calorie posting on NYC menus and stuff

[Otto the Orange]

I have to say, at first when I heard about it I thought it was such a waste.  Most people know when they are eating crap or not.  But now that I been here a few days I can say it has helped me make slightly better choices so I am all for it. 

Who knew a regular French Fries had almost the same calories as 2 Nathan's hot dogs?    

[movingforward]

There are a few restaurants here that do it but I wish all of them did.  A lot of times I look the facts up online.  It does affect my food choices.  I know it doesn't matter to some people but I like knowing...

[lynnerself]

All of our fast food places now post calories on their menu boards.
It's quite an eye opener sometimes.

[cronewitch]

You can also use it for other things like comparing sizes for value. Say small fries is 600 calories and medium is 1200 but medium cost more or less than twice as much you might decide to split a medium fries instead of each getting a small.

I wish they would list each ingredient for something like salad so if you skipped the croutons you would know if you saved enough calories to be worth it. You could compare salad dressings too.

It really doesn't matter to me since I don't eat out often. Last time I remember was last Christmas my mom and I split a veggie sub at subway.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

DH and I turned it into a competition for who had the most calories in one meal.

[sesfw]

Back on my soapbox again but it would be nice to put the sodium content for each item of the meal also.

[resolution]

We don't have the calorie counts yet but I am looking forward to it. I know a few times I skipped something I wanted and made what I thought was a healthier choice, only to find out later I had been mistaken.

[Cookies Galore]

I love it. Chains (and local establishments with x number of locations) and fast food places are required to post this info in Philly. It really should be nationwide. You can use the info or not, still your choice.

[hoops902]

::Most people know when they are eating crap or not.::

Agree, I think the help is what you mentioned about french fries vs hot dogs.  Most people know they're eating crap, but a lot of people don't know how much worse some crap is than others.  I'll sometimes not care that I'm eating a greasy pile of calories, but I might care if I realized that greasy pile had 3x the calories as either 1.  I thought it did OR 2.A greasy pile of something else.

[swamp]

Now that I know McD's frappes have about 600 calories in them, I don't have them nearly as much.

[Deleted]

I really appreciate it. I've lost almost 20 lbs. over the last few years and part of it is eating carefully. It doesn't mean avoiding all junk, but I do like to evaluate things to see if they're worth the calories. It's hard to estimate when "grilled" may be slathered with butter, "low-fat" may be loaded with sugar, etc. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised at the nutritional info; sometimes it's so outrageous I just laugh at it.

[greeniis10]

Aug 21, 2013 22:14:10 GMT -5 sesfw said:

Back on my soapbox again but it would be nice to put the sodium content for each item of the meal also.

A lot of the online sites do!  I've found that both fast food and chain restaurants have nutritional info online and they do list sodium amounts.  Be prepared to be shocked!  Some of the items are horrible!  I personally don't do fast food (and eat our very little overall) but every now and then I'd get a Taco Bell burrito until I saw the sodium counts!  Yikes!  No thanks.  I'll make my own...

[Formerly SK]

Aug 22, 2013 11:09:27 GMT -5 swamp said:

Now that I know McD's frappes have about 600 calories in them, I don't have them nearly as much.

I've done this as well with a few restaurants.  It's one thing to vaguely know a food is unhealthy.  It's another when you realize a snack is 800 calories. 

I ate at Ikea recently (no choice) and my lunch was 1500 calories.  I was starving and went with it, but I didn't enjoy a single bite.  I'll certainly never do it again.

[greeniis10]

And, just for all of the reasons everyone here has already mentioned I think calorie-listing (and fat grams, etc.) is more effective then the attempted soda ban in NYC.  Generally, if you try to BAN something people will rebel simply for the sake of not liking being told what to do or not do.  I don't think the soda industry will ever die, but people just need to use common sense about it: limits and moderation.  You can't teach that simply by banning something by size.  (I do give NYC credit for at least trying, though!  Perhaps they'll come up with a better plan next time.)  Maybe the labels on soda cans should be bigger and clearer.  Most people don't realize that there are several servings of soda per bottle.

