Calorie Counts for Fast Food - A Good Idea?

There's been a lot of buzz about the importance of having "in your face" calorie counts for fast foods. I'm wondering if seeing a calorie label posted by the food - in the same size font as the price - will be a factor in consumer choice. I'd like to think so, but I'm not so sure. Would it be a factor in your decision?

While I strongly believe in consumer education, there doesn't seem to be any convincing scientific evidence that this kind of labeling will be a deterrent to high-calorie choices. However, research doesn't always readily translate into real world food choices.

There is the common sense factor. I think seeing 540 calories listed beside a Big Mac might make people think twice. Or, an 8-piece bucket of KFC chicken (original recipe) with 1700 calories might help you re-do the math of how many people that bucket should feed.

Would knowing a giant soda contains nearly 1000 calories steer you to a diet soda, or just to a smaller regular soda?

It gets more complicated when you look at items like Taco Salads - a great choice without the edible fried bowl, but a caloric overload when the bowl is included. Or, how about added condiments? Sometimes simply deleting the mayo or special sauce is enough improvement.

When it comes to fast food choices (whether you've chosen to go there, or dragged along!), my recommendation to my patients is one I follow myself: stick with a kid's meal. Real food in small portions. With a water or diet drink, you're consuming around 500 calories, no matter which kind of restaurant you're in.

A lot of food for thought here... there are no easy answers. Let me know what you're thinking and take this survey!

Comments

Caloric content at fast food restaurants should DEFINITELY be easily accessible.

In fact, it is a requirement in New York City that certain fast-food and other chain restaurants disclose calorie information on their menus.

The secret to looking, feeling, and living better than ever is not by depriving yourself of the foods you love. It's by making the best choices in a variety of real-life situations.

The book 'Eat This Not That' is a comprehensive guide to what to eat at home, from the supermarket, even at a fast-food counter: http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_802473_eat_this_not_that_reviews

Do you know why a hot fudge sundae is a good dessert option? Why potato chips are better than fries? And why Swiss cheese is three times healthier than Cheddar? Read and eat smarter, and LOSE WEIGHT PERMANENTLY!

I would like a list of foods that reduce inflamation.

Judith

I have really like having the nutritional information on the fast food packaging. The way it really helps me is to make me realize how far my perceived nutritional values are off. So while it might not change my choice today, the next time I have to swing by the drive through window, I am armed with better information for my decision

how to increase height with help of exercises.is it possible after 21.

I don't know if it's the same in America, but in England, we have the nutritional information on the packaging in McDonalds, and it makes a huge difference on what I choose when my boyfriend drags me in there. Granted, it's not much use until you've actually ordered it, but it helps for next time.

I'm a type 2 diabetic and try very had to make decisions of what to eat and what not. I am indated with information and it is had to know what is right and what is not. Is their a simple way to know what is right? I need a simple source of information that reveals the correct daily emounts of what types of food to eat to include the calorie counts. Just a simple chart or what to eat and not to eat. I love fruits and learn that some of them are high in sugar which is not good. What are the lower calorie fruits that are o'kay to eat with out the guessing game I now experiencing. Their has to be a better way or a simple way to connect the dots. Fast foods are always a hard choice for everyone. It reminde of the cigaret industry loading up the cigarets with substant that make them addictive seems to be the food industry objective as well. Without and constrants out there to help the public thr food industary will run amock to make money and the competition between providers to out do and sell each other comes first.

I don't know how it is in the US, but at McDonald's in Canada ALL of the NI for every food on the Menu is printed on the back of the paper placemats. FYI: the bacon egg / sausage egg McGriddle is the highest calorie item on the Menu.

Also, every now and then I go to fast food restaurant websites and look up their NI, then I try to make a mental note of what the best choice is and get that item the next time I find myself there.

So...What to chose?!?!?

I for sure would love to see the calorie count on fast food items. I am always on the go and sometimes fast food is my only choice, so I just guess at which item has the least calories. And I'm not always right! I thought I was doing good with a chicken BLT salad from wendys and that has more calories than a burrito from taco bell!

I definetly would love for all fast food/chain restaurants to put the nutrition content on their menu, especially calorie, fats, and sodium, yes the fiber would help too since that does make a difference if you have something is high in fat. Because since they generally over do it anyway in the size of portions the least they could do is make it availble. I would like to be availble for drivethru/pick up menus too so we can watch our waistlines.