Calorie counts on menus

[Rhiannon]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45420835

I hate this idea. I knew someone with an eating disorder who would only accept invitations to meals out if she could access the menu online and work out the calorie count of the dishes involved. If the lowest calorie dish wasn't available when she got there she'd have to leave. Given the high mortality rate of eating disorders, anything that encourages obsessive behaviour around food can't be good.

I prefer the idea of the 'traffic light' system. Easy to understand without obsessing over numbers.

[jeremyp]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45420835

I hate this idea. I knew someone with an eating disorder who would only accept invitations to meals out if she could access the menu online and work out the calorie count of the dishes involved. If the lowest calorie dish wasn't available when she got there she'd have to leave. Given the high mortality rate of eating disorders, anything that encourages obsessive behaviour around food can't be good.

I prefer the idea of the 'traffic light' system. Easy to understand without obsessing over numbers.

I like the calorie count thing. It helps me assess which are likely to be the tastiest items to eat (i.e. the ones with the highest numbers).

[Roses]

I rarely go out to eat, so I really don't want to know how many calories I am imbibing, especially as we try to eat healthily at home.

[Rhiannon]

I like the calorie count thing. It helps me assess which are likely to be the tastiest items to eat (i.e. the ones with the highest numbers).

Fair point.

[jeremyp]

Fair point.

Well no, not really (to be serious). I think something akin to the traffic lights system would be of more use, although I don’t think actual traffic lights would be a good idea. Who’s going to order anything with a red light?

I think something like a slice of cake representing the number of calories as a percentage of your daily recommended intake would be better e.g. a slice that was a quarter circle would mean the dish is a quarter of your recommended intake and the Tiramisu would be about three whole cakes (if made properly).

[Rhiannon]

Well no, not really (to be serious). I think something akin to the traffic lights system would be of more use, although I don’t think actual traffic lights would be a good idea. Who’s going to order anything with a red light?

I think something like a slice of cake representing the number of calories as a percentage of your daily recommended intake would be better e.g. a slice that was a quarter circle would mean the dish is a quarter of your recommended intake and the Tiramisu would be about three whole cakes (if made properly).

For some people it matters how many of the calories come from sugars, or fats. Calories alone don't actually convey as much useful information as the traffic light system. And daily calorie allowance varies so much between individuals.

[jeremyp]

For some people it matters how many of the calories come from sugars, or fats. Calories alone don't actually convey as much useful information as the traffic light system. And daily calorie allowance varies so much between individuals.

OK a cake for sugar and a pie for fats.

[SteveH]

More bloody nannyism. Everyone knows what a healthy diet consists of.

[Aruntraveller]

More bloody nannyism. Everyone knows what a healthy diet consists of.

Chips, and plenty of them.

[SteveH]

Er... no. I love chips, but restrict my intake of them. (Yes, I know you were joking.)

[Sebastian Toe]

Er... no. I love chips, but restrict my intake of them. (Yes, I know you were joking.)

I'm the same with beer.
I'm self restricted to only drinking it on two occasions.

1.When I'm thirsty.

2.When I'm not thirsty.

[Gordon]

I'm the same with beer.
I'm self restricted to only drinking it on two occasions.

1.When I'm thirsty.

2.When I'm not thirsty.

I approve of that policy, and have decided to adopt it myself.

[SteveH]

I'm the same with beer.
I'm self restricted to only drinking it on two occasions.

1.When I'm thirsty.

2.When I'm not thirsty.

Har blimmin har. 

[Harrowby Hall]

About a year or so ago I was in a chain pub-eatery place towards the low end of the market (eg Harvester - although I cannot recall the particular brand) and noted that its menu provided a calorie indication for each item.

What was interesting was that the majority of clients were clearly overweight - many of them obese. What was saddening was the number of families in which all members - parents and children - were all clearly overweight.

[Rhiannon]

About a year or so ago I was in a chain pub-eatery place towards the low end of the market (eg Harvester - although I cannot recall the particular brand) and noted that its menu provided a calorie indication for each item.

What was interesting was that the majority of clients were clearly overweight - many of them obese. What was saddening was the number of families in which all members - parents and children - were all clearly overweight.

I'm failing to see the connection. Fat people eat in shit chain pubs?

[Udayana]

About a year or so ago I was in a chain pub-eatery place towards the low end of the market (eg Harvester - although I cannot recall the particular brand) and noted that its menu provided a calorie indication for each item.

What was interesting was that the majority of clients were clearly overweight - many of them obese. What was saddening was the number of families in which all members - parents and children - were all clearly overweight.

Maybe they have lost weight since then ... by taking note of the calorie counts?

Though, I expect it's best to avoid eating out if trying to cut down on calories. 

[Rhiannon]

Maybe they have lost weight since then ... by taking note of the calorie counts?

Though, I expect it's best to avoid eating out if trying to cut down on calories.

Certainly in a chain pub. A decent place can make salads and things to order. I don't think it is healthy to miss out on socialising while losing weight because that just causes resentment and at some point you want to rejoin the human race again. Better to figure out how to eat out healthily in the first place.

[Roses]

Certainly in a chain pub. A decent place can make salads and things to order. I don't think it is healthy to miss out on socialising while losing weight because that just causes resentment and at some point you want to rejoin the human race again. Better to figure out how to eat out healthily in the first place.

I don't feel I have left the human race just because I am not keen on eating out, and only wish to socialise with my family.   

[Rhiannon]

I don't feel I have left the human race just because I am not keen on eating out, and only wish to socialise with my family.

But for a lot of people eating out is a part of everyday human interaction, even if it is just a sandwich with the kids or a coffee with a friend. HH made the point that he was observing fat people out eating; depriving them of what is probably to them a pleasure isn't going to make any weight loss programme they decide to try sustainable unless it still incorporates things that they enjoy, including socialising around food.

[Roses]

But for a lot of people eating out is a part of everyday human interaction, even if it is just a sandwich with the kids or a coffee with a friend. HH made the point that he was observing fat people out eating; depriving them of what is probably to them a pleasure isn't going to make any weight loss programme they decide to try sustainable unless it still incorporates things that they enjoy, including socialising around food.

People will do their own thing as I do. My husband likes eating out so takes himself down to our local eatery once or twice a week.