Take control of your own dietary health
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What if the next time you went to eat dinner at your favorite restaurant, the menu included the calorie content of each item?
Would you decide not to order your favorite dish because it had too many calories?
Legislation has been introduced in both New York City and California that would require chain restaurants with 10 or more units in the United States to post calories directly on the menu boards. The calorie count must be displayed in the same size lettering as the name of the menu item.
The regulations do not address the possible variations in calories that may occur when the customer chooses to add or leave off condiments or sauces.
The rule would not apply to small, mom-and-pop restaurants.
In New York City, there are hundreds of smaller independent restaurants. Most of the larger chain restaurants argue that the complete nutritional analysis of their menus is posted on their Web sites. Anyone interested can access this information and make choices based on health concerns.
Most of these chains offer a light menu with lower-calorie and reduced-fat options. Wendy's restaurants have voluntarily posted nutrition information in all North American outlets for nearly 30 years.
This discussion began with concerns from increasing rates of obesity. I think it is fair to say obesity is very complex and restaurants are not the only available source of calories.
New York restaurant-goers were interviewed about the new calorie information. Several said when they go out for a special evening, it wouldn't influence them.
Many were confused about how many calories they should eat in a day. Others simply thought it made the menu harder to read.
I have done my own nonscientific survey of my patients and gotten similar responses. One of my dietitian friends says she orders something she wants with the sauces or dressing on the side and then puts half the meal in a take-home box.
The real question is whether this approach will have any bearing on obesity rates. Sedentary lifestyles play an important role in this imbalance of calories in and calories out.
Individuals must be motivated to reduce intake from all sources and increase the number of calories burned in a day to reduce body weight. We should take personal responsibility for our health and not rely on government agencies to regulate our choices.
Kathy Warwick is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and nutrition consultant. E-mail her at kwarwick@canufly.net.
