US President Donald Trump seems averse to some things that have his predecessor’s name on it. Obamacare, the Iranian nuclear deal, the Paris climate control treaty are but a few examples. But Trump has kept a relic of the Obama era intact: the requirement that restaurants and other food outlets post calorie counts.

Not only did Trump keep the calorie plan above water, but this week it started to be implemented. Any big US chain with 20 or more locations will have to show how many calories come with their sandwiches, popcorn and french fries. This information must be right on the menus that consumers use to decide what to order.

This will allow Americans to take control of their diet and if this catches on in other parts of the world, other people too will be able to better manage their intake. This is especially important for people who like to eat out a lot. Americans do a lot of their eating outside of the home. More than half of the money spent on food goes to restaurants and convenient grab-and-go meals, not to home cooking. And when people dine out, they eat more. People typically consume 20 to 40 percent more calories in restaurants compared with what they eat at home. For this reason, the American propensity to dine out has been linked to obesity and all the related health risks that come with it.

The new rule also expands the reach to include not just thousands of restaurants but supermarkets, grocery stores, movie theaters, amusement parks and even vending machines.

The Food and Drug Administration, one of the agencies that regulate the food industry in the US, this week cited studies showing that calorie labeling on menus can lead customers to reduce the number of calories they order by an average of 30 to 50 calories. Over a year, that small number of calories could help someone lose up to two kilograms. While that sounds like small change, in the end it all adds up.

Americans will now be inundated with calorie data, which might not mean much to them. Not that many people know what a healthy calorie intake is. To help, the FDA has also stipulated that calorie counts be put in context, meaning that menus will have to include a statement informing customers that 2,000 calories is generally advised for one’s daily caloric intake. Armed with this information, people can make more informed choices about the foods they are choosing.

The calorie rule has been delayed repeatedly over the years, as those in the food business have argued putting a calorie count on every single food item would be costly and burdensome.

It is not expected that people will immediately start making healthier food choices simply because they know how many calories they are ingesting. Researchers have found that people who are already calorie-conscious pay attention to labels, but those who aren’t don’t. In other words, just having that information displayed doesn’t automatically change people’s behavior.

Still, the calorie count represents a milestone change in how the food industry shares information with the American public. This could have a profound effect on what is being served. The count could push food companies and restaurants to reformulate products so that they aren’t so high in calories. It could inspire some businesses to change their menus and provide healthier options.

One does not have to be obese to be concerned about diet; people who are overweight must take their food intake seriously as well. Menu calorie labeling is a novel idea and one way to address the problem.