it’s almost impossible to keep things updated. If you change ingredients due to supply shortages or price rises, the nutritional information will change too. You would have to reprint your menus every time—and that can be costly.

Your customers will have to scan the entire menu before reaching the section of healthier guilt-free options. They can’t simply filter out the healthier options. 

How Electronic Menus Encourage Healthy Eating?

With a digital menu, you have full flexibility. Let’s say one day you swap an ingredient in a dish. You can quickly update the calorie count and other nutritional details on your electronic menu without needing to reprint anything. This saves you time, money, and effort, while also keeping your customers informed.

One of the most exciting things about restaurant digital menu displays is how easy they make it for customers to filter through options. Imagine this: a customer enters your restaurant looking for a healthy, guilt-free meal. Instead of scanning through an entire menu filled with both healthy and unhealthy options, they can use your digital menu to filter dishes based on calorie count, fat content, or other nutritional factors. It makes ordering a breeze!

I’ve personally seen customers light up when they realize they can filter out their choices and find healthier options in seconds. It’s a small change, but it makes a big impact.

Another feature that excites me about digital menu displays is the ability to include multimedia content. You can embed videos promoting healthy eating habits, showing how dishes are prepared with fresh and nutritious ingredients. You can also display images of wholesome meals that make healthy eating look delicious. Research shows that visuals can strongly influence customer decisions. By displaying these videos and pictures on your restaurant’s digital menu display, you encourage your customers to choose healthier options.

Imagine this: a customer browses your menu and sees an embedded video showing the preparation of a low-calorie salad using fresh, local ingredients. They’re more likely to be drawn to that dish compared to just reading a text description.

By taking this step, you’re not only helping your business thrive, but you’re also playing a part in reducing obesity in Malaysia. And that’s something to feel good about.

If you haven’t already, consider switching to a digital menu. It’s a small change that can have a huge impact on both your business and your customers’ health. Let’s work together to make Malaysia healthier, one meal at a time.