Restaurants should post calories
Replies
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Even when a restaurant posts their nutrition info it is pretty inaccurate. Nutrition info is based off of their 'official' recipe, but I have worked in a lot of restaurants over the years and the cooks rarely follow the recipe. A recipe may call for a cup of oil or a cup of cheese, but no one measures they could be adding 2-3 cups.
Cooks also don't measure out what the serving size is according to the recipe. I worked in a Mexican restaurant that 90% of the food that left the kitchen had 1.5 or 2 times the amount of food that the recipe called for. Even if we had given out nutrition info it may have said 700 calories when it would really be 1000-1400 calories.
Fast food restaurants actually have it easier when it comes to posting nutrition because everything is frozen and everything comes out pretty much the same. Anything made from scratch, you really don't know what's going into it no matter what the restaurant says.
Simply put there is no way to actually know what you are getting unless you cook at home.
If this is the case, I doubt I'll ever be able to eat out again
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EXACTLY! Not every problem needs to be fixed by our gov't. If you don't want to be fat, eat at home....and if you eat a meal at a restaurant that is 1000 calories, it's not going to make you fat or kill you. It's when you do that everyday that makes you fat. People need self control and personal responsibility, not hand holding.
How do we know what we are eating at home is healthy?! From NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION that is MANDATED. It wasn't always that way. Is it hand-holding to be able to compare two different products or recipes and know what you will putting into your body? I don't understand how you guys see a difference between mandating that companies provide N.I. for groceries, but not once it's at a restaurant. What is the difference?
I have self-control and personal responsiblility. I will choose healthy food when I go out to eat. I just need to know what that is.
It's mandated, but it didn't need to be. You are missing the point. If enough people want and ask for nutrition info, the companies will do it so they don't lose business. This would have happened with food we see in the grocery store on its own. It didn't need to be mandated by gov't for it to happen. Companies do what they can to get people to buy their product, and if that means posting the info then they'll do it. Like I said, if you don't like that a restaurant doesn't have the info readily available, what right is it of yours to make them do it? Nobody is pushing you through those restaurant doors. If you don't like it, don't go. When enough people stop going, the restaurant will say, "hey, how do we attract this type of customer? I know-let's offer some healthier options and post the nutrition info." Viola! The market works!0 -
I started this post a few days ago
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/287652-what-uk-places-provide-nutritional-info0 -
Even when a restaurant posts their nutrition info it is pretty inaccurate. Nutrition info is based off of their 'official' recipe, but I have worked in a lot of restaurants over the years and the cooks rarely follow the recipe. A recipe may call for a cup of oil or a cup of cheese, but no one measures they could be adding 2-3 cups.
Cooks also don't measure out what the serving size is according to the recipe. I worked in a Mexican restaurant that 90% of the food that left the kitchen had 1.5 or 2 times the amount of food that the recipe called for. Even if we had given out nutrition info it may have said 700 calories when it would really be 1000-1400 calories.
Fast food restaurants actually have it easier when it comes to posting nutrition because everything is frozen and everything comes out pretty much the same. Anything made from scratch, you really don't know what's going into it no matter what the restaurant says.
Simply put there is no way to actually know what you are getting unless you cook at home.
That's what the fine print is for at the bottom of the menu. Saying that the calories are based off the official recipe, and the calories can fluctuate based on many factors. Haven't you read the bottom of the applebees menu?0 -
EXACTLY! Not every problem needs to be fixed by our gov't. If you don't want to be fat, eat at home....and if you eat a meal at a restaurant that is 1000 calories, it's not going to make you fat or kill you. It's when you do that everyday that makes you fat. People need self control and personal responsibility, not hand holding.
How do we know what we are eating at home is healthy?! From NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION that is MANDATED. It wasn't always that way. Is it hand-holding to be able to compare two different products or recipes and know what you will putting into your body? I don't understand how you guys see a difference between mandating that companies provide N.I. for groceries, but not once it's at a restaurant. What is the difference?
I have self-control and personal responsiblility. I will choose healthy food when I go out to eat. I just need to know what that is.
It's mandated, but it didn't need to be. You are missing the point. If enough people want and ask for nutrition info, the companies will do it so they don't lose business. This would have happened with food we see in the grocery store on its own. It didn't need to be mandated by gov't for it to happen. Companies do what they can to get people to buy their product, and if that means posting the info then they'll do it. Like I said, if you don't like that a restaurant doesn't have the info readily available, what right is it of yours to make them do it? Nobody is pushing you through those restaurant doors. If you don't like it, don't go. When enough people stop going, the restaurant will say, "hey, how do we attract this type of customer? I know-let's offer some healthier options and post the nutrition info." Viola! The market works!
