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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I actually am all for calories on menus?

136 replies

Acatnamedfox · 15/04/2022 01:48

I hate to be that person and post in AIBU when maybe it belongs in another section BUT…

Am I the only one that is sort of looking forward to this?

I get it when you’re out and having a good time maybe birthday/party/celebration whatever you don’t want to know.

But I genuinely have no idea of the calories in things and sometimes pick a salad not realising with all the dressings I could have had the fish and chips for the same calories..

I know I’m going against the masses here but I believe it will help me make healthier decisions when out and I’m not against it!

Yes - I’m being unreasonable no one needs that kind of negativity

No - I’m looking forward to a bit of guidance.

OP posts:
abbey44 · 15/04/2022 02:21

As a diabetic, I'd much rather see grams of carbohydrates listed on menus - it'd help me work out how much insulin I need instead of guessing and hoping for the best. Even with decades of practice, it's hard sometimes to get it right, especially when you're eating out.

Electriq · 15/04/2022 02:52

Same as @abbey44 wish they'd add carb grams

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 15/04/2022 03:04

This is really going to hit people with eating disorders like anorexia, for whom eating is enough of a challenge already.

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/your-stories/calories-on-menus-wont-prevent-obesity/

FusionChefGeoff · 15/04/2022 03:06

Low calorie doesn't mean healthy - exactly as your example! Fish and chips is very limited in nutrients but a salad would have loads of good stuff even if it's got a really calorific dressing on top. So YABU to choose 'healthy' purely based on calorie count.

xxcatcatcatxx · 15/04/2022 03:32

Maybe not the healthiest mindset to have but it’ll make adding calories to MyFitness Pal SO much easier and more accurate. Not sure if they’ll list fat, protein etc too that would probably be a bit more helpful.

Are they doing this for drinks too? I always wonder how much is in cocktails, but that’s literally just me being genuinely interested in that one with no calorie/ macro counting agenda xxx

TrickorTreacle · 15/04/2022 03:36

Go back to 1990. The school served chips every day of the week, pizza, burgers etc. 6 vending machines in the school, plus a tuck shop. And yet in a class of 24, only 1 kid was fat.

Fast forward to the 2020s, there are no vending machines, no tuck shops, chips only sold on a Friday and lunch boxes are policed. And yet half of the kids are now fat.

The same goes with adults.

It's an exercise issue (or lack of), not calorie intake.

EveSix · 15/04/2022 04:02

But how can it ever be accurate? Surely it'll be more of an approximation? It's not like the chef will weigh up the ingredients of your individual meal. An approximation is likely to have quite a margin of error. Food items does not come in uniform weights and sizes. To take OP's example of fish and chips; DP and DD1 had two pieces of large cod last week. DP's fish was about 25% bigger (nothing unusual that fish differs in size), and must therefore have been coated in a proportionally greater amount of batter and oil. I would guess that could easily amount to 200 cal. I'm trying to pay attention to my calorie intake at the moment, and although my own MFP logging is a bit 'estimational' at times, I can see that it would be frustrating if you needed to be really on it.
I too worry about the impact on people with disordered eating. I also think it will motivate people like me, who casually overeat, to make more responsible food choices.

echt · 15/04/2022 04:09

[quote EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn]This is really going to hit people with eating disorders like anorexia, for whom eating is enough of a challenge already.

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/your-stories/calories-on-menus-wont-prevent-obesity/[/quote]
I imagine they'd handle it as a alcoholic does in licensed restaurants.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/04/2022 06:16

@FusionChefGeoff

Low calorie doesn't mean healthy - exactly as your example! Fish and chips is very limited in nutrients but a salad would have loads of good stuff even if it's got a really calorific dressing on top. So YABU to choose 'healthy' purely based on calorie count.
Er, fish and chips is not 'very limited in nutrients'. Fish = protein, potatoes have plenty of vitamin C and the dish is often served with peas = vegetables and fibre.

Plus OP, you make a good point about a lot of salads being a lot higher calorie than you might imagine due to the dressing.

I actually don't care and can't see the problem really. All packaged food has calories on it so it's just in line with that and helps people make an informed choice.

But it doesn't compel people to do anything with the information, for those who eat out for only a minority of their meals, the odd higher calorie meal won't be significant in their overall diet, but for someone who eats out regularly, so might be at risk of overeating due to restaurant meals often having more calories than you might think, often considerably so, especially if you have multiple courses.

GrandColombier · 15/04/2022 06:23

What by not eating?

miamira · 15/04/2022 06:24

I don't know.

On the one hand maybe something like the traffic light system or estimated calorie count could help people make better choices.

On the other, I wonder if it has made any impact at all on customers where they do this already (like Starbucks etc), or if people "treat" themselves to the thing they wanted anyway?

