Menus required to state calories per. dish

What strange responses on here. I would never have expected anyone to object to being given factual information on the items they could order in a restaurant. Knowledge is power. You do not have to be influenced by it.

It just seems that it's another step down the "nanny state" route; surely, as adults, we can take responsibility for ourselves and our choices?

It seems another burden for the hospitality industry which needs to return to some normality after lockdowns.

Whilst I think it's a good idea to be encouraged, I'm not sure it should become law.

I'm more concerned about the unhygienic kitchens featured on TV the other day by Chris Choi, ITV - Hygiene Inspectors have found some appalling conditions in restaurant kitchens.

Esspee

What strange responses on here. I would never have expected anyone to object to being given factual information on the items they could order in a restaurant. Knowledge is power. You do not have to be influenced by it.

I have no objection to it, it just wouldn't affect what I would choose to eat. What I do have a problem with is the attitude of some posters who, consciously or not, are verging on 'fat shaming' with some of their comments. Some people come across as paragons of virtue on here at times (and not just on this thread).

Oooh! (Miaow) If you're having a go at me, I don't watch what I eat because I'm trying to be virtuous, but because weight is a health issue. I didn't inherit good longevity genes and I try not to accept my fate. I'm not very happy to accept a premature death.

Maybe if society stopped being so obsessed with appearances, stopped pussy-footing around and thought about the health issues associated with obesity, a "losing weight" strategy would be more effective.

Callistemon21

It just seems that it's another step down the "nanny state" route; surely, as adults, we can take responsibility for ourselves and our choices?

It seems another burden for the hospitality industry which needs to return to some normality after lockdowns.

Whilst I think it's a good idea to be encouraged, I'm not sure it should become law.

I'm more concerned about the unhygienic kitchens featured on TV the other day by Chris Choi, ITV - Hygiene Inspectors have found some appalling conditions in restaurant kitchens.

Ho ho ho! Surely you've had enough experience of people to know that some people don't take responsibility. They make excuses for themselves and expect others to pick up the pieces.

If I needed to lose weight i would look at the calories. If you ever go to a slimming group most of the chains supply these groups with nutritional information anyway and if you are a member of said groups they encourage to look at what is available within your set calories to eat when you get there. There is a lot of psychology around food and losing weight and being healthy. Just because it doesn't affect it, it doesn't mean it doesn't affect other people. Just because you can eat very little for a few days to compensate, doesn't mean other people can do that.

I'm gobsmacked people have got their knickers in a twist about this

growstuff

Callistemon21

It just seems that it's another step down the "nanny state" route; surely, as adults, we can take responsibility for ourselves and our choices?

It seems another burden for the hospitality industry which needs to return to some normality after lockdowns.

Whilst I think it's a good idea to be encouraged, I'm not sure it should become law.

I'm more concerned about the unhygienic kitchens featured on TV the other day by Chris Choi, ITV - Hygiene Inspectors have found some appalling conditions in restaurant kitchens.

Ho ho ho! Surely you've had enough experience of people to know that some people don't take responsibility. They make excuses for themselves and expect others to pick up the pieces.

Well, personally I don't think we go out enough to worry too much about the calories when we do but perhaps other people do dine out more.

Funnily enough, we're just choosing the menus for a meal out in a couple of weeks time - some people are choosing 3 courses but I know I'll only manage 2.
No idea of the calorie count as it's a small establishment.

Does this include takeaways? People do seem to consume a lot of takeaway meals which are often high in carbs and fat.

Ho ho ho! Surely you've had enough experience of people to know that some people don't take responsibility. They make excuses for themselves and expect others to pick up the pieces.

So if some don't take responsibility for themselves then they probably won't take much notice of the calories listed on the menus.

The law had already been brought in for fast food type places.

M0nica

The question is: will this measure have any effect on the national obesity problem, not how each of us individually respond to it - and, as far as I can see, it is another of those pointless measures that governments award themselves brownie points ( 250 calories a point) for and are easy to blow their trumpets about but are purely window dressing.

Go around any town, any village, sometimes, and there will be burger joints, chicken takeaways, kebab shops, Indian and Chinese takeaways, non-chain pizza outlets, where every day millions of people go to get their daily take away, eaten in front of the tv and drunk with a can of beer or they will go to the supermarket and buy a pizza, dough balls and some doughnuts to be eaten as above.

This is how people put on weight, not by going out on occasion to a Hungry Horse. Harvester, Beefeater, Nandos, or the like and having a good meal.

We live in a rural area and eat out mainly at local pubs serving basic pub food, to really good gastropubs. None of them will have calorie counts on the menu.

This is the eating equivalent of green washing. Should we call it fat washing?

I agree with some of this but it’s not a reason to dismiss calorie counting as irrelevant or unhelpful, as has been suggested in some of the debate. Put simply, weight gain is a result of eating more calories than you use. Knowing the calorie content of a meal is a useful tool, both for having a treat every once in a while (because you will know the amount of calories you need to offset as a result of the treat) and for effective weight loss. You can dress it up any way you want - carb counting, points based diets such as weight watchers etc, but in the end it comes down to calories consumed and calories expended. And while I agree with you about the take always etc, it came as a real shock to me to find out that what I would have thought was a sensible Sunday roast and a pud at a pub or carvery amounts to nearly two days worth of calories if you’re watching your weight. I can do do a Sunday roast for around 500 calories - what on earth are the pubs and carveries doing to add so many calories ?

butter cream and meat fat I imagine

Wetherspoons been putting calories on menus forever! Nobody takes much notice!

Pammie I am not dismissing calorie counting. It is very effective way of losing weight, but this is not what this measure is about.

