Posted Calorie Content

As of tomorrow or 12 midnight tonight Pacific Standard Time, a new California law states that any restaurant with 20 or more locations has to post the caloric information of all of their items on their menus and indoor menu boards.  They also have to provide brochures with nutritional content.  Brochures?  Why do both?
 
Do you think this will make a difference in the eating habits of Californians?  (My mother doesn't count)   If I want to eat something, there is no way that the caloric content will make an iota of difference.
 
Do you care about this?  I do not understand how this will change things.  I choose what I eat by it's name and description, not by the number of calories hidden within.
 
Maybe I'm just as dense as the pumpkin pudding that I'm eating.
 
 

It's merely a manifestation of the Nanny State mentality. You know -- "We are smart and you are so stupid you need us to tell you what's good for you."
 
Will it make a difference? You bet. It will cost businesses lots of money. But just three people in the entire state of Kalifornia will pay the slightest bit of attention to it, and that's just because they want people to think they are smart, proving, of course, just how utterly dumb they really are.

Sure glad that I'm not one of those three.
 
Guess the person to be this week is a menu printer.
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 

I would not, at all, want to walk into a restaurant and see calories next to an item on the menu board.Hell, I have already gone on line to research things beforehand, mostly because I am diabetic. I already know, lets use a Big Mac as an example, sodium, fat, calories, carbs, etc.Do I eat them as often? No. But thats a personal choice. I agree with Mr. Hoffman about the Nanny State mentality.

When I'm interested in nutritional factors, I eat at vegetarian, vegan, natural foods restuarants, or just simply use common sense.  Otherwise, I want what I want, and no idiot legislator is going to influence my food choices. 

Obviously, this does not particularly interest most folks but for some, it does.
 
I have been doing the low card thing for many years although I do not stricly stay on it.  I have been doing it so long that I pretty know what works and what does not.  Initally, I checked every fast food restaurant to get low carb food.  Now I do not but I am sure that many folks do.  If you do not have a interest in the calories or carbs, pay no attention to it.
 
I think it is of some interest to some folks.  It is not a bad thing to have info on the food that you consume whether you care for it or not.
 
I use to weigh 240 lbs.  I have been at 185lbs for about eight years.  I guess one of the things that help me is that I age, my appetite certainly has diminished.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

If Crisco tasted good, I'd eat it by the bowl!
 

It is the belief of certain activists that the "obesity epidemic" is caused by chain restaurants concealing the calorie content of the food they serve.  This way, the burgeoning fatties will be able to read the calorie content and total it on their calorie memo pads in their pockets and make wise choices that will prevent them gaining weight.
 

This isn't just about fast food establishments.  A lot of us equate chains with fast foods and calorie laden foods.  It's going to be everywhere.
 
Do you really want to know how many calories that piece of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory has? You didn't know that a huge slice had 2,000 fat calories?  You're going to pass it up after having that 3,500 calorie dinner?   Would you have ordered it if you didn't know?  
 
Jamba Juice has had the nutritional information of their smoothies and juices available for years.  It's there if you want it, just not right in your face.
 
Yes, it may be good information but I really do know when something has an excessive amount of calories, sodium or carbohydrates.
 
What bothers me about this is that it is being forced upon us.
 
If this is so important why does it apply only to restaurants with 20 or more locations?   I think this fact negates the reasoning that it's important.
 

chewingthefat


If Crisco tasted good, I'd eat it by the bowl!

What do you mean? Crisco is delicious.

It's all about their obsessions with obesity... just like them having a fit about Happy Meals at McDonald's. 
 
I am more conscience about what I eat but having the nutritional stats on everything I eat won't deter me from having a dessert if I want it.

mar52
 

I think this fact negates the reasoning that it's important.

Ah, you've used the magic word -- reasoning. Reasoning suggests that reason plays a part in this. In fact, it is the lack of reason, which has been replaced by the "You're too stupid to know what's good for you, so I must take control of your life" mentality of the elite.

Michael Hoffman

chewingthefat


If Crisco tasted good, I'd eat it by the bowl!

What do you mean? Crisco is delicious.

Do you prefer it on Saltines, or Ritz Crackers, perhaps by the spoonfull?

I like my Crisco on the roasted vegetable Ritz crackers, same as with my anchovy paste.

How come you didn't mention the other 774 state laws that went into effect in California today?

They're not about food.  

Oh?
 
AB 97 bans the use of trans-fats in food facilities.
 
I apologize for my error. It's 724 other new laws, not 774.

mar52



What bothers me about this is that it is being forced upon us.

I agree. 
 
With rare exception, every time a law is passed, a bit of liberty is lost. 

You win!  I forgot about the trans fat law.
 
 

We should be free to be as stupid as we want to be...free to clog our arteries emergency rooms and cemetaries!!!
 
 

I agree, Mar( and all) that while I am glad to have the nutritional info available to me, I do not want it in my face. We all know what we are eating, and its my choice whether I go healthy or throw caution to the wind.I have this horrible image in my head of everyone looking at each others food while in a restaurant and gasping in horror when someone orders something high in calories and fat, etc..how fun would that be for a dining experience??

Ann, my mother does that now with my choices.
 
Imagine if she had the truth!

Mar52, why indeed apply it to only chains? Because everybody knows that big business is at the root of all evil. Perhaps the government should take over any restaurant with 20 or more outlets. (Pleas read with a satrical tone)