This study evaluates the impact of culturally tailored menu labeling interventions on psychosocial factors and ordering behavior among customers in two independently owned Hispanic restaurants in East-Central Texas. Participants will be exposed to one of three sequential menu conditions at each restaurant: (1) a standard menu without nutrition information, (2) a paper menu with bilingual nutrition labels, or (3) a digital menu app enhanced with Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) providing interactive nutrition guidance. The study will assess whether menu formats influence nutrition literacy, decision-making confidence, self-efficacy, attitudes, behavioral intentions, and actual ordering behavior. Data will be collected through surveys, purchase receipts, and app interaction logs.

Detailed Description:

This study aims to design and evaluate a culturally tailored, bilingual menu labeling intervention incorporating AR and AI features in small, independently owned Hispanic restaurants. The intervention seeks to promote informed food ordering by targeting psychosocial constructs known to influence food choice. Three sequential conditions will be implemented: (1) baseline with standard menus and no nutrition labels, (2) paper menus with visible bilingual nutrition labels, and (3) a digital AR/AI-enhanced menu.

Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Cognitive Theory, the study focuses on constructs such as decision-making confidence, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The two primary objectives are to (1) develop a culturally informed digital menu labeling tool and (2) evaluate its effectiveness compared with standard and paper menu formats in shaping psychosocial factors and actual ordering behavior.

Participants will be recruited during restaurant visits and exposed to the menu condition corresponding to their visit timing. Surveys will be administered before ordering to assess psychosocial factors, label awareness, and behavioral intentions. A formative needs assessment conducted prior to implementation will ensure cultural and linguistic appropriateness. Findings will provide evidence on the effectiveness of innovative, theory-informed digital interventions in promoting informed food choices in culturally specific restaurant settings not subject to federal nutrition labeling requirements.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 years or older
• Patrons dining at participating Hispanic restaurants during designated study hours
• Able to read and speak English or Spanish
• Willing and able to provide informed consent
• Pregnant women are eligible to participate, as the study procedures pose minimal risk

Exclusion Criteria:

• Minors under 18 years of age
• Individuals with visual or cognitive impairments that prevent interaction with the menu formats or AR/AI technology
• Individuals who have participated in a prior phase of the study
• Restaurant staff involved in study implementation

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) underlying the results reported in the publication will be shared, including baseline characteristics, outcome measures, and adverse event data. Data will be available beginning 6 months after publication for researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Requests should be submitted to the corresponding author and will require a data use agreement in accordance with institutional and regulatory policies.

IPD will be made available beginning approximately 6 months after publication of the primary results and will remain available for 2 years.

Researchers who wish to access the de-identified individual participant data (IPD) and supporting documents should submit a written request to the corresponding author. Requests must include a methodologically sound research proposal describing the intended analyses and purpose of data use. Access will be granted to qualified researchers upon approval of the proposal and execution of a data use agreement in accordance with Texas A&M University and applicable regulatory requirements. Data will be transferred using a secure institutional data-sharing platform.

Participants in this study will be partially blinded to the specific aims of the intervention to minimize bias. While they will be aware they are participating in a study about menu use and food choices, they will not be informed of the detailed differences or hypotheses related to the nutrition labeling formats to reduce influence on their ordering behavior. Research staff collecting data will also be trained to maintain neutrality, but full masking is not possible due to the visible differences in menu formats across study phases.