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

ilfaith

For me, knowing the calorie content certainly has an impact on what I will order from a restaurant menu.

Years ago, my favorite thing to get at Starbucks was their lemon pound cake. Then they started posting nutrition information and I learned a slice had 490 calories...which is a significant percentage of what I can (or should) eat in a day. While I have ordered a slice of the lemon loaf since (it is still delicious after all), it has only been when I have had a couple of my kids around to share it.

When I eat at a chain restaurant like Cheesecake Factory, which does print calorie counts on its menu, I am horrified by the numbers. There are entrees that contain more calories than I ordinarily consume in a day. Being short, and no-longer-young, and preferring to maintain a weight at the lower end of what is "healthy" I don't have much margin of error. I generally order off their "light" menu, ("light" being relative). But I must be in the minority, because I see most other patrons happily munching away on their thousand calorie entrees, preceded by appetizers, accompanied by sodas and frothy cocktails, and of course, followed by cheesecake for dessert. I don't judge...perhaps some of them have Michael Phelps level training regimens, and need the calories. But I suspect the majority just don't care. I don't deny anyone a splurge meal, and obviously, other people's diets are none of my business.

So while I think printing calorie contents on menus is a fantastic idea, I don't know if is going to have much impact on the obesity epidemic. While it will benefit those who are already trying to take control of their health, I think more people are just looking to get more bang for their buck in terms of enormous portions and flavorful food laden with salt, sugar, and fat. (My biggest issue with restaurant meals is salt. I tend to be sensitive to sodium and more often than not, if I eat in a restaurant, my fingers will swell to the point where I cannot get my rings off, and the number on the scale will be up a few pounds in the morning.)

GrizzledSquirrel

I don’t know. However, I always underestimate the knowledge many people have re: the basic calorific content of individual foods, let alone dishes. For example:

“I used olive oil to roast my veg. That’s part of a mediterranean diet. You don’t get overweight on a mediterranean diet” (1tbl of olive oil = 120 calories)

“Avocados are really good for you - I just had one for a snack smashed on some wholewheat toast” (430 calories - i.e. c. 2 x mars bar)

“I ordered a salad rather than a burger - I’ll lose weight, right?” (Burger = 500 cals, Caesar Salad = 1200 calories)

“Smoothies are full of nutrients and great for recovery. I whizzed up milk, banana, berries and a spoonful of protein powder - it was delicious” (Smoothie = 450 cals, cycling for 30 mins at the gym burned 300 calories).

Now, don’t get me wrong - I don’t suggest that people should choose mars bars and burgers - and reject nutrient rich, wholesome foods merely due to their calorie content BUT with all the “advice” out there on how to lose weight, it is easy to think you are making the right choices for weight loss when you’re only considering half the story.

Having calories clearly visible on ALL foods - especially on menus (when you’re making direct comparisons and choices) not only helps with an immediate decision, but also helps to educate on where calories are found in food. This raises awareness in general which can only be a good thing, no?

And by the way - I am speaking as somebody who has learnt the hard way countless times before becoming highly aware - e.g. what do you mean, a single date contains 70 calories? I mean, dates are “natural” and have no added sugar, right? I bought a pack of them instead of some sweets to chomp in front of the TV because I am being “good”. How can they possibly make me fat?

*sigh*

VeryKatie

It would help me as long as its correct and not understated like most restaurants. If it helps me it might help some. But for anyone who doesnt want to lise weight or keep it in mind it probably wont. Its still needs the reader to care or it wont work. And it has to be presented as the entire dish. Not the dish without sides and sauces or for 100 g.

NorthCascades

kpsyche wrote: »

deannalfisher wrote: »

it could also potentially open the door for lawsuits - someone misreads the posted calorie count and gains weight...and therefore its the restaurants fault (oh wait - didn't that happen with Chipotle)

Couldn't that work the other way as well? "I assumed that the chicken burger was low in calories and you didn't tell me otherwise and I ended up fat.. wahhhh... you now owe me $1 million for pain and suffering"

It's rare that you can sue somebody and win because you made a bad assumption. What you're describing isn't a winning case, I don't think you could find a lawyer to represent you unless you paid by the hour.

Rhumax67

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

Does for me. When I to Dunkin Donuts for a Cappucino & see the calorie count on the donuts - I refrain. I can handle the coffee but that's it!

Tedebearduff

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.

lemurcat2

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.

All? I looked it up, and in Ontario anyway it looks like the rule is the same as here "all food-service chains with 20 or more locations in Ontario must post the number of calories in the food and drink items they sell."

I like the law, I think it's helpful for people, but for me it doesn't apply to the primary restaurants I go to (and I don't think it should, I think it would be too burdensome for many local places that change their menus often and focus on seasonal foods, etc.).

ElfBodGoals

I honestly wish any restaurant with more than one location would be required to at least reveal the caloric value for their food. I'm more likely to eat somewhere if they're straightforward about that, and I don't think it hurts to have that little window for people to see what they're putting in their body.

NorthCascades

I asked the waiter at an Indian restaurant how many calories were in the dinner I ordered once. He went into the kitchen, then came back to say 500. For paneer tika masala with rice, naan, and chai.

L1zardQueen

500 is a nice round number

vanityy99

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

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

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

[/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.

allaboutthecake

the other day, wanted a burger...drove thru Whataburger cuz the McD's line across the street was too long. Saw their lowest calorie burger (!!) and told the lady at the drive-thru window I'd changed my mind, didn't realize the calories were so high on their burgers. And drove on down the road and got a cheezeburger at a McD's (saved me lotsa cals, yet still got that burger satisfaction.)
So for me, it has definitely helped.

spiriteagle99

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

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

Seeing the numbers there on the board has definitely made my change my mind about what I was about to order, many times.

lgfrie

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?

Analog_Kid

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.