I HIGHLY disagree with you there. Companies would not have displayed the information if it wasn't mandated. Are you kidding me?!0 -
Its our responsiblity to be aware of what we eat. This mindset will lead down a dangerous road.
Suck it up, order a salad, dressing on the side and don't put the responsibility on the corporations.
I disagree that this will lead to a dangerous road. Also corporations should take more responsibility. Also have you seen how many calories there are in some salads? Who wants to go out and eat a plain boring salad? I like the fact that here in New York they have to post the nutritional information that way if I do eat out I can find something to fit into my calories for the day.0 -
EXACTLY! Not every problem needs to be fixed by our gov't. If you don't want to be fat, eat at home....and if you eat a meal at a restaurant that is 1000 calories, it's not going to make you fat or kill you. It's when you do that everyday that makes you fat. People need self control and personal responsibility, not hand holding.
How do we know what we are eating at home is healthy?! From NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION that is MANDATED. It wasn't always that way. Is it hand-holding to be able to compare two different products or recipes and know what you will putting into your body? I don't understand how you guys see a difference between mandating that companies provide N.I. for groceries, but not once it's at a restaurant. What is the difference?
I have self-control and personal responsiblility. I will choose healthy food when I go out to eat. I just need to know what that is.
It's mandated, but it didn't need to be. You are missing the point. If enough people want and ask for nutrition info, the companies will do it so they don't lose business. This would have happened with food we see in the grocery store on its own. It didn't need to be mandated by gov't for it to happen. Companies do what they can to get people to buy their product, and if that means posting the info then they'll do it. Like I said, if you don't like that a restaurant doesn't have the info readily available, what right is it of yours to make them do it? Nobody is pushing you through those restaurant doors. If you don't like it, don't go. When enough people stop going, the restaurant will say, "hey, how do we attract this type of customer? I know-let's offer some healthier options and post the nutrition info." Viola! The market works!
I HIGHLY disagree with you there. Companies would not have displayed the information if it wasn't mandated. Are you kidding me?!
No, not at all. I think I'm right. McDonald's did it voluntarily as a response to people wanting to know which options were healthier. Many restaurants have the info posted, and not because some elected official told them to do so. I didn't say it would happen overnight, but it would happen eventually. Until then, use common sense. You can taste when something is full of fat and salt. People need to stop blaming their fat on others. Nobody gets fat thinking cheeseburgers are healthy. People don't get fat eating salads...use common sense. Hold the cheese, the dressing, the croutons and you're not gonna get fat. I give people more credit than they give themselves, I think....0 -
I think it would be nice to have it available upon request, but to mandate that is ridiculous. When you go to a restaurant, you know what is healthy and what is not. I think it's perfectly reasonable to have the info online. Many people have internet on their phone. For those who do not--plan ahead or go with the salad.
Agreed.
On top of that, mom-and-pop places will likely go out of business if forced to change their signage to reflect calories. It's one thing expecting it of big chains, but that's an expense not every business is going to be able to afford especially in this economy.0 -
I totally agree! Some coffeeshops do this and it completely changes how I order. Sometimes, you order something you know is calorific, but you trick yourself saying, well it can't be THAT bad...
But seeing the numbers really makes a difference! Eg. Do I really want to spend 635 calories on a extra-large Mocha Caramel Extra Creamy Frap with Full fat Whip? Or is the 90 cal. iced coffee just as good.0 -
Agreed.
On top of that, mom-and-pop places will likely go out of business if forced to change their signage to reflect calories. It's one thing expecting it of big chains, but that's an expense not every business is going to be able to afford especially in this economy.
Agreed! I live in a small town where we don't have chain restaurants, we only have 'mom and pop' restaurants. None of them have nutrition info available and I never even expect it from any small restaurants. It's up to me whether or not I want to eat out or not .0 -
I would say if your that paranoid about calories then either stick to restaurants that post calories or eat at home.
There is also an App for iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch called Figwee that can help also.
Portion sizes at restaurants tend to vary site to site so it's never exact.0 -
Agreed.EXACTLY! Not every problem needs to be fixed by our gov't. If you don't want to be fat, eat at home....and if you eat a meal at a restaurant that is 1000 calories, it's not going to make you fat or kill you. It's when you do that everyday that makes you fat. People need self control and personal responsibility, not hand holding.
How do we know what we are eating at home is healthy?! From NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION that is MANDATED. It wasn't always that way. Is it hand-holding to be able to compare two different products or recipes and know what you will putting into your body? I don't understand how you guys see a difference between mandating that companies provide N.I. for groceries, but not once it's at a restaurant. What is the difference?
