Dying to dine out but afraid of destroying your diet? You may be in luck!

Many large chain restaurants are slashing calories from their menus as they prepare for expected federal rules that will require them to post nutritional information, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The updated menu choices have, on average, 12 percent fewer calories than previous meal options. That, say researchers, could have a dramatic impact on America’s obesity problem.

On a typical day, between 30 and 40 percent of the population eats at a fast food restaurant, according to the study.

While it’s impossible to stop people from eating fast food, says study author Sara Bleich, an associate professor in the department of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, offering them lower-calorie options may help reduce their caloric intake without asking them to change their behavior.