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.

I'm glad you've worked out how to C&P but your reading comprehension appears to be lacking. Fancy explaining why you started going on about sections on a menu that people could just skip?

I don't understand how OP's enjoyment was diminished. Bit dramatic - most people know pizza isn't the healthiest option. It's just nice to have the option to choose how many calories you want to consume.

@Alondra

Thank you for that ground breaking piece of advice regarding calories. Mind blowing.

Anyhow, lots of people will enjoy this information (myself included).

However, this still doesn't mean I do not have an awareness about how it could potentially effect other people who unfortunately have eating disorders. I use the word could, as it will help some people with EDs.

This is why the discussion changed as people wanted to know if there was any potential way around this for the people for whom this would trigger.

Nothing much more to it really. It's called having an understanding of how people can be different.

@Benjispruce4

It can also be surprising that certain foods are more or less calorific than you think. A McDonald’s burger can be between 3-500 cals so is quite reasonable as a meal but the fries are 300+ and so is a shake. As is often the case, it’s all the add-ons. Knowing that if I fancy a fix I’ll get a burger and a Diet Coke.

This is exactly the problem that sticking only to calories causes. Swapping to a drink containing artificial sweeteners may reduce your calorie consumption for that meal, but a study found that women and obese people tended to consume up to a third more calories at subsequent meals than those drinking water or sugared drinks.

It’s why food intake needs to be considered holistically. We also need to move from the ‘I’ve been good all week so can pig put on Sunday’. The foods we consume interact with each other and with our body chemistry.

And for those over 50 trying to lose or control weight only through control of calories in/ out - good luck with that!

[quote Tulipblacksmith]@Alondra

Thank you for that ground breaking piece of advice regarding calories. Mind blowing.

Anyhow, lots of people will enjoy this information (myself included).

However, this still doesn't mean I do not have an awareness about how it could potentially effect other people who unfortunately have eating disorders. I use the word could, as it will help some people with EDs.

This is why the discussion changed as people wanted to know if there was any potential way around this for the people for whom this would trigger.

Nothing much more to it really. It's called having an understanding of how people can be different.[/quote]
Lets agree to disagree? For me, information is paramount in everything. It's the essential tool to make choices in my life because without it I simply don't know what I'm doing.

I have a celiac child. Today is easy to find foods for him but until not long ago it was a nightmare to find groceries in the supermarket without gluten, let alone going to restaurants. It's one of the reasons why, aside Eds, I keep repeating that information about food and what we eat is essential - there are millions of us everywhere - from celiac, to allergies, to obese trying to lose weight......there are multiple reasons why ingredients and calorie counting have and are being implemented.

There is too much antagonism in this thread when it shouldn't be.

It's so you can be more aware of what you're consuming and make the healthiest choice or order mindfully. You can disregard it if you want but for others it's helpful and helps keep perspective of how much we're actually eating.

@Alondra

Agreed.

NRTFT. This has been required in American fast-food restaurants for years. One good effect has been that restaurants have changed their recipes to lower the calorie counts where possible while keeping the food tasty. In the past, they could make something taste good by just loading it up with butter, sugar, etc. Now they have to be more creative.

MissUS I'd rather butter and fat than artificial flavours/sweetner

Great Alondra so your child’s health depends on ingredient info being given to you which is available on asking my child’s health depends on calories not being displayed.

There is no reason why calorie info can’t be given on demand.

@Alm0nd1

Great Alondra so your child’s health depends on ingredient info being given to you which is available on asking my child’s health depends on calories not being displayed.

There is no reason why calorie info can’t be given on demand.

Huh? I've been an advocate throuout the the thread on calories information and coped a lot of crap because of it.

Of course calorie information should given as standard in dishes and on demand if you request it.

I’m a dietitian and in my experience most people with EDs are already very well clued up on different foods’ calorific values. I think this is useful to remind/ reveal to people how much calorific value is actually in the food they eat, especially when eating out. Restaurants won’t like it for that reason. It’s no secret they often overdo the fat to create that luxurious mouthfeel and amplify flavour; my only concern is they won’t calculate the calories correctly or be honest about the true content.

@howtomoveforwards

I think it’s I think it’s useful - I am very overweight and it certainly stopped me having a pudding the other day.

What we really need is carb content - my youngest child is type 1 and guess the carbs when out and about is very hit and miss,

I'm all for it.

I did suffer with restricted eating as a teen. But for me it was about control and knowing what I am eating I am in control of it. Calories are all around on everything and I know the calories of most things like fruit and vegetables of my heart.

So absolutely no need to have it displayed putting the lives of kids with EDs at risk.

whataboutbob which is why kids with EDs are encouraged to eat out so they get used to not restricting and eating foods they don’t know the calorie content of. You clearly don’t work with EDs. My DD’s dietician is one of the firmest re my Dd not looking at calories. She is not supposed to go shopping, cook or see packaging. We try to give home made food as much as possible so she doesn’t know the calorie content and gets used to that. The meal plan they are put on and they need to try and follow going forward cuts out the need for calories knowledge. They are trained to eat 3 healthy meals and a couple of snacks a day. That is all they need to know.

