Save your children from the hidden persuaders

Do you know what 'menu engineering' is? I didn't until I found out recently from a social media post that someone sent me. It's a subtle yet pervasive form of manipulation that structures a restaurant menu in such a way that guests are guided toward ordering the most profitable items. The layout and language of the menu are not primarily about design and aesthetics but a carefully orchestrated deception. High-margin items are strategically placed in spots where they're more likely to catch the eye, often accompanied by visual tricks designed to draw attention away from less profitable choices. Pricing strategies, too, are part of this manipulative toolbox. The absence of currency symbols and pricing items just below a whole number are no