I have self-control and personal responsiblility. I will choose healthy food when I go out to eat. I just need to know what that is.
It's mandated, but it didn't need to be. You are missing the point. If enough people want and ask for nutrition info, the companies will do it so they don't lose business. This would have happened with food we see in the grocery store on its own. It didn't need to be mandated by gov't for it to happen. Companies do what they can to get people to buy their product, and if that means posting the info then they'll do it. Like I said, if you don't like that a restaurant doesn't have the info readily available, what right is it of yours to make them do it? Nobody is pushing you through those restaurant doors. If you don't like it, don't go. When enough people stop going, the restaurant will say, "hey, how do we attract this type of customer? I know-let's offer some healthier options and post the nutrition info." Viola! The market works!0 -
Ding, ding, ding! Exactly!Agreed.
On top of that, mom-and-pop places will likely go out of business if forced to change their signage to reflect calories. It's one thing expecting it of big chains, but that's an expense not every business is going to be able to afford especially in this economy.
Agreed! I live in a small town where we don't have chain restaurants, we only have 'mom and pop' restaurants. None of them have nutrition info available and I never even expect it from any small restaurants. It's up to me whether or not I want to eat out or not .0 -
Even when a restaurant posts their nutrition info it is pretty inaccurate. Nutrition info is based off of their 'official' recipe, but I have worked in a lot of restaurants over the years and the cooks rarely follow the recipe. A recipe may call for a cup of oil or a cup of cheese, but no one measures they could be adding 2-3 cups.
Cooks also don't measure out what the serving size is according to the recipe. I worked in a Mexican restaurant that 90% of the food that left the kitchen had 1.5 or 2 times the amount of food that the recipe called for. Even if we had given out nutrition info it may have said 700 calories when it would really be 1000-1400 calories.
Fast food restaurants actually have it easier when it comes to posting nutrition because everything is frozen and everything comes out pretty much the same. Anything made from scratch, you really don't know what's going into it no matter what the restaurant says.
Simply put there is no way to actually know what you are getting unless you cook at home.
That's what the fine print is for at the bottom of the menu. Saying that the calories are based off the official recipe, and the calories can fluctuate based on many factors. Haven't you read the bottom of the applebees menu?
Nope I haven't read the applebees menu. I live in a town that doesn't have chain restaurants only small 'mom and pop' restaurants.
And the point was that it doesn't matter if a restaurant posts their nutrition info or not. You still aren't going to know the actual nutrition info anyway and the estimate may not even be close.0 -
Having detailed, accurate nutritional information online is all I ask for. I will happily research and plan ahead of time.
As for mom and pop restaurants... The owners can calculate calories by adding up the ingredients. That's not expensive. I don't expect it, but more places should do it 0 -
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I use a website WWW.dwlz.com to look up food before we go out to eat.0
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As for mom and pop restaurants... The owners can calculate calories by adding up the ingredients. That's not expensive. I don't expect it, but more places should do it
Paying for new signs, new menus, and the like CAN be more expense than some small restaurants may be able to take on. It isn't the calculation itself, but the making of those calculations available.0 -
I look it up on my 3G iPad, because there are often options that are low calorie even if they aren't in the diet section. This is especially true if you you swap out side dishes that are high in carbs or fat and have veggies or salad instead. It's annoying that some chains won't even post the info online.
I don't think the info needs to be directly on the menu (although that would be convenient for me), but it should be available to customers who ask. Sure it will vary based on how it is cooked that night, but at least it gives you a ballpark figure.0 -
As I said, just posting them online will make me happy!
As for mom and pop restaurants... The owners can calculate calories by adding up the ingredients. That's not expensive. I don't expect it, but more places should do it
Paying for new signs, new menus, and the like CAN be more expense than some small restaurants may be able to take on. It isn't the calculation itself, but the making of those calculations available.0 -
Also, keep in mind that menus change from day to day, and even during a shift. Practical? No. Burdensome? Yes. Last thing we need to do is make life more difficult for the small businessperson. Let them choose whether they post.
As for mom and pop restaurants... The owners can calculate calories by adding up the ingredients. That's not expensive. I don't expect it, but more places should do it
Paying for new signs, new menus, and the like CAN be more expense than some small restaurants may be able to take on. It isn't the calculation itself, but the making of those calculations available.0 -
I agree! It would be sooo nice to have the nutrition info on the menu!!!! it would make my life easier (not having to pre-check or something because i am still one of those poor losers who doesn't have internet on her phone)! its an awesome idea... i hope we see it in the near future!0
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Also, keep in mind that menus change from day to day, and even during a shift. Practical? No. Burdensome? Yes. Last thing we need to do is make life more difficult for the small businessperson. Let them choose whether they post.
