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Is requiring posting calories of menu items going to help reduce obesity?

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  • vanityy99
    vanityy99 Posts: 2,583 Member
    Tedebearduff wrote: »
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-teicholz-calorie-count-fda-rule-20180520-story.html

    This is already in Canada all restaurants have to post their calories for everything. It's relevant IMO and helps when making choices.

    I hate numbers. I wish they didn’t start that *kitten* here.
  • bb_twins
    bb_twins Posts: 11 Member
    Only for those individuals who are wanting to use it to lose weight. -those who are actively trying AND know what to do with the caloric information.
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    I can't speak for other people, but for me - it is helpful. It helps me to make choices and has been eye-opening on many occasions. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised that an item has far fewer calories than I thought. And more often than not - it goes the other way. I was getting a coffee the other day. They had some delicious-looking cookies at the register. I was tempted and looked at the calorie count. 450 calories!! That is a meal for me. So I thought: I can have a cookie for my entire lunch or not. At that particular time I choose not.

    As with anything - it is a personal choice how and even if to use information...of any kind.

  • Melwillbehealthy
    Melwillbehealthy Posts: 894 Member


    [/quote]

    This is already in Canada all restaurants have to post their calories for everything. It's relevant IMO and helps when making choices. [/quote]

    I’m not sure about that. It’s only posted in a few chain restaurants where I live. Most of the restaurants here are privately owned and run, and don’t have nutritional guides. I’d love it if they did. I find it very useful when they do, and will often choose “Timmy’s”, because it takes the stress out of calorie counting. Some days I just want someone else to do the math.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,749 Member
    It is helpful for people who are actively trying to lose or maintain their weight and have some idea of comparative calorie values and daily needs. People who don't care about losing or maintaining weight will just ignore the numbers. I've talked about it with my husband. He is utterly indifferent to nutrition and calories. He eats what he likes and doesn't worry about the result. Since he doesn't like vegetables, he won't eat them even though he 'knows' that they are good for him. He just doesn't care. Since I do all the cooking, his weight is mostly stable. When we go out, I tend to get the lower calorie foods or at least bypass the higher calorie ones. He doesn't care and doesn't even read the calorie label.

    It has made going out to dinner less fun. No more 800 calorie desserts. No more 1/2 lb. hamburgers with three kinds of cheese. No more 1600 calorie breakfasts. At least for me.
  • teresa19622015
    teresa19622015 Posts: 34 Member
    Having labels that say x calories per 100g is useless. I wouldn’t have 100g of Bovril. I don’t know what 100g of crisps looks like. If it’s a single serving pack just say what that serving is.
    On menus I would find it very helpful. Im eating out tomorrow and I’m wondering how to calculate the meal. Though I’m not convinced these calorie counts will be accurate unless the chef weighs out all the portions each time, but a guide would help. And even at McDonalds - on the really odd time I go I can fit it into my daily allowance if I know how many calories!
  • Jackie_Paper
    Jackie_Paper Posts: 183 Member
    Seeing the numbers there on the board has definitely made my change my mind about what I was about to order, many times.
  • Analog_Kid
    Analog_Kid Posts: 976 Member
    Requiring the posting of calories of menu items is not going to help reduce obesity. We live in a 'feel good' world. The craving to feel good is too strong for most people. And, of course, anything that makes us 'feel bad' is always someone else's fault.
  • tbright1965
    tbright1965 Posts: 852 Member
    lgfrie wrote: »
    I find it IMMENSELY helpful to have calorie info so broadly available on menus nowadays - a complete game changer that's had a vast impact on what I eat when I'm out.

    I was at Red Lobster tonight, and the calorie info probably saved me 1,000 calories and helped me make a much healthier choice for dinner.

    As to people who don't count calories, it certainly doesn't hurt them to have a little number next to each dish, so I don't see what the objection would be. If those little numbers help 5 or 10 % of the population make better choices and become more fit, what could the complaint possibly be?

    I have no objection to the VOLUNTARY placement of such numbers.

    I have a big problem with those who would FORCE any enterprise to publish such numbers. If you want them and a place doesn't have or post them, don't dine there.

    As far as will it help. It will help for those who take an interest in such numbers. Those who don't care will not care more simply because the number is there.
  • rdthoms
    rdthoms Posts: 61 Member
    It can't hurt. I know it makes me think twice or maybe shift an order based on what I see. But it is true that it is up to the person to use/understand the info. If they ignore it then it won't help.
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