Restaurant Calculators

May 08, 2010

With the new national healthcare legislation that has passed, restaurants will be required to put fat-grams and calories on menus so people will know exactly what they are putting in their bodies before they consume it. I think this is a great idea. This was done in New York a year or two ago. Of course, it was met with a huge push back back by the restaurant industry. They claim that they provide this information in their restaurants either on posters (conveniently hidden way in the back by the bathrooms) or behind the counter available upon request. This way of conveying the information is more effective at getting people to realize what they are actually consuming.

Burger King has a great nutritional information calculator that lets you select each menu item and it ads it to your "Meal" and then gives you the total calories. A typical order for me used to be a whopper (670cals), large fries (540cals), large chocolate shake (960cals) - 2,170 calories. That is one meal. Add to that two extra meals and it's no wonder I was 300+ pounds.

Most of these fast food chains and larger restaurants provide their nutrtional information online but, when you are there, what's the point? They know this. I try to review restaurant's menus and nutritonal information before I go and have a dining plan so I don't order what sounds good. Normally, what sounds good to me is a fatty or savory item not a lean protein with a fresh fruit or vegetable on the side. (See my previous blog entry!).

Some people think adding this information to menus is too in your face. I think it's a long time coming. Our society is getting obese because we consume far too many calories. Showing them how many they are taking in at the point of consumption is a great starting point. It might not stop someone who really wants a Double Whopper but, it might make them think twice.

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