I seriously doubt that supplying the patrons with the amount of calories they're going to consume will deter these hungry Oregonians. Obviously if you're worried about gaining a few extra pounds you shouldn't order the fully loaded jalapeno double beef nacho fries anyway.
County Commissioner Jeff Cogen declared his stance on the issue: “This is not an attempt to mandate what people eat. It’s an effort to make people aware of what they are eating and allow them to make the most informed choices in regards to their health.”
Why isn't there any accountability on the part of the consumer though? Screw putting the calories on the menu, you might as well just put a sign on the door that says "WARNING- eating may cause obesity."
Honestly I still believe you can look at a meal and decide for yourself how likely it will be to clog your arteries. If you're a weight watcher perhaps preparing your own meals would be best anyway- then you know exactly what you put in it, where it came from, and how long you BBQ'ed that grease off.
Another good point, addressed by Alan Shaffer, a Wingstop owner in Portland, concerns the relatively few restaurants that this new legislation will even affect.
“This will only affect 10 percent of restaurants in the county,” he said. “It will not make for a level playing field. This is not fair.”
His point is warranted- if the bill is supposed to open a new door of information to consumers, a law that only alters the menus of so few restaurants will not make much of a difference. The new plan is also incredibly costly and difficult to implement, requiring research into the precise content of the food as well as a change in every eatery's menu.
Something to consider as well is who will even read the facts? Every time I go to McDonalds and order some ridiculously disgusting meal I never feel the need to check the caloric content. They provide it...but who cares? If you're at McDonalds there's a good chance you're not looking for something packed with vitamins and minerals anyway. The same logic I think can be applied to restaurant goers.
Ok so I have to say I agree with you, but I don't. Iam very health conscious and watch what I eat, but sometimes a healthy sounding dish can be loaded with calories. Some people really are into fitness and like to make sure they stay in their calories for the day. I myself am not that crazy about it, but there are people that are!Of course if you are over weight you do not need to be eating the heaviest dishes on the menu, but I do think putting the amount of calories can be helpful for several reasons.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your statements. I believe many people who are overwight or obese do not understand, or have misconceptins about what would be healthy and what would not. If you post the calories, they can make a better decision the next time they order fast food. At Burger King, the Whopper has xxx calories, but if you take out the mayo, you drop calories drastically. It IS something you should look at, and its something you can learn from.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you, but I also think we need education. Posting a list of facts does not equate to changing people's desires, attitudes, and practices.
ReplyDeleteOmg dude that is nuts! Who would have guessed eating out would make people fat! ewwwww gross that is almost...common sense????
ReplyDeleteReally sometimes it pisses me off to see how oblivious and in denial people are regarding to their choices.
Great blog post. Btw McDonalds is part of the food pyramid under delicious..well atleast mine ;)
I to am going to go along with the occuring theme in the other comments: I do agree, but I dont. I agree that the consumer should be held accountable for their own decisions, but I don't agree that this is a bad idea. I personally will go on many "health kicks" through out the year and my girlfriend is always wanting to go out to eat. Although I know what is healthy, it would be nice to know the exact amount of calories in each meals. Although I think it is a good idea, I do agree with you that people should open their eyes a little more and realize what they are eating.
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