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Calorie lists on menus do affect diner's choices
Beyond Koreanfornian Cooking ^ | December 23, 2009 | Tamar1973

Posted on 12/23/2009 11:15:19 PM PST by Tamar1973

USA Today reported the results of a study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The Yale University study divided diners into three groups.

• One was given menus with the calories listed for the dinner entrees.

• Another group was given menus that cited the calories plus a reference number that showed the recommended daily caloric intake for the average adult: about 2,000.

• A third group had menus with no calories listed.

(Excerpt) Read more at koreanforniancooking.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Science
KEYWORDS: calories; food; menus; restaurants
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The study found that the diners who were given the info on the number of calories for the dinner entrees as well as the recommended daily caloric intake for the average adult male (2,000 calories per day) were more likely to keep their caloric intake in check because they had a benchmark for the entire day as well as the meal itself.

Health activists in the U.S. have been working to try to pass laws requiring restaurants to publish this type of information for some time. New York City and Philiadelphia both passed this type of legislation in 2008 and the state of New Jersey is considering similar legislation. It has been even appeared in a version of the Health Care bill currently making its way through the US Senate.

I don't think the government, on any level, should be counseling people on their dietary choices. If a person wants to eat 500 calories a day or 5,000 calories a day is not the government's concern. Those kind of decisions are between the person and their doctor or dietitian.

1 posted on 12/23/2009 11:15:20 PM PST by Tamar1973
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To: TASMANIANRED; LUV W; MS.BEHAVIN; mylife; BIGLOOK; fishtank; PA Lurker; LonePalm; ...

What do you foodies think of restaurants that print calorie info on the menus? Do you use that information to make choices about what you’re eating or is it a waste of the restaurant’s money to research and offer that information?


2 posted on 12/23/2009 11:21:10 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Freedom of the Press?! I need Freedom FROM THE PRESS!)
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To: Tamar1973

I will look at the sodium intake. Of course I’m in a battle with that so I don’t see it as a bad thing. All of the other info doesn’t concern me.


3 posted on 12/23/2009 11:24:40 PM PST by eyedigress ( now.)
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To: Tamar1973

Eff no! Eating out is an indulgence.

You wanta count calories? learn to cook for yourself.

It’s ridiculous.


4 posted on 12/23/2009 11:24:56 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Tamar1973
Hardee's new Monster Breakfast Biscuit.

And, if you leave off the mayo---that saves about 25 cals.

5 posted on 12/23/2009 11:37:50 PM PST by Liz
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To: Liz
Two of those would be quite tasty about now, don't leave off the mayo either ;^)
6 posted on 12/23/2009 11:41:20 PM PST by The Cajun (Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
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To: The Cajun

” Two of those would be quite tasty about now, and don’t leave off the mayo”...............aaaaahhhhhh, that’s what I like to hear. LOL.


7 posted on 12/23/2009 11:53:58 PM PST by Liz
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To: The Cajun
I like Kewpie mayo best.


8 posted on 12/23/2009 11:57:07 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Freedom of the Press?! I need Freedom FROM THE PRESS!)
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To: The Cajun
Ready for dessert?


9 posted on 12/24/2009 12:01:21 AM PST by Liz
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To: mylife

I did learn a valuable lesson from reading the Carl’s Jr. nutrition list, though. The only difference between their $6 burger and their low-carb $6 burger is the bun. By leaving off the bun, you save 500 calories.


10 posted on 12/24/2009 12:09:30 AM PST by Tamar1973 (Freedom of the Press?! I need Freedom FROM THE PRESS!)
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To: Tamar1973

I eat what I want to eat!


11 posted on 12/24/2009 12:13:59 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: Tamar1973
What do you foodies think of restaurants that print calorie info on the menus?

I think it should be up to the establishment, but it would be good practice for a restaurant to have the nutritional information available via website or brochure. However, if the government is blindly mandating the placement of nutritional information on menus then that is a situation where there is too much intrusion. I would like the think as individuals we can make our own informed decisions without the help of incompetent bureaucrats with political agendas. Also, people should have the freedom to make decisions like this without government hand holding.

Do you use that information to make choices about what you’re eating or is it a waste of the restaurant’s money to research and offer that information?

It depends on the business. It depends on my circumstances. It may or may not be a waste of money. Subway may find more use calculating nutritional information as part of a marketing campaign than a smaller establishment which may find it not necessary and a waste of money. It depends on specific circumstances and that's the whole point of a free market... if enough people demand a product or service, eventually someone will supply it. Any amount of government intrusion will always take away from the maximum possible value in every transaction.

Personally, I find the information useful if I am dieting or generally curious. Does it make any difference in restaurant preference? I guess maybe to a small extent, but in general, I will be in favor of any decision that will help the consumer make a more informed decision. Would not supplying the information hurt business? Probably not... as long as the food tastes great, I don't think customers will care too much about the food information.

12 posted on 12/24/2009 12:35:43 AM PST by Cheap_Hessian (I am the Grim FReeper.)
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To: Tamar1973
The Yale University study divided diners into three groups . . .

A worthless study. Many years ago, I did epidemiology grunt work at Yale Med. The methodology used in this study would have been laughed over to the main campus and the sociology department.

13 posted on 12/24/2009 12:46:55 AM PST by Brugmansian
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To: Tamar1973

I learned in my late teens that calories mean nothing. If I have a weight probem and eat 2000 calories of sirloin steak one day, and the next day I eat 2000 calories of pizza, guess which day I will gain weight?

LOL!


14 posted on 12/24/2009 4:10:26 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: Liz

Let me have 3 custard filled chocolate covered ones. Also a cinnamon roll........oh yeah, a diet coke. LMAO!!


15 posted on 12/24/2009 4:13:19 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

16 posted on 12/24/2009 5:49:16 AM PST by Liz
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To: Tamar1973
.....from Carl’s Jr. nutrition list...... leaving off the bun saves 500 calories.....

How come Paris Hilton eats the whole Carl’s Jr. burger
and still manages to get into this bathing suit? (/snic)

I think she likes it....but then, that's just my opinion.

17 posted on 12/24/2009 5:56:57 AM PST by Liz
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To: Liz

Morning, Liz ;-)


18 posted on 12/24/2009 6:14:45 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: mylife; Tamar1973

“You wanta count calories? learn to cook for yourself.”

Tamar did ;-)


19 posted on 12/24/2009 6:16:06 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: Liz; Tamar1973

“How come Paris Hilton eats the whole Carl’s Jr. burger
and still manages to get into this bathing suit? (/snic) “

Simple....she didn’t eat for the two previous days.


20 posted on 12/24/2009 6:17:54 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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