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.

"Knowing what you're eating is very important, and might make people think twice about having things like McDonald's several times a week."

I think they've been on McDonalds' menus for a long time. At least I have an idea in my head that a filet o'fish is 300 something.

I'm on the fence whether it's likely to improve the eating habits of overweight people ; however if it does, then it's simply a numbers game . There are far more deaths/ morbidity attributable to obesity than there are to EDs triggered by calorie count info.

Ultimately eating out isn't a fundamental human right, let alone an obligation. I rarely ate out until well into my 20s for basic economic reasons.

"If you really want to know the calorie count of your pizza, you can just look it up on your phone."

Lots of them are not available.

I didn’t realise it’s the law now. I think there should be an option to request a menu without the calories noted on it. When I eat out I don’t really want to see the calories. When I’m watching what I eat (which is the majority that of the time now I’m older), I either don’t eat out or I’m very careful where/what I eat. I know pizza is very calorific so rarely eat it.

For me, part of the enjoyment of eating out is loosening the reins a bit with the knowledge that I am indulging in more calories than usual. I do think calories on menus will give people a wake up call but there should be the option not to see them too.

I think it's a fantastic idea. It really helps me with making the right food choices. I have been overweight all of my adult life. This helps me realise just how many calories are in just one pizza.

I think it's a good thing. If you are not overweight you csn ignore it. If you are overweight it will make you think twice.

@Figmentofmyimagination

Put it on supermarket ready meals - great idea - I get that - people need to see how many calories, sugar, salt etc are packed into their M&S spaghetti carbonara etc and other everyday food, and hopefully it will encourage more people to cook from scratch, but when you go to a restaurant, surely you are there as an adult, to have a relaxed time, not to be policed like a child. If you really want to know the calorie count of your pizza, you can just look it up on your phone.

Like you could look up the nutritional info for your ready meal on your phone…

If calories on menus is triggering for people with EDs, why not calories on supermarket food?

And if you expect those eating out to look up calories on their phone, why not those cooking at home.

If you don’t like it, just ask for a menu without it or just gloss over the calories. Those who want to lose or maintain weight and find having calorie reminders helpful aren’t less worthy than those who don’t care or find calorie listings unwelcome.

My issue is it encourages businesses to increase the artificial sweetener and flavour in order for it to appear more healthy

" I feel the same way about being forced to have diet drinks loaded with sweeteners. On the rare occasions I might want a fizzy drink, I'd like to make an informed, adult decision. Not have it made for me."

You're not forced to drink diet drinks though. It's just that some places will now only offer the diet drink, just like before that, those of us who want the zero sugar option often only found the full sugar option. You can still drink water instead.

Are there really loads of people with restrictive eating disorders rocking up to pizza express to eat pizza?

I think it’s great. Especially as my favourite Wagamama’s dish is only 636 and I don’t generally eat it all.

There is an obesity epidemic something needs to change. It’s like awareness about the environment would be great if we could all shovel in pizza every night consequence free and fly everywhere - but we can’t.

"Why should it be? If I want eat out frequently, that’s my business 🤷🏻‍♀️"

Of course. I end up having to eat out quite often because I have something after work and it's too cold to sit on a bench with sarnies so I have to go in somewhere to eat. It's good for me to not be at home all the time and it's good for the economy.
How dare anyone tell me I can't eat out especially after cafes and restaurants being closed for so long!

Re the oversize meal thing- DH and I just take the extra home and eat it another day.
Bear in mind that even if a restaurant starts offering smaller portion5, the price will barely change.

My recovering anorexic stepdaughter wouldn’t set foot in Pizza Express by choice. If “forced” there by a group decision, she’d eat first or pretend to have eaten first. She’d be mentally calorie counting everything anyway.

Calories on a menu would trigger her in the slightest. In fact, she told me she’d relax a little, as she’d switch off her fine tuned mental calorie count a bit. Not completely - she’d still make a comparison to her expectation. She wouldn’t be ordering it anyway.

She’d be triggered by food and lack of control far more than the numbers printed on a menu. She says she doesn’t care.

Of course she’s one person. Anecdata. But it’s a remember that we shouldn’t make sweeping statements about whether something is good or not for EDs.

I’m more interested in whatever the research says about whether this changes behaviour positively - and I don’t know what that says.