[Chocolate Lover]

I was happier not knowing that the hot fudge sundae at McDonald's has 300 calories. 

[Miss Tequila]

I took my kids to Olive Garden last week (stop judging, they are kids and they love it!)...I was saddended to find out that their "healthy" options still have over 600 calories....that is half of a days calorie allotment in one sitting.  I prefered to put my head in the sand and eat it thinking I was being healthy...and if the healthy options have that many calories, what the hell do the unhealthy options have

[movingforward]

Aug 22, 2013 13:20:49 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I was happier not knowing that the hot fudge sundae at McDonald's has 300 calories. 

Funny, I was happy to find out it ONLY had 330 calories.  That is 1/2 the calories of that stupid McFlurry I used to get every once and a while.  Now I get a sundae instead if I have a strong craving.

[Chocolate Lover]

You just HAD to say McFlurry didn't you?!  

[lexxy703]

Aug 22, 2013 13:57:34 GMT -5 movingforward said:

Aug 22, 2013 13:20:49 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I was happier not knowing that the hot fudge sundae at McDonald's has 300 calories. 

Funny, I was happy to find out it ONLY had 330 calories.  That is 1/2 the calories of that stupid McFlurry I used to get every once and a while.  Now I get a sundae instead if I have a strong craving.

Me too! Plus it is only $1.25. I like the caramel sundae & it has a few more calories than the hot fudge.

[Deleted]

Aug 22, 2013 13:24:34 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I took my kids to Olive Garden last week (stop judging, they are kids and they love it!)...I was saddended to find out that their "healthy" options still have over 600 calories....that is half of a days calorie allotment in one sitting. 

And that's if you stay away from the breadsticks and drink zero-calorie beverages! They may just be going heavy on the olive oil, but if you're watching calories you need to know.

[Otto the Orange]

Aug 22, 2013 13:24:34 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I took my kids to Olive Garden last week (stop judging, they are kids and they love it!)...I was saddended to find out that their "healthy" options still have over 600 calories....that is half of a days calorie allotment in one sitting.  I prefered to put my head in the sand and eat it thinking I was being healthy...and if the healthy options have that many calories, what the hell do the unhealthy options have

You only eat 1200 calories a day??  Dieting or something?  Sorry to be nosey but that sounds low to me.....

[Cookies Galore]

Aug 23, 2013 8:12:28 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

Aug 22, 2013 13:24:34 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I took my kids to Olive Garden last week (stop judging, they are kids and they love it!)...I was saddended to find out that their "healthy" options still have over 600 calories....that is half of a days calorie allotment in one sitting.  I prefered to put my head in the sand and eat it thinking I was being healthy...and if the healthy options have that many calories, what the hell do the unhealthy options have

You only eat 1200 calories a day??  Dieting or something?  Sorry to be nosey but that sounds low to me.....

It's really low. That should be the bare minimum. Even when I was in weight loss mode I was eating more than 1200 calories a day.

[Deleted]

yeah, 1200 as the average daily intake has been upped a bit over the past few years. When I started MyFitnessPal again a few months ago, I said I wanted to lose 10 lbs and it told me to eat somewhere between 1375-1400 cals/day - and my starting weight was less than 140.

[Miss Tequila]

Aug 23, 2013 8:12:28 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

Aug 22, 2013 13:24:34 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I took my kids to Olive Garden last week (stop judging, they are kids and they love it!)...I was saddended to find out that their "healthy" options still have over 600 calories....that is half of a days calorie allotment in one sitting.  I prefered to put my head in the sand and eat it thinking I was being healthy...and if the healthy options have that many calories, what the hell do the unhealthy options have

You only eat 1200 calories a day??  Dieting or something?  Sorry to be nosey but that sounds low to me.....

I'm dieting...and those calories limits were approved by the nutrionist I saw.  On high exercise days the calories can go up to 1500 but on no exercise days they stay around 1200.  If you cut out the crap food and focus on healthy options, 1200 really is enough calories.  Cutting out breads alone saves 300-400 calories a day. 

