Calories posted on menus, would it influence how you order?

jujubean1992

i would! i cringe when i log foods i think have more than 300 cals.

kelsully

Oh and on the ice cream front. I am a long distance runner...I love ice cream in the summer and I almost always have the calories for it when we do have ice cream. If we go out for ice cream I know how many calories I have left and it influences my choices. Did I run 15 miles and need to make up 1000 calories to be over 0 net calories...if so then I won't get something huge and glutenous but I might get the peanut butter topping....if I only have 300-500 I might only get one scoop of something with no toppings etc...if I only have 150-250 for ice cream I take a few tastes from my kid that can't finish her ice cream anyway...so even when having ice cream I like to know what I am getting...

Janet39

I would love it, It may influence my choice or maybe only stop me going for pudding. But I would love to have the choice

RobinV_Seattle

Yes - sort of.

I rarely select the really low-calorie item, but it helps me avoid the highest calorie items. Also, it gives me a gauge on how hard and long I'll need to work out for to make up for my calorie splurge!

WattsJA

More than just the Calories .. I would want to know the break down like this


Calories
..Fat
....Sat. Fat
....Trans Fat
..Carbs
....Fiber
....Sugar (not necessary)
..Protein


THAT information would TOTALLY make or break my ordering.

mosneakers

I would love that!!! I think it would play a big role in my "cheat" meal too. The control freak in me still wants to know exactly what I'm putting in my body (even if it is the crap that I know I shouldn't eat)

Yes, I agree with Watts - list everything. It might be low in calories, but loaded with sodium or sugar or whatever else we're watching.

Yesterday was a great example. I got a probiotic smoothie from Jamba Juice. The website listed the values for the 16oz. They were doable - I felt ok getting that. When I got there, they said I could get it in a 12oz size. Oh yeah, I got that - AND - I sat there for 20 min taking all the nutritional values from the 16oz and converting it to 12oz.

hazelnutflav

i am a true believer in home cooked meals that way i know what im eating and i control every ingredient.

however there are those time when there is a celebration or special dinner out at a resturant since i dont go out often maybe once or twice a year then no i wont count a thing because its a special occassion so im going to have what i want including dessert.

so since i am not a fast food person i rarely find myself in one however if i had to get something it would be a salad, nothing fried and water to drink.

szczepj

If I was stuck between two meals, definitely.

Qarol

Heck yea, it would influence me! As it is, I check a restaurant's website before going out, to better plan what I'm going to order. Every so often, I eat out for fun and don't care about calories. But most times, I do. It would be easier if the info was there at the restaurant instead of me trying to plan ahead and look online.

Dtrmnd86

I always check calories and sodium before ordering something. We stopped at Wendy's the other day and I got mad because they don't have any calories listed. I ended up choosing what I thought was okay but it was a 360calorie snack. I won't be going there again unless it's preplanned and I can look online at what to get.

TubbsMcGee

OF COURSE!!

Plus it would save me so much time in having to look up the nutritional info online using my phone, while the waiter stand there...tapping his foot waiting for me to make up my mind.

All chain restaurants in my town have nutritional pamphlets they like to hide behind the counter (which I now have a large collection of). The trouble is eating at the little Ma n' Pop shops around here where I have to ask about all the ingredients and their cooking preparation. Surprisingly, everyone is always willing to help me out.

Arrgh why don't they just dooo it already??!! Please please please post nutritional info in the menus!

calliope_music

yes and no.

it would likely affect my choice of my main entree (i'd be more apt to get a large salad for dinner or something) but maybe indulge a little in a dessert or an appetizer.

i also like when calories are posted on menus. however, if i want a burger and fries, i'm getting a burger and fries!!

sleepytexan

Calories are listed here in CA on menus of restaurants with multiple locations. Some of the smaller healthy/organic restaurants list the info voluntarily as well. It absolutely influences what I order. I scan for the numbers before I even look at the item descriptions.

sleepytexan

there is a nice website, Dottie's Weight Loss Zone, that lists calorie and WW point info for hundreds of restaurants. Her website is free and it's DWLZ (dot com)

blessings.

