Attempt to steer McDonald's diners toward smaller meals backfires(libs mad at low info voters)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 7/18/13 | Karen Kaplan

[DallasBiff]

You might think that customers buying their lunch at McDonald’s would order meals with fewer calories if someone handed them a slip of paper reminding them that women should eat no more than 650 calories at lunchtime and men should not exceed 800 calories. But you would be wrong.

Instead, researchers found that diners who received these supposedly helpful reminders actually purchased more calories than those who didn’t, according to a new study in the American Journal of Public Health.

The study authors — from the Department of Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Cornell University’s Department of Applied Economics and Management — stood outside two McDonald’s restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn. They approached diners on their way in and asked them to save their receipts and conduct a short interview after they ate their lunch.

In addition, some diners were handed information on the number of calories men and women should eat at lunch, and some were given information on the total number of calories men and women should eat in an entire day. A control group was not given any advice on the calorie front

[cripplecreek]

Funny thing about them there liberals.

Always concerned about everyone’s eating habits but won’t go anywhere near restricting food stamp usage to healthy food.

[madison10]

I’m thinking that if you’re going to McDonald's for a meal, you’re not thinking about calories.

Not true. Although I mostly brown bag or grab something from Kroger, McDonald's is the fast food restaurant nearest work. I am on a diet and most certainly look at the calories AND the prices. McD's is not the best place to go, but not bad. I usually check online for calories prior to leaving the office--"Favorites under 400."

[max americana]

You know those cups they give you at In N Out, McD’s, Carls etc..this dude saves them. When he’s thirsty on the road, he eats his sandwich in the lot and goes to the resto and presto: free drink with the cup he washes everytime.

[ConradofMontferrat]

Oh Boy, Oh Boy,

If not for that damn dollar menu, I’d have had to go without lunch!

No fooling.

[garbanzo]

The recovery has been robust for bankers and hedge fund managers, not so much for everyone else.

[jocon307]

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

[Tanniker Smith]

Walked into a Five Guys recently. Thanks to Bloomberg, they have calorie counts posted. Regular fries have (about) 600 calories. A large order has 1350 calories and costs about 50-75 cents more.

He'll, yeah, I'll take the large size! Best value in town. (P.S. I think they served me about two medium-large potatoes.

[GraceG]

You can lead a horse to water, but only a liberal thinks you can pass a law to make them drink...

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

McDonalds (or similar fast food chains) meals aren’t particularly calorific, compared to more upscale restaurants.

Do your own comparasions, using one of many handy on-line menu calculators, such as this one:

http://databases.sun-sentinel.com/news/health/ftlaudrestcalories/ftlaudrestcalories_list.php

[SamAdams76]

The only thing I like at McDonalds besides their salads (which are quite good) is the Egg McMuffin. Whoever invented that invented the near-perfect breakfast sandwich. I say near-perfect because when I make them at home, I use swiss cheese and real bacon as opposed to that circle of "Canadian" bacon.

Still, two Egg McMuffins in the morning will fuel me all the way to dinner.

As for the salads, skip the dressing and dump in a can of sardines packed in olive oil. That will provide a healthier dressing along with some protein. I keep tins of sardines in my glove compartment so I can always get a good lunch on the road when I'm pressed for time.

[BBell]

I've lived on Japan before. My Mother came to visit and one of the places I took her to was McDonalds. She questioned why I would take her to McDonalds? I told she had to try the teriyaki burger and the fries tasted different. She liked it.

[hsalaw]

I wonder what percentage of these folks can read the handout well enough to understand what info is being conveyed?

If they're "new school," we know they can't read it in cursive.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Social engineering doesn't work. Period. The only things that change people's behavior are 1. Deciding that changing is in their self-interest, or 2. Personally deciding, based on their own conscience and/or spirituality, that changing is the right thing to do. Smarmy academic attempts to ‘guide the little people’ are arrogant and usually destined to fail.

[max americana]

My fratmate who graduated in the same class as me in 07’ teaches English in one of the gakuens’ or high schools until now. He also told me that teens also hang out at Dunkin Donuts (seriously) are the cool’ kids. FYI, that Teriyaki Burger looks damn delicious.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

No one left in America can afford much of anything except for on the Dollar Menu - including me.

Me too.

Thank you, Dear Leader™

[Irenic]

When I go out to eat, I am not usually thinking about calories. I’m going to get what I want, regardless. Price would be about the only thing that would make me think twice. I can watch my calories at home. :p

I could be wrong but I was thinking that I’m not alone in my behavior. Well, the Hollywood sorts may be different but they’re not normal by my estimation.

[LostInBayport]

Hand out leaflets? Bah. This would turn people off MickeyD's in a flash.

[Vince Ferrer]

pretty soon those little buttons they press with a picture of a burger or shake on it will count up the calories you are ALLOWED to eat during lunch

Its just a database call from the cash register to your Obamacare database away.

[BenLurkin]

Don’t give the Statists any ideas!