It is seen as a way of reducing the weight of the population as a whole, and that is why it is fat washing. The vast majority of people with the obesity problem do not eat in restaurants, they eat from takeaways and in fast food restaurants, and while a few are parts of chains - McDonalds for example, the majority are not, so all those grabbing a takeaway from a manager owned outlet, will not see any of this calorie information.

Most of it will be just preaching to the converted.

JaneJudge

The law had already been brought in for fast food type places.

I didn't realise JaneJudge

The only fast food we eat is fish and chips (sharp intake of breath!) and it's not that fast as they cook it fresh at our local chippie.

Nanny state once again you know if you are over weight and you know what to so about it no excuses

This type of intervention will never be successful when ultimately choice is left to the individual. Something which will never happen. but is the only solution - - regulate food content by quantifying the percentage permitted of sugar, unhealthy fats etc.
To me,eating out is very enjoyable because this is when I choose exactly what I want !!

I’m surprised at the reaction to this new measure. You can choose to ignore the calorie content of dishes or not. For me if I know something is quite low in calories it will influence my choice but not always. My DH has lost 9lbs since Christmas and he’s very happy about it. He’s done this purely by calorie counting.

But there have been medical specialists on R4 pointing out that this will just cause more trouble for people with eating disorders, plus a recovering anorexic saying that on the odd occasions she was dragged by family or friends to a restaurant she felt complete release - having no idea about the calorie content allowed her to eat.

nahsma

But there have been medical specialists on R4 pointing out that this will just cause more trouble for people with eating disorders, plus a recovering anorexic saying that on the odd occasions she was dragged by family or friends to a restaurant she felt complete release - having no idea about the calorie content allowed her to eat.

I agree with the above,Growstuff In answer to your question, I dont use the word Fat as it is in my opinion insulting. When talking about it I say overweight.
My Granson who is 9, had a row with another boy, when my Grandson reffered to this boys Mother as 'being to fat to do anything about it' He was told off and we said it was not nice to refer to someone as fat. He is 9 and engaging in school playground stuff. I have also heard a grown up referring to someone as a fat cow, hence I think the word is derogatory, and used to shame people.
As I said upthread I eat out alot, especially while at work and I love it, none of the restaurants I eat at has calories on the menu. If I do go to one of these establishments I totally ignore it. I want to enjoy my meal not waste time counting calories, if others do that is their choice.

The whole idea of eating out used to be a treat for a special occasion? You didn't think of calories etc just the enjoyment of the food, probably something you wouldn't get at home. You just enjoyed it and ate less the next day?

Elizabeth27

The rise in obesity is in part because some people do not know the calorie content of food.

I know it is not a restaurant, however, I recently saw that a McDonald's salad is 780 calories yet a Big Mac is 680 calories. How many people would have the salad thinking they are making a good choice.

Are you sure you are right? Where did you "recently see" the info?
a crispy chicken salad 261 cal www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/product/crispy-chicken-salad.html
Big Mac 493 cal www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/product/big-mac.html

Macs have been publishing their calories counts for many many years, it doesn't seem to put people off

We have a number of adults in the family with EDs and eating at places where the calories are disclosed is problematic for them. And not always useful anyway - weight gain and loss is far more complex than the simplistic and outdated cico method.

As a previous poster said, I’d prefer carb levels to be included as someone with T2D. But I generally can work round it.

PaperMonster, I think Carb levels and fat levels would be a far greater help. I am TD and found the only way to keep the weight off, which in turn helps the diabetes, is to eat things that are low in fat and sugar. The way our body processes certain foods like palm oil, proteins, etc have little bearing on calories or the damage done to the body. We need a far better way of looking at this. However, I don't disagree with the calories being shown, I just don't think it does all that it should.

I think it is a helpful tool, and may help some make better choices, but it certainly will clutter up a menu.

And as for the nanny state; well I guess they are trying to stop being a nursing state at a later date!

rafichagran

nahsma

But there have been medical specialists on R4 pointing out that this will just cause more trouble for people with eating disorders, plus a recovering anorexic saying that on the odd occasions she was dragged by family or friends to a restaurant she felt complete release - having no idea about the calorie content allowed her to eat.

I agree with the above,Growstuff In answer to your question, I dont use the word Fat as it is in my opinion insulting. When talking about it I say overweight.
My Granson who is 9, had a row with another boy, when my Grandson reffered to this boys Mother as 'being to fat to do anything about it' He was told off and we said it was not nice to refer to someone as fat. He is 9 and engaging in school playground stuff. I have also heard a grown up referring to someone as a fat cow, hence I think the word is derogatory, and used to shame people.
As I said upthread I eat out alot, especially while at work and I love it, none of the restaurants I eat at has calories on the menu. If I do go to one of these establishments I totally ignore it. I want to enjoy my meal not waste time counting calories, if others do that is their choice.

But those of us on GN aren't 9 years old. I don't see that it matters whether you say "fat" or "overweight". Personally, I couldn't give a fig about appearances, which is where the fat insult comes from, but it's concerning that so many people have a condition (fatness/overweight) and some seem in denial about it and make excuses for themselves. Not only that, but people come out with the narratives about people stuffing themselves with fast foods, when some fast foods are a healthier option than classic carvery meals. Those who don't need to watch they eat won't be bothered by calorie counts. Those who complain about bad backs, breathlessness, circulation problems, etc, which have been exacerbated by weight might be prompted to think twice about what they eat. Personally, I don't think it goes far enough. Obesity is a national problem - more so in some geographic areas and amongst some demographics. My concern is that the government will claim it's done something when it's only just started.