Calories on Menus

If the calories for an item were listed on the menu, would it change the food you choose? In a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, knowing the calories does affect which foods parents would order for their children. Researchers surveyed 99 parents of 3- to 6- year olds about their fast-food dining habits. The parents were presented with sample McDonald's restaurant menus complete with current prices and pictures of the food items. One half of the parents were given menus that also listed the calorie information for each item. Parents given the calorie information chose 102 fewer calories on average for their children compared to the parents who did not have the calorie information on their menus.

New York City has the most stringent rules regarding calories on menus. All fast food restaurants with at least 15 outlets nationwide must list calories on the menu. Included in the new health care reform billed recently passed by both the senate and the house includes a provision for all restaurants with at least 20 outlets nationwide and all vending machines must list calorie content. When this will take effect is still unknown as lawmakers have until March 2011 to put the bill into law.

So, if Subway slapped a sticker on their cookie display that said "250 calories each", would it stop you from buying it?