Depending on what state you live in, you may have noticed calorie counts displayed next to each menu item in chain restaurants. New York, California and a few other states have passed laws making it mandatory to label menus with certain nutrition facts. Furthermore, if the health reform bill is passed, all restaurant chains nationwide that operate 20 or more stores will be required to display calories next to the menu item and make other nutritional facts easily accessible within the restaurant.
We could soon see a drastic change in the appearance of our menu’s, but will this mandatory menu labeling really help American’s make healthier eating decisions? Proponents of this law think it will do just that – and more.
In a published article on MSNBC, Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C., said that more than 80 percent of New Yorkers ordered differently when seeing calorie counts.
With two-thirds of American’s being overweight or obese, making it easier to choose healthier options when dining out is needed now more than ever.
“People have a right to know what’s in their food so they can make their own choices,” said Wootan. “If someone is going to sell you a 3,000-calorie appetizer, they should tell you, so you can decide for yourself if you really want to eat 3,000 calories.”
However, others argue that displaying calorie totals on the menu might not have the desired effect, mainly because nutrition information has been on packaged foods for years and the number of those over-weight have still sky rocketed. So, how is labeling menu items going to be any different?
In my opinion, it’s not the answer, but rather a small step in the right direction. I regularly check a restaurants website for nutrition information before even stepping foot in the place just to make sure there isn’t any hidden surprises. Plus, the few states that have passed menu labeling laws have reported some positive effects from it.
However, losing weight, keeping it off and improving your health takes a lot more than ordering the glazed donut from Dunkin Donuts because it’s lower in calories than the chocolate iced bismark. It’s about slowly incorporating a variety of healthy, nutritious foods into your diet as often as possible until eating healthy becomes a lifestyle, not a daunting task that involves counting every calorie, carb or gram of fat that you consume throughout the day.
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