[Otto the Orange]

Aug 23, 2013 8:42:02 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Aug 23, 2013 8:12:28 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

You only eat 1200 calories a day??  Dieting or something?  Sorry to be nosey but that sounds low to me.....

I'm dieting...and those calories limits were approved by the nutrionist I saw.  On high exercise days the calories can go up to 1500 but on no exercise days they stay around 1200.  If you cut out the crap food and focus on healthy options, 1200 really is enough calories.  Cutting out breads alone saves 300-400 calories a day. 

Oh ok, that sounds good then, I was just worried this was a forever and ever thing.  Good for you!  Good luck!

<<not that you need my approval or anything....sorry...hope I don't sound like a penis.....sometimes I think I should STFU>>

[973beachbum]

Aug 23, 2013 8:58:13 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

Aug 23, 2013 8:42:02 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm dieting...and those calories limits were approved by the nutrionist I saw.  On high exercise days the calories can go up to 1500 but on no exercise days they stay around 1200.  If you cut out the crap food and focus on healthy options, 1200 really is enough calories.  Cutting out breads alone saves 300-400 calories a day. 

Oh ok, that sounds good then, I was just worried this was a forever and ever thing.  Good for you!  Good luck!

<<not that you need my approval or anything....sorry...hope I don't sound like a penis.....sometimes I think I should STFU>>

I know I am probably older than most here, but the amount of calories i can eat after 40 dropped dramtically from what I ate when I was younger.

I really have to keep my calories to around 1200 to not gain weight now.  

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::" I'll sometimes not care that I'm eating a greasy pile of calories, but I might care if I realized that greasy pile had 3x the calories as either 1. I thought it did OR 2.A greasy pile of something else.":::...

I feel exactly the same way.  It was never about thinking I was eating healthy.  Its about assessing the true cost.  I never expect it to be 500 calories; but I sure want to know if I'm dealing with 1,500 or with 3,000.

The comment about "grilled" or "lite" is apt too.  Does grilled mean extra oil?  Does low fat mean heavy salt/sugar?

Even WITH those counts on the menu, its probably still safer to add a 20% fudge factor (sometimes, literally).  You know that the one the chain is reporting on was slightly smaller, and cooked much more lean.

LOL on the idea of "a la carte" calories.  "OK, so if we lose the croutons, but bring back the bacon bits and halve the dressing... where does that leave us?"

[Miss Tequila]

Aug 23, 2013 8:58:13 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

Aug 23, 2013 8:42:02 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I'm dieting...and those calories limits were approved by the nutrionist I saw.  On high exercise days the calories can go up to 1500 but on no exercise days they stay around 1200.  If you cut out the crap food and focus on healthy options, 1200 really is enough calories.  Cutting out breads alone saves 300-400 calories a day. 

Oh ok, that sounds good then, I was just worried this was a forever and ever thing.  Good for you!  Good luck!

<<not that you need my approval or anything....sorry...hope I don't sound like a penis.....sometimes I think I should STFU>>

Thanks!  I don't have the willpower for a forever and ever thing...hence my strict dieting now!lol

I'm not sure how one "sounds like a penis" (I'm going to have to listen closer to the penis next time...maybe I'm missing something!lol) but you were fine with what you were asking

[Chocolate Lover]

LOL on the idea of "a la carte" calories. "OK, so if we lose the croutons, but bring back the bacon bits and halve the dressing... where does that leave us?"

You can do just that on some websites. Subway, for one. When I really bored and trying to figure out how many calories something has, I find it entertaining. I think that may mean I need help.........  

[Otto the Orange]

Aug 23, 2013 10:28:52 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Aug 23, 2013 8:58:13 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

Oh ok, that sounds good then, I was just worried this was a forever and ever thing.  Good for you!  Good luck!

<<not that you need my approval or anything....sorry...hope I don't sound like a penis.....sometimes I think I should STFU>>

...............I'm going to have to listen closer to the penis next time...maybe I'm missing something!lol) .........

Ok I've recovered now............

But you should listen very closely, you are definitely missing something!