Weight Loss

Summary-

New Yorkers have been in the throes of sticker shock since this spring when the Big Apple became the first city in the country to implement a law forcing chain restaurants to post the calorie count of each food in the same size and font as the price.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25464987/

I found this article incredibly amusing, and I pray that other cities do the same.

Original Post by mediar:

 Im sure they could cook it healthier or SOMETHING to be more healthy. :P

 They can - and there's nothing wrong or embarassing about telling the server "no butter" or "half the sauce."  Most are willing to make those accomodations anyway.

Original Post by mediar:

Original Post by future_tadddei:

I eat out for one meal a week because I like eating out and I deserve it after a hard week of calorie counting :)  But, I only go to restaurants that post their nutritional information online.  That way I can keep my splurge in check.  There actually ARE moderately reasonable meals at most chain restaurants.  I decide what I want to order before I even step foot in the door, and I often don't even open the menu.  This helps me make a smart decision and allows me to enjoy myself before, during and after the meal.  And I never feel like I'm being cheated out of an enjoyable evening!

 Agreed, I also attempt to go to restaurants that post their nutrional information. However not enough restaurants do post the info I wish they did. And I still wish the moderatly resonable decisions were healthier. Im sure they could cook it healthier or SOMETHING to be more healthy. :P

I wish they could make it healthier and still make it taste good ;)

santonacci-I have no issues telling them to hold the sauce on the side for weight control purposes or stuff like that. I usually do. But the majority of people who arent educated enough, won't ask for no butter. And some are embarrassed. I personally would love to see a more fitter America, in where you don't need to ask the server to reduce the sauce or have better calorie/food ratio. For the standard uneducated American who doesn't pay attention to what he is shoveling in his mouth, it would be really nice to just have faith you can go to a restaurant and eat something "moderatly" healthy. This whole NYC calorie thing should at least START to get restaurants on that way of doing things.

For all we know the meal basically wont be cooked, if you don't use butter or the likes. And like someone said, we don't know if the restaurant did something funky to the rice to mmkae it have more calories. In that case I don't know how to "trim" the meal down to be more healthy.

future_tadddei-Every restaurant has some chefs driving the overall chain menu, Im sure their genius cooking minds can whip up yummy lighter versions of food. :) Now just to get them to do just that........

Original Post by future_tadddei:

I eat out for one meal a week because I like eating out and I deserve it after a hard week of calorie counting :)  But, I only go to restaurants that post their nutritional information online.  That way I can keep my splurge in check.  There actually ARE moderately reasonable meals at most chain restaurants.  I decide what I want to order before I even step foot in the door, and I often don't even open the menu.  This helps me make a smart decision and allows me to enjoy myself before, during and after the meal.  And I never feel like I'm being cheated out of an enjoyable evening!

Edit: Knowledge is power!

Thanks for posting this.  This is such an excellent idea.  This is what I am going to do this weekend.  I have a lot of events and functions, but so far have handled them by avoiding food and just having a few glasses of well known (calorie wise) wines. edit: I have also had people over to my home more frequently lately.

santonacci: You clearly don't understand what capitalist racism and classism really are if you believe a true victim of either can still be held responsible for their choices. 

Also, I posted in all caps and bold because I am very angry.  If I were speaking to you in person I would have raised my voice and emphasized the capitalized words.  When I'm less angry I post in a regular font.  That's what those html shortcuts are there for.  I'm not interested in repressing my emotions when it comes to things I am passionate about.

Original Post by todeinotaton:

santonacci: You clearly don't understand what capitalist racism and classism really are if you believe a true victim of either can still be held responsible for their choices. 

Come on now todeinotaton .  I know the system is messed up but I also know people still have the choice to ask for the cheese on the side. 

Original Post by todeinotaton:

santonacci: You clearly don't understand what capitalist racism and classism really are if you believe a true victim of either can still be held responsible for their choices. 

 Okay then - give me an example in which a person entering a McDonald's is actually forced, by the corporation because of their race and class, to make an unhealthy eating choice.

I wasn't aware that not using the bold function was "repression" - it was just a suggestion - nobody's forcing you or anything.

And if you were speaking to me face to face while raising your voice and accusing me of supporting corporate irresponsiblity, I would have politely bowed out of the conversation.  Nothing against you personally, but face to face conversations when one or both people are angry are rarely productive, at least in my experience.

I really don't see the racism or the classism in McD's and other fast food chains. I live in an ethnically mixed area (about 30%-30%-30%-10% black, Latino, and, by and large, ethnic European <think Polish-American, Irish-American, Italian-American, Czech-American, Slovak-American...>, the leftover 10% being Middle Eastern) and I don't see a difference in fast food marketing or presence in the different enclaves. The area is also quite mixed class-wise--mostly working class with some who are poorer and some who are wealthier. I also don't see a preponderance of one or the other groups when I go to fast food joints. The Middle Easterners avoid them like the plague (probably because the meat is neither kosher nor halal), but the other groups seem to frequent them about the same.

Clearly this is a hot button item for many people -- for many different reasons.  I am happy to see the decision, I've been waiting for two years to find out how many calories my favorite Cheesecake Factory meal has in it.  Note:  I won't stop eating it even if I find that it is 2,000 calories (although I doubt it's that much) -- because I really love it.  I don't go to CF with the expectation of getting a "healthy" meal, although I do usually replace any fries with "dry" asparagus, broccoli, or spinach -- and I don't eat salad dressings, anyway -- I go there to be with friends, enjoy a decadent meal, and have some fun.  I'll survive.

I rarely eat at "fast food" restaurants anymore, however I would definitely use the information to make a more informed choice on those occasions I do go.  

