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If you knew how many calories it has, would you still order it?
By workoutmommy | January 25, 2008
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A new law passed in New York will require chain restaurants (that operate at least 15 separate outlets) to make calorie information publicly available by March 31, 2008. The restaurants will be required to post the information either on menus or menu boards where customers can see it when they order. Restaurant owners are not too happy with the plan, stating that it will be expensive for them to make the changes. They also believe it will not make a difference in someone’s menu choice.
“Do you think people will stop eating McDonald’s French fries and Big Macs?” asked Rick Sampson of the New York State Restaurant Association, which is suing New York City over its law. “It doesn’t keep me from eating a candy bar even though the calories are listed on it right in front of me.” (A Big Mac has 540 calories; a medium order of fries, 380.)
source: NY Times
I personally think this is a great idea! Not only will it really open our eyes to exactly how many calories we are consuming but perhaps it will force restaurants to offer healthier food choices.
Sure, many restaurants offer salads for the health conscious, but do not be fooled. Most of those salads are not healthy choices. Did you know that the chicken Caesar salad at Chili’s has 1,010 calories and 76 grams of fat? I always cringe when someone tells me they are on a diet and then choose one of these high calorie, fat laden salads just because it has some lettuce in the bowl. Most people are NOT aware of what they are eating, so this new law can only help us make smarter choices.
What do you think, would seeing the number of calories and/or fat grams in your food items influence your order?
Topics: nutrition |
January 25th, 2008 at 1:36 am
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January 25th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Nope, I think people like to stay in the dark. For those that really want to change, they will find the answers.
For any fast food restaurants I visit, they have nutritional information readily available. People just ignore it. Almost all big chains have access online to their nutritional information and it hasn’t affected their bottom lines. Nor the guy in front of me that will order the Triple Bacon Cheeseburger with extra bacon!
I see this really being difficult for the smaller chains that don’t have the big franchise producing the content. It means that they are going to have to hire a nutritionist or some how outsource a way to get the information. This isn’t a bad thing, but probably an expense that they haven’t budgeted for in the near future.
I love the Weight Watcher options at Chili’s. Do you know what really bugs me about salads at these restaurants? The use of Iceberg lettuce! It’s practically useless other than really cheap. I want a big spinach or green leafy salad that packs a punch for it’s nutritional value.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I think it would make a difference in what I order.
For some reason, when I enter the threshold of a restaurant…I completely forget that I am watching what I eat and order anything that strikes my fancy!
We are going to an italian joint tonight for dinner….thanks for making me aware of my calories today!!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:15 am
It’s an interesting topic. In a one of my blog posts last week, I featured a Chipotle calculator, and in all the comments, readers loved the idea and made changes in their usual Chipotle order. So, they’re still Chipotle customers, just healthier ones………:)
January 25th, 2008 at 11:52 am
What’s scary is that McDonald’s HAS a nutritionist!
I’m always in favor of anything that helps to be informed consumers. Like Cindy says, maybe this will force some of these places to offer healthier options. I know those of us with kids wish there was a healthy fast food chain! A place we can do to the drive-through and get tasty, healthy food.
January 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Cindy, I agree! That iceberg lettuce is pointless. Subway used to offer baby spinach, but has since cut it from their menu.
Alyssa, that would be great if there were a drive-thru with healthy options!
January 25th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I would LOVE it if restaraunts posted cal/fat count, not to mention protein, fiber, carbs, etc. Lots of people info for various reasons, whether it’s a diabetic looking out for hidden sugar or a diet-conscious gal not wanting to blow out her waistline. Uno’s Pizza actually has nutrition kiosks that let you punch in whatever you are/are thinking of ordering and it spits out the bad/OK news. Au Bon Pain does as well. We also have to remember, though, that the numbers can always vary wildly from reality - I used to waitress and I know chefs will finish off just about everything with a big mound of butter (which is probably why restaraunt food a) tastes so good and b) is always shiny and pretty.) So we can rely solely on nutritional info but also make requests like “steamed veggies” or “egg white omelette cooked in Pam, please.” Yes, I am that girl.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
A year ago, I would have said, it didn’t matter. Now, I would look and make a better choice. People need to have the motivation to want to make a better choice, the numbers themselves don’t really mean much.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I probably would still order it, I’d just feel more guilty about it lol. When I eat really bad stuff it’s a once in a while treat, so the fact that it has a gazillion calories or fat grams wouldn’t really change my decision. I already know all that stuff is terrible anyway.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:28 am
I think it’s a great idea, because I am sure a lot of people aren’t aware of how many calories/fat/sugar there are in a lot of restaurant meals.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Knowing how many calories is in the food I’m consuming is DEFINITELY important for me. I think all restaurants should be required to post this information somewhere it can be found easily. Some chains still don’t post their nutritional data on their websites, and a lot of the ones who DO end up making it difficult to find.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Unfortunately that would make zero difference for me. I’ve been counting cals for so long that even at restaurants I’m almost always able to guestimate how much I’m eating. So I already know and I STILL order crap that I know I shouldn’t be eating!
January 28th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Definitely would be a deterrent for me. If it’s right in my face, I would have to look. And then I would feel guilty and not want to order something so unhealthy–which would be a good thing!
January 29th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
At the very least, the people who were only ordering a salad because it seemed like the “low calorie choice” can order what they really wanted since it might even have fewer calories than the 1,000 calorie salad!