What if you choose the lower calorie pizza through guilt or just “sensible” choices - then as a direct result when you get home “reward” yourself with a biscuit. Then because the packet is now open, eat the the whole lot?

I worry that the damage to those with eating disorders likely outweighs the benefits.

For me personally I'm not bothered either way.

Information is valuable in making decisions, should be encouraged. My only wish is that there were more things we had to know about as a consumer. The more we know, less chance of being ripped off, and we cannot blame others if we make decisions with consequences we did not want.

Both my DC are slightly underweight at the moment, for complex reasons but not due to classic anorexia. I'll find this useful when eating out to steer them in the direction of higher calorie options that aren't the obvious deep fried rubbish.

Eating out is or should be a very occasional treat. If you need to know the calories of an occasional restaurant meal perhaps you are eating out too often. It isn’t going to ruin your diet especially if you eat less on the day in preparation

Conversely, if you are eating out as an occasional treat only, surely it shouldn't be a big deal to have calories on the menu?

Because obesity is EVERYWHERE.These days there is more obesity than there's ever been because people over-indulge or eat the wrong stuff and we ALL do it. The government recognises this hence sugar tax, eatwell guide, and many other measures. There never used to be many overweight kids and these days I see loads.

@Figmentofmyimagination

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.

normal relationship with food

Well, that's plainly not true is it? If you're narked about knowing how many calories are in your food. It helps you make informed choices. That's a good thing.

I might be overweight but things tip me very easily back into disordered eating
Someone commented once on my stomach and I just refused to eat for days. When I did eat I was punishing myself for eating by self harming
I'm funny enough about eating in front of people without the calories there (because they'll be thinking that's why she's a size 16, look at her shoving food in, she must eat loads etc etc)

So familiar.

What amazes me about this thread is how many seem to think anorexia is the only eating disorder (or the only one that counts).

Or that this will only affect people currently in the grips of anorexia.

We ordered a takeaway the other day as we were celebrating something I'd achieved- my thought process on looking at the menu was; first to look for the lowest calorie item. Realised the lowest calorie item was higher than I was comfortable with. Wondered if my family would notice if I simply didn't eat at all at my celebratory meal. Realised I couldn't get away with not eating and would have to pick something. Panicked. Felt guilty. Picked the highest calorie option because I felt like it was all against me anyway and why was I even trying, I didn't deserve to be healthy anyway. I hated every bite of that meal, but ate it all. Then fought the urge to binge eat more for the rest of the evening.

So yeah. Real helpful.

And yes I know calories are on food packaging, but usually they aren't placed so prominently. I can avoid seeing them.

@Gwenhwyfar

" I feel the same way about being forced to have diet drinks loaded with sweeteners. On the rare occasions I might want a fizzy drink, I'd like to make an informed, adult decision. Not have it made for me."

You're not forced to drink diet drinks though. It's just that some places will now only offer the diet drink, just like before that, those of us who want the zero sugar option often only found the full sugar option. You can still drink water instead.

What? Of course I can drink water but that isn't the crux of the argument is it? We're talking about soft drinks and eating out.

What an absolutely ridiculous comment.

@PatientlyWaiting21

For those with an eating disorder, it’s awful and I hope the campaigners win and get this removed.

For those without an eating disorder you must know that there are a lot of calories in pizza?! You don’t need to see the number. If you’re worried about eating too much calories then bank calories over the week if you know you’re going out. One day of over eating your calories is not going to make a difference!

You may know that pizza is high in calories, but you may not know how many calories. I know a Dr Oetker is around 800 calories, but I have no idea about a pizza at a restaurant. Could be the same, could be twice that. I can't bank the calories if I don't know how many they are. And it may not just be one day of overeating. Some people eat out quite often.

"What? Of course I can drink water but that isn't the crux of the argument is it? We're talking about soft drinks and eating out."

You said you were forced to drink diet drinks. You're not.

@Notreallyhappy

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!

I really like the calories on the menu. I like to know generally over the course of the week what I am eating and can adjust over a few days to account for a big meal out.

I totally agree with that his poster though! I only burn 2000 calories if I make a specific effort to do so. My BMR is just 1244, I am short and slight and sit at a desk all day.
The only way I burn 2000 calories is if I go to the gym for an hour after work AND walk the dog for 3 miles.

If I just accepted 2000 as my required calories I would very quickly end up over weight.