christine24t

yes i always look up the menu before i go out! i am not the type of person that can pack up half a meal so i need to eat something low calorie. at applebees, i get the paradise chicken salad. it's like 350 calories.

rlcott2231

Absolutely it influences me!!! I would love it if every menu supplied the info because its shocking when you look it up later and see what you really just ate, like just happened to me at lunch!

lclarkjr

It would certainly be a factor in what I order. If I am going to a new place or even if I'm at a familiar restaurant and I can't decide between which dish I want, I can guarantee that calorie content will play a big part in deciding what to get.

Matiara

My county requires that restaurants post their calories and I do look at the numbers out of curiosity, but it doesn't influence my choices. I eat out once a week for fast food when I'm running errands and once every couple of months at real restaurants, so I consider it my treat. I can make a salad and other healthy meals at home for a lot cheaper, so I don't see the point in going out for it. If I ate out daily or more often, I would probably take the numbers into consideration.

I ate at my favorite restaurant a few months ago. I hadn't been there in more than a year and I ate half the bread in the basket on table with butter, my entree, and their chocolate lava cake a la mode for dessert (SO good!) I know it was probably close to or over 1,000 calories because I was stuffed and did not even want to look at food for about six hours, but I didn't care because it wasn't something that I do every day. I did take my Crystal Light on the go packet and asked them for a big glass of ice water to mix it in. *angelic* Anyway, I lost five pounds that week. Actually that was the last week that I lost any weight, so maybe I should stuff myself more often.

LorinaLynn

A few years ago, my husband and I went to Ruby Tuesdays quite regularly. Then they added the calories to the menu. Yikes! I was comfortably maintaining my weight at the time, but I still didn't want to eat what I knew was a whole days worth of calories in one shot. So I ordered something else. And left feeling lousy and unsatisfied. And after a few more visits, we stopped going. Then they closed down. :laugh:

I know it's not a smart or healthy way to live, but at this stage, I don't care one bit about the calorie count when I go out to eat. I don't go out regularly anymore. Maybe twice a month. A bi-weekly splurge is not going to undo the work I do the other thirteen days. I'd rather stick my head in the sand and enjoy my meal, even if it is a 2000 calorie hamburger. :drinker:

silkysly

YES!....
If I know I’m going out to a certain restaurant, I go online & preselect what I will be ordering based on calories & nutrition.

Ladydi1982

My answer is not a simple, cut-and-dry yes or no. I am actually going to have to say yes AND no. Yes, it normally influences what I order, but a big, fat NO for those days I just want to pig out... (and yes, this happens occasionally) :flowerforyou:

legacysh

It's the law here in California that that information has to be posted (at chain restaurants). It absolutely influences me in my choices.

Unfortunately in California, they have decided to not require it anymore and many of the chain restaurants and changing back their menu's to remove the calories. I loved it when they had them. It was a huge factor in whether I would even eat there or not.

juliapurpletoes

OH yeah BIG TIME it influences me......alot of California restaurants already do this......not the high end ones yet......but YEAH!We are not the average folk here at MFP for sure!

:bigsmile:

27strange

Yes it definetly would. I already try to find a restaurants nutritional info online before i visit. Knowledge is power and leads to success!

4KidFather

Nope.
I look at the food quality.
I am largely unable to 'eat out' because of the industrial oils, added sugars and enriched flour they oversell you.
I'm a good calories kinda guy
Interesting to note how many people would change their eating style. Perhaps this'll drive food scientist to engineer negative calorie consumption products?
Eager to see that field tested on the masses
ps One of my daughter's asked how many calories and fat are in breastmilk. I told her not to tell the clinician

PSUgrl921

It would depend. If I was going out for a "treat" then probably not. If it wasn't or if I knew that I hadn't worked out that day, etc. then yes, it definitely would.

phinners

It most definately influences my food choices when out. I noticed our local Sainbury's cafe now does this. I think it's a great idea. Perhaps it should be forced throughout the food and fast food industry?