(Calorie counts on restaurant menus-GET DOWN!)
Well healthkickers, our time has come to take our diet under control. In a few months, if you live in California, you'll probably notice something a little different in menus across the state. Calorie counts, carb counts, sodium counts on everything from steaks and hamburgers, to salads and soups.
"The new bill will require restaurants in California with 20 or more locations to provide brochures with nutritional information by July 1, 2009. By Jan. 1, 2011, restaurants will need to post calories on their menus and menu boards for all to behold." - LA times.
I love this new law. I hate to admit it, and I'm sure it's a real pain in the ass, but when you take into account how much we spend eating out, and how little we know about what we eat (i.e. amounts of sugar in savory items), it would be nice to see what we are doing.
But to drive it home, here's Arnold with a golden quote:
"In the last decade Californians have gained 360 million pounds. Think about that for a little bit. Now, when I was in the Austrian Army I drove a tank that weighed 50 tons. Now multiply that by 3,500. That's as many pounds as Californians have gained. That's huge." - The Governator.
You gotta love the weight loss and tanks metaphor. Obesity while being bad ass. That's what we call "staying on message."
What do you think of this new law? Do you think it will work?
(Calorie counts on restaurant menus-GET DOWN!)
Comments (76)
Ha! How about a law requiring each entree to be under a certain number of calories instead of the size of 2 meals? And a requirement that each entree contain at least 1 serving of a fruit or vegetable. People should have to buy an entree that two people can eat and then have to buy another salad separately. You already wiped out their wallets by forcing them to eat two meals per meal. Yes, you can split it but it looks cheap and the person you're with may not want exactly what you want.
Let's get back to the days where meal sizes actually reflected normal size meals instead of ostentatious displays of calories.
pfft, we have that in ny and it's kinda ineffective cause it turns out a lot of places post inaccurate calorie counts.
that would be nice if they had that in my state too!
we had this in new york city first.
and well...
I don't know if this will change anything or not, but I think it's a great idea! A lot of food from eating out is horrific. Especially Baskin-Robbins.
I would love to have that law here in Mass.
@parathis@xanga - That's a bit extreme isn't it? You can't force people into eating healthy, what they decide to put into their body is their choice.
I hope this law will have at least some effect! If people are constantly reminded of how much calorie every meal has, maybe more people will start to pay attention..and some of those people could start making healthier choices in the future!
I love this law, and I agree all states should pass it. Even if people disregard it, it is helpful to those who don't. If I want to splurge one day on a ridiculously high calorie meal, then I like knowing how much I did consume so I can work it off the next day or eat lighter meals throughout the following week. We were all eating this stuff before. Now the only difference is that we can do proper damage control later on.
We've been doing this in New York for almost a year now (posting calories on menus). It's great - it makes me much more aware of my intake and has definitely changed what I eat.
I think it will do a great deal who people. Especially on the menus. Those who don't normally think about it will. Those who could care less will probably continue to care less.
I wish they would do it everywhere and not just in that one state
They are already doing it at CPK. prepare yourself for shock if you like pasta dishes
It's about time! I hate having to look up the freaking calories online before I go anywhere, even for places like Starbucks. Maybe this new law will get them to cut down the calories on the calorie packed foods so they seem more appealing. Whatever happens, I'm just glad he made this decision. This is gonna help so many people.
wow. Although i'm no longer a resident of california, that's really good to hear ! america has been gaining weight like crazy these past few years. &personally, i think this act won't affect SO many people. i mean, just because they see it, doesn't mean they'll stop. This is, however really good for solving the obesity problem in california.
p.s. i love that quote. XD.
i like it, because i WANT to know all the shit that goes into my body(not that it matters, because i dont live in CA), but i dont think its going to help with the obesity rates, because fat people got fat by not reading the nutritional information. what makes the Governator think theyre going to read it now?
I think its cool to have the information on hand if some one REQUESTS it. But to make all these resturants make new menus and such is a bit much. Esp. since it wont be exact anyhow, with each different location and cook, your bound to have some be more and others less depending on how they prepare it.
The brochure thing Yes. Thats good for those who care. But on the actual menu? No thanks, i think thats a waste.
Can I move to California now? They need to pass this law on and over to NJ please.
My prediction is that people will be surprised/shocked about how many calories are in dishes, they will start picking the slightly lower calorie choices, and restaurants will try to figure out ways to bring down the calorie count of all of their menu items.
Or people will just accept it and maybe be a little depressed each time they go out... or go out less... idk!Arnie. Beloved Governor. . . . NAHT!
i love that idea!
I like this because of the sexellent metaphor-- I actually giggled upon reading that-- and because it's pretty cool that chains have to put up brochures for the world to see how much calories are in the food.
I'm sure it would work for those who go out to eat all the time and are still looking to lose a few.
wow. i already saw one restaurant that had that though. i was surprised.
New York already has a law like this and I love it! :) Whenever I leave New York, I fear looking at menus without nutritional values lol. But really, I think there should be more than just calories displayed on menus.
When did this become a responsibility of the government? This is just another example of the government taking more power than it should.
Yes, it would be nice for the restaurants to post nutritional information, but I don't need the government to enact a law to get it done. I thought this was a free market? So let the free market speak! If people really want nutritional information so badly, the restaurant will post it or they will get less business-- that's how the free market works.
Not to mention that this is a complete waste of time. Most restaurants already have their nutritional information posted on the internet and anyone who will actually make dietary decisions based on nutritional information would already be using the internet source. Anyone who wasn't already seeking out nutritional information will look at the big posting with either a glazed expression or they'll remark on the calorie content of a certain item and then order food with no basis on nutrition.
Bring it to texas! Bigger is NOT ALWAYS better !!