Should you trust restaurant Nutrition?

Nich0le
Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
edited September 21 in Food and Nutrition
Just an FYI to all who look up menu items before going out a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association had researchers test menu items and the results were that all calorie counts EXCEEDED the stated calorie count by an average of 18%. Even though the health care bill will mandate that chains provide calorie info there is no enforcement on accuracy.

Tips from women's health magazine: If you are going to entrust the fate of your thighs to anything make it WORDS and not numbers. Choose dishes with baked, broiled, steamed or grilled, this are prepared with minimal fat in most establishments. Beware of breaded, crispy, creamed, batter dipped and buttered.....I think the reason should be obvious.

Also, keep in mind that places like Applebees and TGI Fridays marinade for chicken usually includes a margarine soak :noway: So you may want to ask how the marinades or chicken and fish are prepared before ordering so you can attempt to save yourself some unwanted calories and fat.

I'm sure most people understand that restaurants are not the most reliable and just because it's written doesn't mean it's true and we all know that restaurants are popular for oversize portions OF EVERYTHING so if the calorie count is an average of 18% over then try to leave 20% on your plate :wink:

Replies

  • balance9
    balance9 Posts: 160
    Great post -- especially important for people who eat out more frequently. No big deal if you eat out once a week or less, but if you're eating lunch out every day or even a few times a week (as most Americans do), this would really add up.
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    thanks for sharing. good to know
  • Beth720
    Beth720 Posts: 661 Member
    Good info. I read somewhere today though, that actually all labels of calories are given/allowed by the FDA a cushion of 20% one way or the other - so even those "100 calorie packs" could be as low as 80 calories or as high as 120 calories. So even with pre-packaged things you can't be 100% sure that the label is completely what it says it is.
  • nursee67
    nursee67 Posts: 503
    Thanks for the heads up! I figure nothing is 100%...so we just have to really pay attention.
  • spc1415273
    spc1415273 Posts: 3
    thank you good info.
  • michlingle
    michlingle Posts: 797 Member
    a margarine soak?????? Eewww! I've never heard of such a thing! Thanks for the heads up, that's disgusting!
  • Cytherea
    Cytherea Posts: 515 Member
    Obviously nothing is going to be perfect. A restaurant can't guarantee that any particular cook will only use X amount of oil to cook something in or X amount of butter to put on the bread or X amount of mayo on the sandwich, etc. I worked at Boston Market, and we didn't measure anything. How much pot pie mix goes into each chicken pot pie is not weighed or measured. The amount of streusel and marshmallows on the sweet potato casserole was not portioned out. The amount of garlic butter on the vegetables was subjective. I could go on, but I think you get the point. You can't control these things like that. However, having somewhat of an idea is better than nothing. And many places that are chains just throw something prepackaged to meet the standards and frozen into an oven, so that IS going to be pretty accurate.

    What, exactly, is a margarine soak? I'm not sure that even makes sense. And seeing as most of us have never heard of it, and google isn't even popping up the term, I'm bit confused as to what exactly it is, and how you know that places like that do such a thing.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    A margarine soak is where they take your meat, especially chicken and fish which tend to dry when cooked and soak the meat for several hours to keep the meat "juicy" .
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