Consumption of food away from home is a trend in different regions of the world, with indications that this practice may pose a health risk. It is recognized that eating behaviors and food choices are complex and conditioned to several factors. The environmental factor has been receiving increasing attention among the variables that involve food choices. In this context, this article discusses the possibility of pay-per-kilo restaurants, a typical Brazilian service, being a healthy alternative when eating out. Scientific facts related to pay-per-kilo restaurants are scarce, making it unfeasible to perform a systematic assessment of the subject. Hence, this review discusses restaurant modalities and some studies that compare the possibility of healthy choices in restaurants with different distribution modalities. Given its characteristics, which include diversity, reasonable prices, speed and convenience, pay-per-weight restaurants can encourage healthy food choices away from home. Also, there is emphasis on the importance of nutrition interventions that make healthy foods available and educate the population to make healthier food choices.
Collective feeding; Feeding behavior; Restaurants