Most restaurants would find it hard to get it accurate given the inconsistency in cooking, and might come under fire for getting it "wrong".

Meanwhile if you're calorie-conscious then surely you can google or guesstimate these things anyway as I do.

GrandColombier · 15/04/2022 06:24

Apologies that was intended to quote at the alcoholic comment -wish we could edit!

titsintiers · 15/04/2022 06:27

@TrickorTreacle

Go back to 1990. The school served chips every day of the week, pizza, burgers etc. 6 vending machines in the school, plus a tuck shop. And yet in a class of 24, only 1 kid was fat.

Fast forward to the 2020s, there are no vending machines, no tuck shops, chips only sold on a Friday and lunch boxes are policed. And yet half of the kids are now fat.

The same goes with adults.

It's an exercise issue (or lack of), not calorie intake.

I think lack of exercise is a big issue but the amount of crap in cheap processed food is also an issue.

I think it'd be good to see the macro nutrients as well as calories.

00100001 · 15/04/2022 06:29

@TrickorTreacle

Go back to 1990. The school served chips every day of the week, pizza, burgers etc. 6 vending machines in the school, plus a tuck shop. And yet in a class of 24, only 1 kid was fat.

Fast forward to the 2020s, there are no vending machines, no tuck shops, chips only sold on a Friday and lunch boxes are policed. And yet half of the kids are now fat.

The same goes with adults.

It's an exercise issue (or lack of), not calorie intake.

Nonsense. Calories in is the major reason for weight.

Just because schools have got rid of vending machines, doesn't mean that kids eat healthy. It the massive portions, super processed foods etc

Anotherpassengerwantstogetoff · 15/04/2022 06:30

I’m with you op but that’s because I’m interested in the calories I consume.

The person that isn’t interested in calories, and who order starter, main & pudding, will carry on doing what they always do because a few numbers on the menu isn’t going to make a difference to how they choose their food.

TrivialSoul · 15/04/2022 06:32

I'm in recovery from an eating disorder and I will find this difficult because on a bad day I could easily be triggered into disordered thinking. I don't think it's great for impressionable teens either, they have enough to worry about without thinking that they have to be seen to be having lower calorie options. I totally agree with the pp though who wanted other nutritional information available for diabetics, that would be great for a huge chunk of society.

Alm0nd1 · 15/04/2022 06:33

But counting calories has proving not to cure obesity. The weight just goes back on and it leads to disordered eating.

Re the anorexics and alcoholic comment. Reading calories is the alcohol which they will be forced to partake in.

Stuffin · 15/04/2022 06:38

Yes I am glad to see it.

I do not count calories and try to look at my diet as a whole and not one meal but when I go out I can use that information as a guide.

Depending on my exercise levels I can make an informed choice and some meals are a surprise in terms of calorie amounts if they have been loaded up with butter or sugar. Calories aren't everything as it's about the type of food the meal contains but they can be a helpful guide to how it's been cooked.

NutellaEllaElla · 15/04/2022 06:38

I feel like I would appreciate the option to know. It doesn't have to be on the menu but on request would be perfect.

seriousandloyal · 15/04/2022 06:47

Yes I agree with you OP, I find it helpful.

Hollyhead · 15/04/2022 06:48

As someone with a latent eating disorder I can confirm that although recovered, the addition of calories on menu as immediately heightened my anxiety when eating out and has already influenced me away from high calorie choices I really wanted and would have previously chosen to things which are lower in calories.

Hollyhead · 15/04/2022 06:49

@NutellaEllaElla on request is such a good idea, then everyone could benefit.

carefullycourageous · 15/04/2022 06:54

@TrickorTreacle

Go back to 1990. The school served chips every day of the week, pizza, burgers etc. 6 vending machines in the school, plus a tuck shop. And yet in a class of 24, only 1 kid was fat.

Fast forward to the 2020s, there are no vending machines, no tuck shops, chips only sold on a Friday and lunch boxes are policed. And yet half of the kids are now fat.

The same goes with adults.

It's an exercise issue (or lack of), not calorie intake.

This is overly simplistic, calories are of course part of the issue. Increased poverty and the fact it is hard to access healthy food in some areas also contribute to the problems.
justfiveminutes · 15/04/2022 06:55

I'm looking forward to this too. I was in M&S yesterday and would have chosen soup and a roll as the lowest calorie option if I was guessing I think. But the lowest calorie item was a little ciabatta bun with fishfingers. It was really useful. I don't understand people who don't want to know really, like sticking your head in the sand. I expect it will force restaurants to reduce the calories in some meals too. It does sound as if it will be difficult for people with eating disorders but I think an informed choice is better than a guess for everyone.

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