food chains having to post nutritional info

[carres1973]

At first, I thought it was a good idea. However, like Michelle stated, I don't like it being mandated. Most, if not all, of the fast food type restaurants in my area already provide this information in pamphlets in their restaurants and online. As others have stated, when I go out, I am going out for a treat. I know I will (usually) not be eating as healthy as I normally do. I don't think that the people this law is supposedly targeting to help, will either pay attention or care....or even know how many is too many calories.

I would like to see the same emphasis on education as is now being contemplated for reproductive education (sex ed). How about we put out mailers, have commercials, etc. on how much is too much? When I was in the military and stationed in Germany, there was AFN TV. They had the dumbest commercials on things such as health, military history, etc. One that I clearly remember though tells how to ROUGHLY calculate how many calories a woman and a man need to eat to either maintain current weight or lose weight. Try that in the US as opposed to all of the commercials for Viagra or Cialis!!! They can even be "sponsored" by Hostess...just like some of the tobacco education commercials are sponsored by Phillip Morris!

Carrie

 

[carres1973]

I'm sorry it's being (or potentially being) compelled. I'd rather see nutrition postings come about because restaurants find it a good way to serve customers, and do it voluntarily.

In airports, I'm often stuck with a chain, and I always choose one that posts nutrition information if I can find it. It's not always possible to carry healthy food with me, unfortunately, so this is the next best thing.

Anyone using the ipod touch apps for looking up restaurant nutrition? Those are such a big help when a person can't get to a better option.

Which app is this? I am definitely interested!

Carrie

 

[RapidBreath]

I always look at a restaurants web-site for nutrtion info before dining there.

Me too, I make a list of acceptable food choices and pick from that.

 

[GMonkey]

I think that anyone selling something to be ingested by consumers ought to be prepared to tell said consumers what they are ingesting.

 

[hiitdogs]

I think that anyone selling something to be ingested by consumers ought to be prepared to tell said consumers what they are ingesting.

Amen to that!

 

[Vee]

.......To show how uninformed many people are--even otherwise intelligent ones: I was recently at a Teaching Professors conference where during one session, we did an activity estimating different things, like speeds, distances, amounts--first separately, then in groups. One of the things we were to estimate was the grams of fat in a McDonald's meal of a Big Mac, Large Fries and shake. I estimated 45-65 grams. One woman thought I was WAY overestimating, and that it was more like 5. Five? Who's the crazy one? Most everyone else agreed with her (though not quite that low, they said more like 15). I just looked it up, and it looks like my estimate was actually a little LOW.

I think nutrition info should also be posted in "number of minutes running at 6 miles per hour to burn off this". I once asked a group of very educated people to guess when we were out at lunch and I had the same experience of gross underestimation. To a lot of people I know, even gms of fat or calorie counting doesnt mean much.

 

[carres1973]

I think that anyone selling something to be ingested by consumers ought to be prepared to tell said consumers what they are ingesting.

I think it is a great idea to have ingredients listed...especially so those with allergies can be sure of what they are ingesting. We will finally know the Colonel's secret recipe!

Carrie

 

[GMonkey]

Hah! The Colonel can keep his recipe! I've been baking my chicken with flour and cornflake crumbs for years and it's way better.

 

[ldy_solana]

besides burger king/mcdonalds i never worked in a chain restaurant, i always worked in more private mom and pop diners and delis. when dh hired somebody at the college(chef) from applebee's the guy didn't have a clue on how to really cook!! WHY? b/c he said they basically reheat or microwave everything. go to applebees and order a burger or steak and you have to choices well done or medium. b/c its already cooked so they can't custom cook your order!

on top of ingredients and calorie counts etc nobody ever tells you that! i will take a mom and pop shop anyday of the week! i pretty much know how they cook and yeah its not always healthy but personally i don't go out to eat for healthy. i make wiser choices now but i know they are not 100% what i would make at home but i feel comfortable. plus i can read all health dept. inspections of all restaurants,schools,colleges in my area,even the kitchens dh and i work in. everything is listed there and nothing is held back.

i despise chain restaurants aside from a few like subway or jersey mikes. i refuse logan's,applebees etc since i have learned why their food is no good b/c its pre cooked and processed. no thank you who wants indian at least i can see in their kitchen and watch them cook!!

kassia

 

[morningstar]

I would love to see it made law everywhere- I would eat out more, not less, as the main reason I don't eat out much now is because I don't know what's in the food I'm eating. So the food industry would make more money off me. I would also like an ingredient list of what is in the recipes. I also think this might force the restaurant industry to start making healthier food- always a plus.

 

[kathryn]

I think that anyone selling something to be ingested by consumers ought to be prepared to tell said consumers what they are ingesting.

Amen to that!

ETA: Carola, I posted this comment before seeing yours. Seems we have the same reaction! (And I'm not even religious, LOL!)

 

[ladysaraii]

I dont think it should be mandatory, but if they do do it, it should not have to be added to the menus. Even if all the info was in a booklet that the customer could ask for.