As for mom and pop restaurants... The owners can calculate calories by adding up the ingredients. That's not expensive. I don't expect it, but more places should do it
Paying for new signs, new menus, and the like CAN be more expense than some small restaurants may be able to take on. It isn't the calculation itself, but the making of those calculations available.
Agreed! When I eat out, since it's always at mom and pop places I just look for something similar in the database here. I know it's not exact and may not even be close. But when I go out I make the choice to not really know how many calories I'm eating. I don't think that they need to post their nutrition. If they want to that's great, if not, it's my problem, not theirs.0 -
No I don't think it's necessary. Nice? Yes. But I agree with those who say it shouldn't be government mandated.
Besides, I verrrrry rarely eat out. But when I do, I can roughly estimate in my head what the calorie content may be. I could be off a few hundred cals though. Doesn't matter since the amount I eat is probably a fourth or half of what's there. Obviously if I ate out several times a week, I'd want nutritional info, but going over in cals/sodium/carbs/whatever once every month or two won't make me gain weight.0 -
The only way this should be done is if enough people ask for it and the Restaurant decides it’s in their best interest to do it, period. Do you really, no really think people think a big bowl of pasta is healthier than a salad, or grilled fish? Come on? NOBODY goes into McDonalds or Uncle Luegies Pasta joint thinking they are going to be eating healthy. If they do they’re idiots. Why is it the Restaurant’s responsibility to educate you about food nutrition? Why isn’t it your responsibility to educate yourself about nutrition? PEOPLE NEED TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!! There I’m off my soap box, contrary opinions need not apply. 0
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starting in 2014 all resturants will have to have nutrition info readily available either on the menu or in the restuarant in form of a pamplet but that is still 3 years away any fast food place i have been in will give you a pamplet with all the info if you ask except subway wonder what they are hiding? logans ( for those of you who have them ) wont even provide the info on line i emailed em and was told it was not available
All restaurants where? In you town/city/state/country??
It sounds as though this is becoming a more common practice in the US but I really doubt that my local pub in Western Australia is planning to do this any time soon
While I agree that it is useful info to have, I think it is more important that we become educated consumers and get smart at decoding restaurant menus. I know this isn't easy but it's a valuable skill to learn.0 -
The only way this should be done is if enough people ask for it and the Restaurant decides it’s in their best interest to do it, period. Do you really, no really think people think a big bowl of pasta is healthier than a salad, or grilled fish? Come on? NOBODY goes into McDonalds or Uncle Luegies Pasta joint thinking they are going to be eating healthy. If they do they’re idiots. Why is it the Restaurant’s responsibility to educate you about food nutrition? Why isn’t it your responsibility to educate yourself about nutrition? PEOPLE NEED TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!! There I’m off my soap box, contrary opinions need not apply.
I partly agree... BUT I still think it would be nice. Especially for the items that have sauce & you don't know what's in it.0 -
The only way this should be done is if enough people ask for it and the Restaurant decides it’s in their best interest to do it, period. Do you really, no really think people think a big bowl of pasta is healthier than a salad, or grilled fish? Come on? NOBODY goes into McDonalds or Uncle Luegies Pasta joint thinking they are going to be eating healthy. If they do they’re idiots. Why is it the Restaurant’s responsibility to educate you about food nutrition? Why isn’t it your responsibility to educate yourself about nutrition? PEOPLE NEED TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!! There I’m off my soap box, contrary opinions need not apply.
I partly agree... BUT I still think it would be nice. Especially for the items that have sauce & you don't know what's in it.
The free market is an amazing thing, if you got enough people to ask the restaurant to do this they would, because, believe it or not, they do want to make you happy, it’s how they make money. But on the other hand, if you and the four others here that want it are the only ones, then guess what you are in the minority, and you will have to eat somewhere that caters to your wants, or educate yourself enough that you can make informed decisions on your own. I do agree it would be nice, especially for people that eat out a lot.0 -
The only way this should be done is if enough people ask for it and the Restaurant decides it’s in their best interest to do it, period. Do you really, no really think people think a big bowl of pasta is healthier than a salad, or grilled fish? Come on? NOBODY goes into McDonalds or Uncle Luegies Pasta joint thinking they are going to be eating healthy. If they do they’re idiots. Why is it the Restaurant’s responsibility to educate you about food nutrition? Why isn’t it your responsibility to educate yourself about nutrition? PEOPLE NEED TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!! There I’m off my soap box, contrary opinions need not apply.
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