Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Calories on the menu - just why?

1000 replies

Figmentofmyimagination · 14/04/2022 08:07

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.

OP posts:
BrightOrangeOrange · 14/04/2022 20:50

My teenage son got overweight. Since he understands food more and exercise he has lost weight. He has a healthy attitude towards food now.

It will help people be healthier. I feel bad that I don't understand about ED"s but I do think it is a good idea over all.

ForeverSingle881 · 14/04/2022 21:07

A lot of people will be shocked by how many calories there are in a pizza or pasta dish. Vast majority of people I know eat out or have take aways 4/5 nights a week. This will massively help them. The UK's rate of obese and overweight adults is ridiculous and I think this may shock some people enough to restrict their eating.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/04/2022 21:22

" There is no need for it."

For some people there is a need for it. And that group of 'some people' is much bigger than the anorexic group.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/04/2022 21:25

@Antarcticant

NRTFT. This has been required in American fast-food restaurants for years.

That's interesting. My understanding is that the USA is in a similar 'obesity crisis' position to the UK - are there any signs that it's started to reverse the trend since it was adopted in America?

America is even worse. Massive portions, food deserts, very little walking or public transport, huge inequalities, powerful junk food lobby etc. etc.
Gwenhwyfar · 14/04/2022 21:27

"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."

There are claims that no sugar fizzy drinks make you more hungry, but it doesn't seem to be completely proven. They're not great for teeth, but probably much better than the full sugar options so the diet coke and burger is a reasonable choice in that kind of restaurant.

greenlynx · 14/04/2022 21:33

I actually think it’s very useful, it helps me to make informed choice. I don’t want to know where eggs came from to be honest, but I want to know salt and sugar and calories amount. I drink hot chocolate less since Costa and Nero have published their figures but still do when I want to, I’m just more conscious.

Blimecory · 14/04/2022 21:56

I seriously would think it’s unhelpful and emphasises a poor relationship with food. Calories are a minor part of a meal. It would be much better to know the origin of the food - free range chicken or eggs, for example. I would always ask about this and wouldn’t have non-free range.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/04/2022 21:57

"I seriously would think it’s unhelpful and emphasises a poor relationship with food. "

Being aware of calories doesn't mean having a poor relationship with food.

Ahgoonyegirlye · 14/04/2022 22:21

It’s there so people can make informed, healthier choices.

lampygirl · 14/04/2022 22:28

I like it. It doesn’t always stop me ordering the mixed grill, but if I’m out for a lunch whilst working I can much more easily think what’s likely to be closer to what I’d have as a usual pack up lunch or whatever. Having info is always better than not having info in my eyes. It can easily be ignored if you are out for a treat.

CervixSampler · 14/04/2022 22:47

I was looking at our favourite pub restaurant yesterday. I'm veggie but was reading all the dish descriptions and clocked that several of the meat dishes were over 4000 calories each!!! Fucking hell. I think those were the challenge dishes. Even the children's options (that I eat) are nearly 1000 calories for a tiny pizza and chips and peas. I used to have an ED. Calories will always be tricky for me but my diet is restricted anyway and the rare times we go out I'll eat what I fancy rather than go off the calorie count.

nettie434 · 14/04/2022 23:21

@Antarcticant

NRTFT. This has been required in American fast-food restaurants for years.

That's interesting. My understanding is that the USA is in a similar 'obesity crisis' position to the UK - are there any signs that it's started to reverse the trend since it was adopted in America?

I don't think it has Antarcticant. I made this point earlier in the thread, which begs the question why the change has taken place. By contrast, there is good evidence for alcohol pricing but the Westminster government does not want to follow Scotland's example because they don't want to appear to be influenced by the Scottish government.

Most of the meals with high calorie counts are explained by large portion sizes, and the presence of hidden sugars, ingredients with palm oil etc, not just the intrinsic calorie count per gram. I worry more people will choose drinks and food made with artificial sweeteners, despite the emerging evidence that these have their own health risks.

