Fight Fat with Calorie Counts?

By Christine Boyd, September/October 2009

The pros and cons of a proposed menu-labeling law.

READER'S COMMENT:

"People who go to fast food restaurants know that they are going to eat fat. They either will not read the chart or ignore it if they do read it. I live by calorie counts and I will not go into a fast food restaurant. All deserts, sugar...

COMMENTS	POSTED
People who go to fast food restaurants know that they are going to eat fat. They either will not read the chart or ignore it if they do read it. I live by calorie counts and I will not go into a fast food restaurant. All deserts, sugar and red meats have high calorie counts; chicken, fish, fruit & veges don't: That about says it all. Al — Anonymous	10/23/2009 - 11:40pm
I think posting calories on menus has great value. As customers, we want to know the dollar cost of a meal before we dig in. And I urge my clients to think of calories the same way, as part of an informed decision making process. I do not think we want to define success for calorie posting with the single criteria of calorie reduction. I am not sure behaviors can be changed with just numbers, but without those numbers being posted the person who wants to exercise discretion and choice has a significant disadvantage. So I would like to find other criteria for success. Like the number of places I can eat and exercise my right as a diner to make an informed decision… Linn Steward RD — Anonymous	10/14/2009 - 4:27pm

COMMENTS

POSTED

People who go to fast food restaurants know that they are going to eat fat. They either will not read the chart or ignore it if they do read it. I live by calorie counts and I will not go into a fast food restaurant.
All deserts, sugar and red meats have high calorie counts; chicken, fish, fruit & veges don't: That about says it all.
Al

— Anonymous

10/23/2009 - 11:40pm

I think posting calories on menus has great value. As customers, we want to know the dollar cost of a meal before we dig in. And I urge my clients to think of calories the same way, as part of an informed decision making process.

I do not think we want to define success for calorie posting with the single criteria of calorie reduction. I am not sure behaviors can be changed with just numbers, but without those numbers being posted the person who wants to exercise discretion and choice has a significant disadvantage.

So I would like to find other criteria for success. Like the number of places I can eat and exercise my right as a diner to make an informed decision…
Linn Steward RD

— Anonymous

10/14/2009 - 4:27pm