Should Restaurants Post The Calorie Counts?

This morning on the Today show, they had a news story where in california it has become the law that restaurants post the calorie counts of their meals.  This is to help fight obesity.  But, the question was asked...will it.  Is this in the best interest of an overweight person?  Does it take out the fun of going out to dinner? What are your thoughts on this issue???  If you were not considering WLS, would this help you in your weightloss efforts, or would it make things more confusing for you?  As a post-op, do you think this would help you in making a better choice and would you like to see it become a national law? My opinion is that any information is useful information.  We just need more education on how to process all of this information.  I dislike going to restaurants because I feel like I am getting jipped.  The servings are too big, and even though I take home the left overs, I relly do not need a serving that big.  And then, not having the nutritional information, you think you are making a good choice, when in fact, you are not makes eating out even more discouraging for me.  then lastly, to eat out, it cuts into my workout time.  I know*I know.....So, I prefer to eat at home where I can control things better, including my time.  So, what are your thoughts on this issue?  Do you think it will help with the obesity issue, or do you think that people will overlook it?

Good am, I tend to agree with you as I DO NOT eat out as often as I once did even following WLS I ate out quite a bit but now I truly don't. Its much easier to control what I'm eating when I'm at home. However, it doesn't stop me from going out but what it DOES do is kicks me into preparation mode when I DO go out. I will make sure WHERE I'm eating and research the menu before I arrive. I do this the day/evening of so that I'm fully aware of the choices available to me and I'll even call ahead and ask how certain things are prepared and a lot of times what the fish of the day is (I love seafood) again so that I'm prepared ahead of time. I don't think this will hurt the obesity issue but I also think folks will pick and choose things based on what they want whether or not the information is available to them anyway. I think that in order to make this type of thing more effective education needs to happen EARLIER, FASTER and MORE ADAMANTLY. Frankly, it does start with our children and the schools simply don't do enough. Early education regarding many things shows that children introduced into lifestyles at an early age are more likely to stick to/with them. Now, that being said I think that this is also a situation where folks have CHOICES and if you think about this many go out to eat to get the things they do not have in their homes and don't/cannot fix. Eating out for the most part is for the convenience and in my opinion comes from some laziness which many eateries and restaurants thrive off of. Of course there is gathering together of groups and friends and family and such for joyous events etc however, frankly there truly isn't anything we cannot make in our homes/ourselves that we can buy in those places. I think that in reality food joints and such should address Obesity regardless of what type of establishment they are. I really do see many places attempting to change their menus by adding diet/weight friendly options but its just not enough. I think it should be mandatory that all restaurants and eateries should have to supply nutritional information on every dish they serve/sell. It's rather cliché but knowledge is power and I'd rather know then not. I do think its about arming ourselves with knowledge, planning ahead of time so we're not sitting there worrying over our choices and its the power within ourselves to make the best choices we can.

I don't know that many people will look at or care if they post the calories. It may make them feel guilty, but I don't know that it would stop them from ordering something. Don't many restaurants have nutritional information available if you ask for it? Are they thinking of putting it on the menu? I think Ruby Tuesday's did that for a while and then they took it off. I don't know why, but I remember noticing it. So I don't think it would be a bad thing - and it would certainly help those of us who need to know about these things! - but I don't know that it will help the obesity issue as a whole.

Jill, I think you hit on a more important point - serving sizes. It is hard not to sit there and keep eating at stuff on your plate, even if you don't want it. Especially when you're chatting with friends, or having a drink. If restaurants really want to do something, then I think they should make their serving sizes smaller and more accurate.

I love eating out. I'm not domestic - I don't enjoy cooking or cleaning my kitchen. I love being able to sit with friends and not have to worry about fixing the meal, or refilling the glasses, or getting them seconds, or cleaning up afterwards. Yes, it's lazy. But I live by myself so I usually eat alone on my sofa and that's no fun. And I truly can't cook many of the things that I can get in a restaurant. Partly because I'm a lousy cook and partly because it's just me. If I cook, there are usually a lot of leftovers that go to waste, which is wasteful and expensive. It's hard to buy just enough to cook for one person unless I eat leftovers all week long.

So, yes, I would love for restaurants to do more to help us eat healthy when we're eating out. But ultimately I am responsible for what I eat, not the restaurant. I think that restaurants will follow our lead - if we are eating less and lower-calorie options, then that's what they will do. Which leads us back to Kat's point about education.

Well, that's enough of Sarah's ramblings for one day!

Wel I like to eat out but don't do it as lucn as before as I am suspicious of what is in the food.... I am also like Sarah - I hate to cook and clean lol!  Thank goodness the BBQ  season is here - less dirty dishes! I think they should make ALL restaurants display their nutritional information on each dish  - even if the average person doesn't care - there are still many consumers who would look and base some of their meal choices on the calories, carb and sugar contents of the dish. (Weight conscious, diabetics etc) I am horriied when I see what looks like a safe innocent dish is in fact a trap for me! I usually stick with safe dishes when I eat out but have planned them before I leave the house to be sure. And you are right about the serving sizes!  They are way too big - they should half them and half the proces but of course that will never happen.....

Jackie

I do think it will make a "slight" difference. There is this breakfast burrito at Hardees that I wanted to try a little while back. But somewhere I read that it had 900 calories. ..so I've stayed away. I would like to see the nutrition menues more readily available.