Menus list calories, less calories chosen

[The Straight Story]

Menus list calories, less calories chosen


SEATTLE, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Parents who have access to fast-food menus with calorie information tend to choose lower calorie selections for their children, U.S. researchers say.

Study leader Dr. Pooja S. Tandon of Seattle Children's Research Institute said the study involved 99 parents of children ages 3-6, who sometimes eat in fast-food restaurants with their children. They were presented with sample McDonald's restaurant menus which included current prices and pictures of items, and asked what they would select for themselves and also for their children as a typical meal.

Half of the parents were given menus that also clearly showed calorie information for each item. Choices included most of the items sold at McDonald's, including a variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads, dressings, side items, beverages, desserts and "Happy Meals."

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found parents who were given the calorie information chose 102 fewer calories on average -- a calorie reduction of approximately 20 percent -- for their children, compared with the group who did not have access to calorie information on their menus.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/01/25/Menus-list-calories-less-calories-chosen/UPI-72021264460189/

[JI7]

1. i think while people know the food is not healthy, many are still underestimating

how bad, and how many calories the foods have.

[Beaverhausen]

2. AMC movie theatre chain started posting calories and fat for movie snacks

there is about a weeks' worth of fat in one serving of movie nachos. Crazy.

[MissB]

3. Burgerville started printing the calorie/fat/protein info on their receipts

at certain locations last summer. A little late once you've ordered, but they do also make healthier suggestions on the receipt. Like if you order a pumpkin milkshake (blech), the receipt will suggest trying a pumpkin smoothie next time as it has X fewer calories and X fewer grams of fat.

It also becomes quite clear that a family of four should split a small order of sweet potato fries rather than have one person eat them. Funny, the receipt doesn't print the info for the side of chipotle mayo.

[surrealAmerican]

4. Perhaps I'm misreading this but, ...

... it sounds like the parents are only SAYING they "typically" choose the lower-calorie items for their children when talking to researchers. In other words, lying to make their choices look better.

[SoCalDem]

5. and who, in this day and age, does not already know that fried is more hi-cal

than baked or raw?

burger & fries vs just about anything is a no-brainer..

realistically, a TREAT of a burger joint for lunch occasionally is not going to "ruin" a child, BUT the kid needs to eat healthy food the rest of the time:)