Will it change people's eating, I dont know. I dont know how many calories are in Outbacks cheese fries, but I bet its a whole lot. But when I go out, i assume it's a whole lot and dont try to fool myself into thinking its healthy.

 

[jonahnah]

I guess I'm one of the few that LOVES seeing the nutritional info in the store or on the menu right up front. I know that Starbucks in NYC had to change its menu because the big calorie items (eg. cinnamon chip scones = 500 calories; cookies = 380 calories ) weren't sellling well once the nutritional info was posted. Consequently, they introduced bite size scones and cookies (approx. 80-140 calories each) which became hot sellers.

My biggest gripe is restaurants add a lot of hidden fat and calories that aren't apparent (heavily buttering grilled veggies, chicken breasts etc.) Also, I do believe that insane portion sizes have contributed enormously to the US obesity problem. People who posted here about their experiences w/ others dramatically under-estimating calorie and fat content just confirms that IMO. Information is power and if posted nutritional info makes even 10% of people make healthier food choices, we're all better off.

 

[NY25]

I think a few people are overlooking something - all those restaurants that have info pamphlets available or websites you can go to to look up nutrition information - that is not something they did out of the goodness of their hearts. That was MANDATED. They had to do that. The issue here is NY was you could go in to some restaurants and ask for the pamphlet and the restaurant would conveniently be out of them - or they would post a poster in some place where no one could see it, because the law was vague. This posting on menus was more or less forcing these companies who were trying to evade the law into abiding by it. Additionally, if you have to go to a website, it does you no good when you're at the restaurant (who really plans a trip to McDs ahead of time and then goes and looks that up - very few people). This is a very important piece of legislation frankly - there is a SALAD on the menu at Chili's that has 2 days+ worth of sodium in it!!! No one in their right mind would expect that, and that information should be available to everyone. They can then do with it what they like.

 

[kirsten777]

Excellent point, TeTe!! DH and I almost NEVER eat at chains, favoring our local independent restaurants, which have much higher standards and better food overall. Most of them use fresh, seasonal produce from local producers, too, so you're supporting your community all the way around. It would be darn near impossible for them to comply with nutritional information mandates.

Plus from I understand, it is incredibly expensive - so it would hurt independent/non-chain restaurants financially too.

I agree, that it shouldn't be law - I know if something is healthy or not, and if I choose to have a bacon cheeseburger with fries at Red Robin, I know the calorie/fat content/sodium etc. ain't good!

 

[MadnNatsmom]

Plus from I understand, it is incredibly expensive - so it would hurt independent/non-chain restaurants financially too.

I agree, that it shouldn't be law - I know if something is healthy or not, and if I choose to have a bacon cheeseburger with fries at Red Robin, I know the calorie/fat content/sodium etc. ain't good!

You and I may know whether it's healthy or not, but many people don't. Many people still don't know that the "Filet o'fish" sandwich at McDonald's is not any healthier or less fattening than a Big Mac.

I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable and I had a feeling that the breakfast burrito at Farmer Boys was bad, but had no idea HOW bad.

I thought the chicken burrito at Chipotle was relatively low in calories. Wrong!

There are nutritional labels on foods in stores. I don't see a difference. I think it gives power to the consumers.

 

[MadnNatsmom]

I read an article when they passed a law in NY that restaurants / chains had to post the nutritional information. They interviewed quite a few people and many of them said they'd rather not know. I guess the saying that ignorance is bliss is still valid I can't find the article right now.

My non-scientific, personal experience bolsters this "ignorance is bliss" mantra that many people have.

And, then, these same people wonder why they're gaining weight . . .

 

[carres1973]

I would like to add to my earlier post by saying it isn't that ignorance is bliss for me but I do believe in personal accountability and personal choices. I do not believe that the vast majority of people think eating most of the things on the menu at McDonald's is healthy. Take, for example, the movie Supersize Me. The "actor" ganied weight because of the choices he made from the menu, not because he was eating at McDonald's. No, a Filet O' Fish isn't the best choice but it does have almost half the fat (but still a lot) of a Big Mac and 160 less calories. I don't think this law would affect McDonald's either way because they do provide nutrition information in their stores and it is also easily accessed on their websites. Harder to find nutrition information is from restaurants like Olive Garden, Outback (they flat-out refused when I requested), etc. However, for me, it is about personal choice. When I go to Olive Garden it is as a treat. I know I am going to eat well over a meal "allowance" so I budget for it...just like I do a purchase. I would like to see "us" teach people how to eat better and make smarter choices as opposed to having to govern everything.

Carrie

 

[Liann]

I do like to splurge a little when I go out, but I think the info. should be available to me if I want to see it. Especially when it comes to certain ingredients like MSG. I worked at a restaurant that put it in EVERYTHING - baked potato:check, steamed veggies:check, grilled salmon: check. I think the consumer should be able to make more informed decisions about what goes into their mouth. Not sure the nutritional info. would even cover MSG though.