Many restaurants in the United States now offer smaller portions at lower prices. These special menus help customers who want to save money, eat healthier food, or avoid wasting food. At Daniel Girls Farmhouse Restaurant in Indiana, an eight-item “Mini Meals” menu already makes about 20% of all orders.

Some restaurants also focus on people using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes, a disease where blood sugar stays too high for long, such as Wegovy or Ozempic. These customers often eat less, so they need meals that are low in fat but high in protein and fiber. Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar in Philadelphia worked with a doctor to create the “GLP-Wonderful” menu. One dish, pollo asado, was cut from nearly 1,000 calories to about 400 but still has strong flavor and color.

Big chains are also joining this trend. Olive Garden now has a “Lighter Portions” menu, and other chains like P.F. Chang’s and The Cheesecake Factory offer smaller or medium-size dishes. Menu expert Maeve Webster says this is a long-term change, because many people worry about health, money, and food waste. Local ideas like the “Teeny Tuesday” small-plate menu at Barkeaters in Vermont also bring more business on quiet days.