Why is it not mandatory ....

mamabear0222

for restaurants to have their nutritional information readily available??

I was quite annoyed last night that I went to a restaurant (my Mom's choice on where we were going) and there was nothing posted and when I asked the manager he said I could contact their head office and they might have the information or look on their website.

Well that doesnt really help me being IN the restaurant at the time trying to make an informed decision.
Looking at their website today, this information is not posted....

This is very discouraging when trying to make informed decisions .... does anyone else have this issue?
Normally I try to pre-plan before leaving home, but this one caught me totally off guard .....

JustJennie1

Most restaurants think that if they do this then people won't eat there any longer because they'll actually SEE how many calories are in the food. My husband and I were in Las Vegas a couple of years ago and we went to the Hard Rock for lunch (we were in a seminar and it was the closest place to the venue). They had the nutrition information on the menu and it was astounding. We ended up sharing an order of wings and a quesadilla because they were the only items that together was less than 1,000 calories.

I know that there are people out there who won't care either way but for those that do they might think twice about eating there or just get that low calorie appetizer instead of a full on meal which will end up costing the restaurant money.

corn63

If it's a mom and pop restaurant, something local, figuring out nutritional information is likely to put them out of business. These restaurant chains have whole departments devoted to their nutritional information.

Just stick to some basic ideas: Nothing smothered in gravy, cheese or anything else. Nothing cream based. Nothing fried. Wheat if you can have it (Tortillas, pasta etc.). Don't eat the bread on the table. Try to get your veggies cooked dry or steamed if you can. Lots of these restaurants use butter to use their foods.

Just be smart.

Lone_Wolf70

Why should it be mandatory? Is that reallya good function of government? You really want the nanny state that much in your life?

WendyTerry420

If it's a mom and pop restaurant, something local, figuring out nutritional information is likely to put them out of business. These restaurant chains have whole departments devoted to their nutritional information.

Just stick to some basic ideas: Nothing smothered in gravy, cheese or anything else. Nothing cream based. Nothing fried. Wheat if you can have it (Tortillas, pasta etc.). Don't eat the bread on the table. Try to get your veggies cooked dry or steamed if you can. Lots of these restaurants use butter to use their foods.

Just be smart.

^^^^^^^^^ This

WendyTerry420

Why should it be mandatory? Is that reallya good function of government? You really want the nanny state that much in your life?

And this ^^^^

nascarted10

I simply choose not to go to places that don't share this information. I don't think government should legislate it as they can't even take care of what they have to do today. On the other hand, I choose to exercise my freedom of choice and won't go to places that don't share the information. Yes I have been asked to go someplace like a "Mom and Pop" and I say no and tell people why. It's my life and I choose it to be (or become inthe future) healthier.

Onmynewadventure

Do you have the mobile app for MFP? You could always use that to check on the caloric value. Everyplace I have checked has been listed so far.

Most restaurants, not chain restaurants or fast food, have different chefs and ever changing menus. One chef may put more butter in something than the other chef does and so on. So there is really no way to get an accurate count.

mamamc03

I asked a food vendor this one time @ a farmer's market...different area...but still relevant. Supposedly the FDA charges $1,000/item to certify/determine the nutrition facts.

MrsWilsoncroft

It would be easier if places did have this but unfortunately not all of them do x

pastryari

It can be annoying but I think the government needs to be focused on other things.

DontStopB_Leakin

...You do realize that most chains keep that information readily available online.


Seriously, never had a problem looking up calorie counts for my favorite restaurants...

MTBrob

You can always request a special order.. they will usually cook you up something like a chicken breast and steamed veggies.. Just a fyi ..

WickedGarden

I am responsible for what I put in my mouth, not the government, or 'Big Brother'.

it's not that hard to figure out nutrition info when going out.

Cheeseburger-break it down. Order it without any condiments, ask what type of cheese. Hamburger patty, bun, tomato, lettuce, etc.

Besides, you can't trust the restaurant to really serve you a 700 calorie meal, everything is prepared by different people, one chef may put more sauce/dressing on something than another, the calories can vary by 500 calories. There was even an article that proved that all those Lean Cuisine frozen meals varied in calories by hundreds.

The only meal you can be sure of its calorie content is one you make yourself.

dandaninc

I am responsible for what I put in my mouth, not the government, or 'Big Brother'.

it's not that hard to figure out nutrition info when going out.

Cheeseburger-break it down. Order it without any condiments, ask what type of cheese. Hamburger patty, bun, tomato, lettuce, etc.

Besides, you can't trust the restaurant to really serve you a 700 calorie meal, everything is prepared by different people, one chef may put more sauce/dressing on something than another, the calories can vary by 500 calories. There was even an article that proved that all those Lean Cuisine frozen meals varied in calories by hundreds.

The only meal you can be sure of its calorie content is one you make yourself.

Exactly!

Jacwhite22

for restaurants to have their nutritional information readily available??

I was quite annoyed last night that I went to a restaurant (my Mom's choice on where we were going) and there was nothing posted and when I asked the manager he said I could contact their head office and they might have the information or look on their website.

Well that doesnt really help me being IN the restaurant at the time trying to make an informed decision.
Looking at their website today, this information is not posted....

This is very discouraging when trying to make informed decisions .... does anyone else have this issue?
Normally I try to pre-plan before leaving home, but this one caught me totally off guard .....

One night isn't going to kill you......you didn't gain all the weight by eating one bad meal.......that said........if you are that worried about it order grilled/broiled/baked chicken/fish. Get steamed veggies (w/o butter) as your side.....you will be ok

infamousmk

1] One night without logging isn't going to turn you fat.

2] Skills of reasoning and common sense come in really handy in these situations. "Hmm.. that looks like about a cup of roasted veggies, and I'm going to assume there's a tablespoon of olive oil on them... And I bet that's about eight ounces of steak... Probably another teaspoon of oil on that bad boy... That dinner roll is of an average size, I'm sure I can find a listing comparable..." etc, etc. ..

3] Are you just complaining about this to hear your fingers move on the keyboard?

CaWaterBug8

1] One night without logging isn't going to turn you fat.

2] Skills of reasoning and common sense come in really handy in these situations. "Hmm.. that looks like about a cup of roasted veggies, and I'm going to assume there's a tablespoon of olive oil on them... And I bet that's about eight ounces of steak... Probably another teaspoon of oil on that bad boy... That dinner roll is of an average size, I'm sure I can find a listing comparable..." etc, etc. ..

3] Are you just complaining about this to hear your fingers move on the keyboard?

This ^^^

GetFitGirl29

They sure aren`t mandatory to reveal their nutritional facts, and if they did, it would be totally scary! The best advice I can give on this matter is choosing your food wisely. For instance, loaded baked potato, fried foods of any kind, salads drenched in creamy dressing, etc. is a no no. When I eat out, I`ll usually order a grilled salmon, steamed veggies, and a salad with vinaigrette dressing. Just one example.

WestCoastPhoenix

Even printed nutritional information is an estimate. As said above...simple logic can get a person through a restaurant experience without a huge calorie bomb.

barkin43

Why should it be mandatory? Is that reallya good function of government? You really want the nanny state that much in your life?

This! We already have Boston Market taking the salt shakers off the tables and other stupid acts that I can't think of right now - the name Mayor Bloomberg comes to mind. Do we really need to be policed on every area of our lives. Can we just take responsibility for our own actions?? Oh, and the teachers checking out the kids' lunches and deciding that something like chicken nuggets are better for them than the turkey and cheese sandwich their moms made for them!