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.

It clearly isn’t.

time.com/6101041/counting-calories-weight-loss-supersized-lies/

[quote Alm0nd1]It clearly isn’t.

time.com/6101041/counting-calories-weight-loss-supersized-lies/[/quote]
An article where someone ate their calorie intake consisting solely of junk food to try and prove a point? Not sure what point you're trying to make with it, absolutely doesn't debunk that calorie counting is an effective tool for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. There's nothing to suggest though that a 1000 calorie meal is any more balanced and nutritious than a 500 calorie one, or that the additional 500 wouldn't have an effect on weight over time.

metro.co.uk/2021/12/30/why-calorie-counting-doesnt-work-15840707/amp/

If you maintained it which is the whole point. Most don’t as the obesity rates illustrate.

[quote Alm0nd1]metro.co.uk/2021/12/30/why-calorie-counting-doesnt-work-15840707/amp/[/quote]
Would you like me to post lots of tedious links that prove my point? No calorie counting alone if you just eat shite won't be healthy, but as part of making an informed decision about what you eat is one of the most effective ways to stay on track. The fact as the article says many feel 'miserable' is because they're used to eating copious amounts and when their ideal intake (calculated by weight not arbitrary x cals for women and y for men) is mentioned they feel 'deprived'.

@Alm0nd1

If you maintained it which is the whole point. Most don’t as the obesity rates illustrate.

Yes but how does just eating what you want when out without being aware of the calories help with that? . It's just head further into the sand isn't it.

Not really. Most people get most of their intake from food at home.it’s not about just eating what you want. It’s about learning to have a balanced healthy intake overall. Restriction and calorie obsessing leads to yo yo eating or worse an addiction to restriction from the highs restriction gives and the number addiction calorie counting can cause . Many many people don’t calorie count and have very healthy diets and bodies. I suspect most of those struggling with obesity and eating disorders have calorie counted at some point and are the ones keeping the diet and calorie counted food industry afloat.

In the US people eat out far more. They introduced this in 2018, obesity rates are still rising. It doesn’t work, will fuel eating disorders and put back many in recovery from an eating disorder.

@Alm0nd1

Not really. Most people get most of their intake from food at home.it’s not about just eating what you want. It’s about learning to have a balanced healthy intake overall. Restriction and calorie obsessing leads to yo yo eating or worse an addiction to restriction from the highs restriction gives and the number addiction calorie counting can cause . Many many people don’t calorie count and have very healthy diets and bodies. I suspect most of those struggling with obesity and eating disorders have calorie counted at some point and are the ones keeping the diet and calorie counted food industry afloat.

You can be aware of calories and not obsessed. In the instance above 500 is a substantial difference, it's not oh that'll push me 10 cals over I can't have it. It's not the fault of calorie counting that some have underlying issues that should be addressed if there's any hope of losing weight, and calorie counting doesn't intrinsically have anything to do with the diet industry. It's probably actually the best way to ensure a balanced diet as it doesn't promote restricting any food groups, magic pills or shakes, and you don't have to pay copious amounts of money for the 'plan'. I think you're conflating different issues.

Alm0nd1

A lot of people who are a healthy weight though do take note of calories and it works for them.

We were out in a lovely pub last Sunday - I am 'on a diet'. BUT upon seeing that the (only salad) on the menu - duck - came in at 335 calories for £13.95 I decided that it wasn't much bang for my buck
So I had the chicken roast and gave away my yorkshire and roasties! Delicious

I think the figures speak for themselves. Calorie counting has been around a long time. Obesity levels and eating disorder rates are soaring.

This and things like the my fitness app teens have in their pockets is just a recipe for disaster.

Alm0nd1

You are just ignoring posters who say using calorie counting alongside other things works for some people.

@Alm0nd1

I think the figures speak for themselves. Calorie counting has been around a long time. Obesity levels and eating disorder rates are soaring.

This and things like the my fitness app teens have in their pockets is just a recipe for disaster.

But it's not the calorie counting in itself that's the issue, it's other factors. If you calculate your BMR and don't pluck a really low calorie target out of thin air, if you don't have underlying issues that affect your ability to regulate your food intake, if you aren't looking to lose an unhealthy amount of weight to meet unobtainable goals set on you by society then calorie counting is more than absolutely fine. Its not the issue, other things are that don't dissappear because menus are or aren't on the menu. For many people though it's a useful eye opener.

And eating disorders are far more complex than printed numbers although appreciate it can exasperate it once it's taken hold.

Why calories on the menu?

Why not?

It's a brilliant idea.

YABU @Figmentofmyimagination

It is the calorie counting that’s the issue. It’s the focus on restriction instead of a healthy lifestyle. Eating disorders are far more than counting numbers but counting numbers can fuel it. Without a shadow of a doubt if my daughter had just focused on a healthy balanced daily intake she wouldn’t have spent the past 2 years so ill.

My anorexia teen dd said she thinks having calorie information on menus will trigger EDs in some people. I agree. All it takes is for someone to start trying to control their calorie intake by restricting calories and it very quickly spirals.

For someone to develop anorexia all it takes is weight loss and genetics, I think this fact is not understood or believed by the majority of people.

I also think the numbers of people effected by EDs is massively underestimated, even within my small friendship group and family I can think of a lot of people that have a very unhealthy relationship to food.

As I said before there should be easily accessible calorie free menus available at request for those that need it.

@Girliefriendlikespuppies

My anorexia teen dd said she thinks having calorie information on menus will trigger EDs in some people. I agree. All it takes is for someone to start trying to control their calorie intake by restricting calories and it very quickly spirals.

For someone to develop anorexia all it takes is weight loss and genetics, I think this fact is not understood or believed by the majority of people.

I also think the numbers of people effected by EDs is massively underestimated, even within my small friendship group and family I can think of a lot of people that have a very unhealthy relationship to food.

As I said before there should be easily accessible calorie free menus available at request for those that need it.

I’d flip that and make calorie free menus available on request.

Oh scrap that I read it wrong

I agree with you

As I said before there should be easily accessible calorie free menus available at request for those that need it.

Venues are free to do that-the law is drafted to allow them to provide calorie-free menus on request without being in breach of the law. However they are not obliged to have calorie-free versions available.

I’m recovered from anorexia and this is a massive problem.

Anyone with a serious eating disorder could google the calories anyway so saying it will increase them is daft. What it does do is make the rest of us teetering on obesity think what we're shovelling in our gobs which can only be good

To me going out to eat is an occasional treat and a chance to get a break from day-to-day tasks, worries, niggles and so on. So having the calories on the menu (or having to remember to ask for a menu without) rather detracts from some of the point of eating out.

It suggests that the task of counting calories must continue even during that brief interlude. Rather like going on holiday but having to keep track of the household running.

@Tessabelle74

Anyone with a serious eating disorder could google the calories anyway so saying it will increase them is daft. What it does do is make the rest of us teetering on obesity think what we're shovelling in our gobs which can only be good

Except it’s not the same to be confronted with the calories on the menu as actively seeking them out. Do you think people with eating disorders who say this is really bad for them are lying?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-61078447