Calories on the menu - just why?

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Visited pizza express last night to catch up with a girlfriend - first visit since pre pandemic. Ordered my favourite fiorentina pizza with spinach and egg but my enjoyment was somewhat diminished by reading the 950 calorie count on the menu. I understand that this is the law now. Who decided that this is a good idea? Absolutely crazy.

Its working then isnt it

If you had pizza and garlic dough balls and some desert it will make you think twice about how many calories you are mindlessly consuming

Personally - i use it to decide between dishes if i am torn

I find it helpful. I can see why those with eating disorders may not.

Some loon decided that this will fight the obesity problem in the country.
It would be helpful if they stop telling us that women can have 2000kcals per day and men 2500kcal.. 20% more than really needed.

Your pizza sounds fab!

Unless you're calorie counting, I don't see the point personally.

It definitely works. I never go out to eat as we're low on cash, but this has really put me off even for a special occasion.

Yeah I think it’s a bad idea. It will just lead to associations of “guilt” between eating and certain foods. Really bad for ED’s.

I disagree. Unless I am a complete outlier, a visit to a restaurant is an unusual treat. Anyone who needs to know how many calories are in their pizza can look it up on one of the many apps that are available. Everyone else should be allowed to enjoy their pizza in peace.

I understand the pros and cons to this.

For me personally though. I really like it. I like to know what I am eating and even if I go over I still like the stats of it. It's just interesting to me. I have wanted this for years.
I also understand that BEAT are concerned by this and one meal out will not stop the obesity crisis.

I also went to Pizza Express yesterday. It made me stop and think. I am very overweight. I think its a good thing

My DD has an eating disorder and she has told me what a nightmare this is for her.

You can just ignore it though? Like people who have loads of money can ignore the price. I totally understand the ED argument though.

I wouldn’t pay any attention to it and it wouldn’t change what I wanted to eat. Perhaps if you eat out a lot it might help. But it’s the law now.

I like it.

First noticed it in Wetherspoons a few years ago and the calorie count on some things is a real eye opener.

All packaged food in shops has this info, why not food sold in restaurants?

It’s just that: info. Facts. You can still choose whatever you like. And do what you like with the info.

The problem is, it's a good thing for some people and a really really dangerous thing for others.

Personally I like it, I try to watch my calories generally (watch, not restrict), but I don't for one second think it's going to make a difference to obesity.

I have struggled previously with an eating disorder and though I have been in recovery for around 10 years, this has really brought back some disordered thinking for me. I think it will really affect many people badly.

It would be helpful if they stop telling us that women can have 2000kcals per day and men 2500kcal.. 20% more than really needed.

This is so true! If I consume 2000 kcal a day I will gain weight.

I think it's a great idea to put calories on the menu. As a nation we need to get real about how much over eating has become the norm.

If you don't like it just ignore it.

I have suffered quite horrific eating disorders in my time. Recovered now. I wonder if one could ring ahead to request a menu without calories printed on, I'm sure this is something PE would try to cater for, they are very good at being inclusive and service is always amazing.

I really welcome it. It helps give an idea about portion size as well of calories.

I have a stomach condition and for me this is really useful to see the calories as sometimes salads may not be the healthiest option due to sauces etc and this makes me more able to be eat out and live a more normal life by being able to eat out so I'm really pleased about this change. I actually wished they put how much fat and sugar etc as well.
I can see how some people with eating disorders may not like this but for me this enables me to eat out

Nutrition is more than just calories. Calories are only part of the picture. I don’t see this as a helpful intervention particularly for those with ED issues.

I understand the concern for people with restrictive eating disorders but there are a huge number of overweight and obese people in this country who also have eating disorders and evidently something needs to be done on that front.

The reality for people with alcohol and gambling addiction is that they're constantly confronted by triggers too, the same goes for many other traumas, it just isn't possible to avoid.

I’m in my 50s, normal weight and normal relationship with food not overweight, but my 15 year old self would be been completely freaked out by that menu.

Why not tell people the salt content, where the eggs came from, or other more useful info if they really want to inform us.

I find it disconcerting and it has made me change my order a few times - to something I don’t even really enjoy - but I’m now trying to remember that I have lived this far eating all the stuff I was eating before without putting on weight and it’s illogical to change behaviour just because the calories are written.

I completely agree with this idea, HOWEVER I also think menus without calories on them ought to be freely available for people who prefer to use those. Eating disorders are just as serious as obesity and I can understand why calorie labelled menus are unsuitable for people who struggle with these.

Anorexia affects up to 12% of women, and 1% of men. So of course the huge issue of how printing calories on a menu affects anorexic people was completely overlooked. Gotta help those over eaters! (Which are mainly… you guessed it… men!)

I think it's helpful- now that we seem to go out more to eat.
When I was a child it was a really rare treat to go out/ get a takeaway, so the calories didn't matter so much.
Now i buy ready food so much more, that I find it useful to understand what I am eating.