Calories on deliveroo menus

[BryceQuinlanTheFirst]

I know calories on the menu have been around for a few months, has it impacted your decisions?

I've got covid. Feel sorry for myself. I was going to get a five guys, it was 2200 calories for a burger and fries. It really did put me off. I know it's not a low calorie meal obviously, but blimey that's so high!

I don't use Deliveroo but we went to a chain restaurant recently and I made a point of choosing a lower calorie option (500 cal) which probably wouldn't have been my choice had the calories not been printed (it was a vegetarian dish and I'm generally a meat-lover). It was actually delicious and I'd have it again.

I was studying the menu and calculated that with certain choices, a starter (chicken wings), main (mixed grill), one side (onion rings) and a pudding (some toffee thing) would have you pushing 5000 calories.

Woah! It's an eye opener.

I thought I was good at calculating calories but I'm always way under.

Yes, it sure is. I rarely eat out (can't afford to!) so in the past have often taken the approach of having what I like. I'm not a calorie-counter normally - I follow a no processed foods diet at home - but if I'm eating out and the food is likely to be processed, I do switch to choosing lower-calorie options to limit damage.

Some things are no surprise - a mixed grill with 5 different meats and chips is obviously going to be high calorie - but a starter of 6 chicken wings I'd probably have guessed at about 500 cals whereas in fact it was more than double that!

For me, menu calories help me make better choices, but I do understand they are triggering for people with EDs - ideally there should be a choice of menu, with or without that information.