I think this is an excellent opportunity to have places "healthify" some of their meals -- maybe use a light mayo instead of full fat, etc -- but if it doesn't, well, consumers will still be informed.

I believe if you can read and comprehend, then you HAVE to take personal responsibility for your life and the choices you make.  This law simply gives you the information to make an informed decision about what to eat when eating at a fast food/casual dining establishment -- it doesn't make the choice for you.

 

I was delighted when the law was passed, because even though I don't live in NYC, it will probably be a big help to me.  Like an earlier poster, I eat out once a week (Friday date night with hubby) and I do the research ahead of time and know what I'm going to order before I even get in the car to go.  And guess where we usually go?  Chain restaurants, PRECISELY because most of them put at least SOME nutritional values on their websites, and I make my choice based on the ones they provide info for.  I'm hoping that now that all of them will post the nutritional info for everything, including the appetizers, soups, and deserts.   And the salads that are obviously higher cal, because they don't fit the "low cal" "heart-healthy" or whatever label the restaurant uses.  It would be nice to broaden my options ... at least a little, by knowing exactly how bad something is.  If it's so bad that it can't be incorporated into a healthy, balanced "maintenance" calorie day, then I probably won't ever select it.  But if I can plan ahead to compensate, and include it, that would be nice.  You know?

NEW YORKERS PLEASE POST THIS CALORIE INFO FOR THE REST OF US.  I can't wait to see how many calories are in Friday's, Olive Garden, etc for the meals they do not want us to know.  (or would I rather be stupid and eat a slab or rib and shrimp for 2,200 calories) hmmmm....let me think about that.....

I go to college in New York, and I am psyched that they passed this law. Not only will it take the "guesstimation" out of Starbucks runs and such, but it may also encourage restaurant chains to add even more healthy options.

And the shock that all these people got? That's good for them. Better to be aware than to wake up one day, surprised that they've gained 20 pounds.

Just like putting nutrition information on items in supermarkets was a positive thing, I think this is also.  It's a lot easier to take responsibility for what you eat if you have information about it.  I do understand the desire to "not know" -- sometimes I wish the prices weren't on the menu either!  But on the whole I think this is great.

I expect the big chains will start using lower calorie ingredients and/or reducing portion sizes in NYC only, but continue as they were in places where they don't have to reveal the calories.  So people in oklahoma with internet connections can check the wrong values.

Not sure it will help much with obesity rates, but we can hope for the best.

I agree with those who said that the restaurants should NOT be forced to post the counts. They need to be available, by brochure in the restaurant and online, but some of us use our eating out nights as "treats" and don't need to stare at the calorie content of everything if we don't want to. What is wrong with just making it available but not force it on people?

Plus, if you know anything about nutrition you wouldn't be surprised by any of these counts.

Original Post by choco9:

I agree with those who said that the restaurants should NOT be forced to post the counts. They need to be available, by brochure in the restaurant and online, but some of us use our eating out nights as "treats" and don't need to stare at the calorie content of everything if we don't want to. What is wrong with just making it available but not force it on people?

Plus, if you know anything about nutrition you wouldn't be surprised by any of these counts.

 The problem is that, at most places, it's *not* available.  If they instead legislated that every restaurant must have a stack of nutritional info. brochures at the entry point (clearly labeled so that you could find them and actually including everything on the menu), that'd be fine - but you can bet the restaurants would make sure they were almost always "out of stock".  Printing the info. directly on the menus avoids that. 

I went googling for nutritional info. before we went out for my dad's birthday dinner and I was *shocked* at, for example, the number of calories in a starter-sized caesar salad (not to mention the full day's worth of calories in the ribs - I knew they were bad, but not that bad!)  I managed to get a good idea of what would and wouldn't be "safe" to order - and made the happy discovery that the garlic mashed potatoes were actually better for me than the rice pilaf (at that restaurant, anyway).  Since then, I've surfed websites of some of our other regular restaurants and only about half of them have any nutritional info. on their websites.  Even so, I'd prefer not to have to memorize a list of "safe" entrees or pick my food in advance - though I'll do so until such a law is passed here.  Which, being Alberta, will in all likelihood be after I die. 

well, aovermy, that sounds like perfectly sound anthropological research to me!  it's settled then.  good work, sleuth. 

Oh my-- so many things I want to say in response to this-- I can't pick... Ok, I'll Pick.

"Finally!"

 

Aww I wish my city did this!  No more mental math trying to calculate the calories in whatever snack you choose...it's right there in front of your face!  Just a quick look along the snack counter and you know instantly how many calories everything has! *Sigh* What a convenience...and those New Yorkers were complaining. Ha. 

Also gi-jane, many, many people in america don't eat out because they are WEALTHY (check the last census info, honey), they eat out because they work two jobs to support their families and don't have time to cook, or, because they don't have access to healthy ingredients, or, because McDonald's is CHEAPER than a meal of fresh local organic veggies, lean meat and healthy fats!  I'm sorry for the double post, but this is really pissing me off.

todeinotaton - thank you for this post.  I had read this thread this morning and was thinking these exact same thoughts today. 

hahaha I LOVE the woman who was completely shocked and offended that her daily CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFIN had 630 calories in it.  What was she expecting?  Okay so that's a lot, even for a muffin, but still - it's chocolate!

I think nutritional info should be made avail for anyone who asks, but I agree that forcing restaurants to display them is a bit overboard.  People need to hold themselves responsible regarding being aware of what they're eating.  If they don't want to know, fine, but don't be surprised when any snack food you buy at Starbucks isn't healthy for you!

I would love it if more restaurants here made their calories available.  As it is, I rarely eat at restaurants who DON'T provide that info.  I won't refuse to eat there, but I like to know what I'm putting into my body.