Building a Better Bundle: Nudging Consumers to a Healthier Combo Meal

Author: Dr. Karen Byrd

Will consumers in fast food restaurants make healthier choices with different combination meals? New insight from Purdue University finds better-built fast food combo meals with low-calorie sides and drinks nudge consumers to healthier choices. 

How do you build a better bundle based on the classic fast-food restaurant menu combination: hamburger, fries, and a soft drink? With obesity and other health issues rising, nudging consumers to make healthier choices is more important than ever. A study examining combination meal variations, including low-calorie options choices enhanced by visual cues by faculty from Purdue University’s White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management might be part of the answer for healthier consumer decisions.