@Alm0nd1

whataboutbob which is why kids with EDs are encouraged to eat out so they get used to not restricting and eating foods they don’t know the calorie content of. You clearly don’t work with EDs. My DD’s dietician is one of the firmest re my Dd not looking at calories. She is not supposed to go shopping, cook or see packaging. We try to give home made food as much as possible so she doesn’t know the calorie content and gets used to that. The meal plan they are put on and they need to try and follow going forward cuts out the need for calories knowledge. They are trained to eat 3 healthy meals and a couple of snacks a day. That is all they need to know.

That sounds really sustainable, is that forever or just whilst in active recovery?

@Alm0nd1

So absolutely no need to have it displayed putting the lives of kids with EDs at risk.

What about the millions and millions of people who are obese and slowly killing themselves?

notsureaboutTAAT

Must have been tough having restrictive eating when you were young. Wha are you doing this Easter? Any special traditions?

@Alm0nd1

whataboutbob which is why kids with EDs are encouraged to eat out so they get used to not restricting and eating foods they don’t know the calorie content of. You clearly don’t work with EDs. My DD’s dietician is one of the firmest re my Dd not looking at calories. She is not supposed to go shopping, cook or see packaging. We try to give home made food as much as possible so she doesn’t know the calorie content and gets used to that. The meal plan they are put on and they need to try and follow going forward cuts out the need for calories knowledge. They are trained to eat 3 healthy meals and a couple of snacks a day. That is all they need to know.

This is one approach and it isn’t used universally. I know this is MN but you’re coming at it from the perspective as a parent of a young person. Adults with long standing EDs often feel different and find their own ways to cope and manage. I am not a fan of the Maudsley approach and it only seems to help in a limited demographic anyway.

No hopefully won’t be forever. Just until she can cope with all of it without it being triggering. It’s kind of edging forwards and backwards. Tried food shopping recently but she steers towards restriction food so will stop that again.Eating out was a really good activity as positive and a real push out of comfort zone which helped push her forward.Won’t be able to do it with calorie content in her face though. She is getting more independent as starting to sort some meals herself with food we’ve bought. Sitting down to a menu with calorie content all over it would set her right back. Going out with friends and having a normal life is part of the recovery process too. Not being able to do that would make recovery that much harder in another way as a carrot is also taken away.

Mickarooni
So a calorie menu on demand is the answer.

Teens are often the demographic using these chain restaurants and that approach is the current treatment. I get for some it may not work but it has to be tried. Calories everywhere is this really unhelpful for ED patients under 18. The sooner they best their ED the least likely there will be older sufferers.

@Alm0nd1

whataboutbob which is why kids with EDs are encouraged to eat out so they get used to not restricting and eating foods they don’t know the calorie content of. You clearly don’t work with EDs. My DD’s dietician is one of the firmest re my Dd not looking at calories. She is not supposed to go shopping, cook or see packaging. We try to give home made food as much as possible so she doesn’t know the calorie content and gets used to that. The meal plan they are put on and they need to try and follow going forward cuts out the need for calories knowledge. They are trained to eat 3 healthy meals and a couple of snacks a day. That is all they need to know.

That wouldn't have worked with me at 15/16. I guess the approach might be different with children/young teens, and older teens/adults though. Shopping and learning to cook proper food from scratch for myself really helped! My mother was a terrible cook though..

@Alm0nd1

Mickarooni So a calorie menu on demand is the answer.

Teens are often the demographic using these chain restaurants and that approach is the current treatment. I get for some it may not work but it has to be tried. Calories everywhere is this really unhelpful for ED patients under 18. The sooner they best their ED the least likely there will be older sufferers.

Why cannot it be the other way around? Given the number of overweight people vastly outweighs the number of those who don’t want the calories in the menu?

I see the arguments both ways. You say teens are only using these chain restaurants, that isn’t correct. It is any restaurant with over 250 employees. I’ve been to a few decent places this week frequented by adults and they’ve had calories.

I disagree that calories everywhere is unhelpful for ED patients under 18. Certain eating disorder units disagree with you too. It’s not a one size fits all - no pun intended!

I find it annoying. I’m not overweight and I should be able to enjoy a meal out without worrying about the calorie content tbh. I can see why it’s helpful to some butIn not a fan

The challenge is as it stands restaurants affected by this law don't have to provide a calorie free menu - they can choose to do so but don't have to - so for those people who would struggle with seeing the calories they have to hope the restaurant is thinking of broad swathe of customers, or go to independents.

I'm not asking for removal of the calorie specified ones, or even asking for calorie free as default, govt mandating both are available would be a good step forward.