I'm not saying calorie information isn't useful for some people but - as we have seen from some of the responses here - we can't say that it's going to help everyone.

Another poster mentioned that they would like menus to have information on food provenance, such as whether eggs were free range. We don't have any truly free range eggs in the UK at the moment because of bird flu. 'Free range' hens have to be housed indoors at the moment. They do have more space, better conditions etc but they can'tgo outside.

Blimecory · 15/04/2022 00:11

I worry more people will choose drinks and food made with artificial sweeteners, despite the emerging evidence that these have their own health risks.

This is right.
Exactly as low fat products can be extra full of sugar. Or low-sugar products are extra full of fat. People should aim to eat low processed food. The calories, fat, sugar, etc don’t matter It’s the processed stuff that isn’t good for you.

Antarcticant · 15/04/2022 00:18

We don't have any truly free range eggs in the UK at the moment because of bird flu

Yes, I'd noticed that as I normally buy free range eggs but can only get 'barn eggs' at the moment.

Blimecory · 15/04/2022 00:27

We don't have any truly free range eggs in the UK at the moment because of bird flu

Yes, but let’s assume that’s a temporary blip in proceedings and they will be back on the shelves normally.

DyingForACuppa · 15/04/2022 01:22

I find it really weird that so many people positively want to be ignorant of the calories they are consuming.

Agree there should be menus without the calories for the tiny minority that have eating disorders and that would be upset by it, but most normal adults should just be able to not look/not be bothered by it if they don't care? And it's extremely useful to people on diets/with certain medical conditions.

Even if I'm not dieting I'd much rather have the information there (which I can choose to ignore) than be prevented from knowing.

trishpastes · 15/04/2022 01:30

I think calories on the menu can be great and have a positive impact for quite a few people.

But, it's downright dangerous for some. And therefore it should be removed

I have suffered with bulimia since age 10. Yep, 10 years old. Recovered in my early twenties and haven't been sick since

I ate out yesterday at pizza express. I had some horrendous intrusive thoughts about calorie counting. It was horrendous

For some people, like people I've met along the road to recovery, this could even cause a relapse. It isn't on.

How can it be justified? Yes these people might be in the minority but so what? It has the potential to kill

Indoctro · 15/04/2022 05:28

You have to remember a eating disorder isn't just anorexia, it's also obesity , which is way more prevalent in the Uk.

It will definitely help people with this kind of eating disorder, so to me it's a good idea.

Alm0nd1 · 15/04/2022 06:04

Counting calories does not work with obesity and can cause eating disorders. Many just put the weight back on when counting calories. Many anorexics start off trying to lose weight by counting calories, focusing on numbers and restriction can get addictive very quickly. It is a dangerous and pointless campaign.

echt · 15/04/2022 07:05

@Blimecory

I seriously would think it’s unhelpful and emphasises a poor relationship with food. Calories are a minor part of a meal. It would be much better to know the origin of the food - free range chicken or eggs, for example. I would always ask about this and wouldn’t have non-free range.
But you can have both.
ThinWomansBrain · 15/04/2022 07:07

@DogsAndGin

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!)
2019 stats, but UK obesity is 29 percent for women and 27 percent of men.

Aside from obesity seemingly being a fairly even gender split, and a far larger problem than ED, I'd guess that people who eat too much are far more likely to be visiting restaurants.

echt · 15/04/2022 07:08

The calories on menus helps people make a choice based on facts.
Would those who are opposed to this ban alcohol % on bottles? Calories on food packaging?
To assume that those paying attention to calories are "calorie counting" as a diet means are missing the point, it's up to the consumer. Their motivation is no-one else's business.

To those who say it makes a problem for those with eating disorders, so does any food/nutrition information. Alcoholics deal with wine/beer on the same menu as food.

ThinWomansBrain · 15/04/2022 07:10

& had to laugh - a friend was surprised at the seemingly low calorie content of fish and chips - then realised that the calorie count she was reading was only the mushy pea content of the meal Grin

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In
This thread is not accepting new messages.