Healthy is big for both consumers and vegetarian food manufacturers, and while previous studies have found that nutritional information can impact consumer choices, this new research finds that convenience also helps seal the deal. In a study from Carnegie Mellon University, researchers found that making healthier food choices more convenient for consumers to find will encourage them to make healthier choices.

In experiments conducted by these researchers, customers of a fast food restaurant were shown a menu of 10 sandwich items. Half were highlighted as “featured sandwiches” and presented in a fashion that was more convenient to order from. The contents of this featured area varied from time to time, sometimes displaying low calorie sandwiches, high calorie sandwiches, or a mixture of both. Observation of consumer behavior revealed that featuring healthy sandwich choices had the greatest impact on consumer selections. In subsequent tests, researchers found that providing nutritional information on a menu also made it more likely that consumers would make lower calorie choices in the end.

So what’s the bottom line for healthy food makers? Tell consumers that your product is healthy and make it clear and convenient for them to access both the product and the information. Given the proper tools to make smart decisions, this is evidence that consumers will usually make the right (i.e., healthy) choice!