60 minutes...

[JenL13]

Did anyone happen to catch the segment on 60 minutes just a few minutes ago? I was flipping between games & it caught my attention so had to stop & watch.

It was about restaurants posting nutritional information the menu boards that you order off of. I have mixed feelings on this to a point but in the end I think it would be good.

What I like:
-hopefully will make places offer more healthy choices
-will be able to give those who don't have the means to find it before a chance to know when ordering
-more healthy americans and less spent on health care...

Don't like:
-I do think they are trying to make other responsible for what I believe is my responsibility- I ALWAYS check a place out on-line if possible when I know I'm going out to eat... however, not every american household has computers or internet or the parents don't have the time to log on the computer before running to get dinner before a game!
-I think we should worry more about EDUCATING people to make right choices & not do the work for them, this will always keep them "lazy" like they are now and expect others to do the work for them
-If they are going to make certain places do it then all restaurants in that specific "class" should have to, not just some but not others...

Anyway, just curious what this health minded wonderful crowd thought?

 

[Miss Lee]

I missed it, Jen, but I'm of the belief that we must each take personal responsibility for our food choices. I mean, people KNOW that a steady diet of McDonald's is a bad thing and we don't need anybody to tell us that a 1/4 lber and fries is fattening, for crying out loud! People need to exercise a little common sense.

 

[RunninTeach]

I didn't see the piece, either, but personally, I'm in favor of posting nutritional info on *all* menus - or at least make it available to those who ask. I do make a point of looking up info beforehand, if possible, but for many restaurants, "official" information may not be fully available.

Perhaps requiring nutritional info to be published will nudge us away from this super-sized portion mentality.

[font face="heather" font color=black size=+2]~Cathy[/font]
[font face="comic sans ms"]http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/runninteach/th_sunshine.gif

 

[Govtgirl]

I'm all for common sense. I don't care about having the nutritional value posted. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that plate heaping with enough pasta to feed a small village from the Cheesecake Factory isn't going to melt off the pounds.

However, I *would* like to see the Health Department report prominently posted. I live in Virginia, and loved when I visited California, to see a big blue "A" posted in the window. I have to go to the VA state website to look up restaurants. There are some I will NEVER eat in (bugs under the counter, employees not washing their hands...blecchh!)

The nutritional value is all just common sense. Baked potato good, french fries, not-so-much!

 

[lioness]

I saw parts of it last night. Whereas I think it's a good idea, I think that most people walking into McDonalds are not going to care about the nutritional value. If you are looking to eat healthy, McDonalds is the last place to go. I know that you can request the nutritional information at Taco Bell because I was with someone who asked for it before ordering.

To be perfectly honest, I think most people don't care or use the excuse that they are just too busy to think about the nutritional value of food especially if they are too tired to cook and just want to get the kids fed and quiet.

Healthy eating is common sense but it's a change that is going to happen gradually.

 

[andtckrtoo]

I'm all for it. For those who do care, it will help them make wiser choices (sometimes what looks good for you, is not - and vice versa). And people who don't care will ignore it. In my opinion, the more information we have, the better off we are.

 

[melrose]

I watched it. It was mildly interesting, especially when people were interviewed in the food court at a mall, and thought their 1,300-calorie meals were about 300 calories. Some of it was a total set-up, though. The news anchor, who was about as big as my little finger, walked into Subway, ordered a 12-inch sandwich with extra mayo, then acted surprised when she discovered it didn't have the same calories as listed on the menu board, which clearly stated the calories for a 6-inch sandwich without mayo - sheesh.

 

[JenL13]

I do agree that having it listed isn't a *bad* thing, I just think that spending the time wasted on debating this would be put to better use if they spent the time & money to educate people. However, to educate adults they have to want to learn as as many have stated - most probably care less.

I really feel bad for the children of parents who care less about nutrition. I was brought up eating out quite a bit and always had junk in the house but did manage to *teach* myself about nutrition and wasn't fed McDonalds daily like so many kids are these days. Just makes me sad. :-(

 

[kathryn]

I think it's a good idea.

Yes, we are all responsible for our own choices, but you need to make an informed decision, and without information, that's hard to do.

Some restaurant foods can seem healthier than they are, so knowing what their nutritional profile is can help consumers make those choices.

Also, though people supposedly 'know' that fast food is not good for them, I think many of them are in a state of denial. If they really were confronted with how many calories and grams of fat are in foods, it might give some of them, at least, pause for thought.

And maybe having to reveal the nutritional content of their foods would make restaurants tweak them to make them better? Who knows.

 

[MSJ]

I would love for restaurants to do this voluntarily and I think if enough consumers demand it, it will happen. I have mixed feelings on whether the government should mandate it. I love the fact much of what I purchase in the grocery store has nutritional information on it and that is very convenient. It would be nice if meat and produce had this information as well. But it is easy enough to find elsewhere.

Another question, doesn't everyone take health classes in school and if so, what exactly are they teaching? It seems basic nutrition, calorie counting, and common sense stuff like that should be covered. It's not rocket science.

For me it's not that I'm uneducated about food though, it's that I love food and practicing self-control is difficult, although it can be done.

Maggie

 

[lesliew]

I have mixed feeling about this. While I think fast food restaurants should have the nutritional info listed because most of the food is prepared ahead of time, it's very hard to control other types of restaurants. Do you really think chefs will list the stick of butter they add to the Fettuccine Alfredo??? There's no control over what chefs put in the entrees listed on a menu, so posting this may be misleading.

But really. I'm getting tired of the dumbing down of America. Heaven forbid we should have to think for ourselves! And heaven forbid we practice self-control!

 

[RunninTeach]

I see your point, Leslie, about individual restaurants, but for chain restaurants (e.g. Chili's, Applebee's, etc.) where the cook does not deviate, it makes sense.

I respectfully disagree with those who say it is a matter of common sense - if it were, we wouldn't have an obesity epidemic.

As others have stated, sometimes what appears to be a healthy (or healthi-ER) choice is actually not.

As with our highly successful anti-smoking campaign, we (in the States) have taken a step in the right direction in terms of providing nutritional information to consumers. I know when I am visiting the fam in Europe, I miss the smoke-free environments and being able to find nutritional information printed on most of my groceries. But they are following suit. It's a good thing, IMO.