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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2008

The Devil You Know

On Saturday in The Los Angeles Times there was an article about the law that New York is proposing that fast food restaurants post the calorie contents of foods next to them on the menu. If you knew the triple cheeseburger with extra bacon you were about to eat had 1,200 calories would it deter you from eating it? Or would it make you just feel more guilty for eating it?

POSTED BY !MICHELLE! | 11:17:37 AM

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22 COMMENTS

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Ali said...

I always like to know the calorie content as they do effect decisions I make in 'sane, rational' moments. When I feel like someone or something else has taken over my body, and I have to shovel food in, the calorie content wouldn't make a difference.

resoneb said...

I think putting up calorie content in fast food is a great idea - it's a much needed reality check. There's a place called Pret a Manger in NYC that does it now - so does Starbucks - and it helps me balance my intake when I go to those places. It also helps counter the 'magical thinking' around food consumption that trips me up sometimes. You know: the 1 cookie = 10 cookies equations...

Gill said...

It would certainly put me off eating it. I think that is the problem...we don't realise how many calories are in seemingly healthy foods eg capaccino, dona kebabs etc. I used to have fancy coffee every morning until I learned it equaled about 160 cal per cup. I chose a dona kebab over a burger as a take away option thinking it was healthier only to learn it could have up to 200 cal.

ias8 said...

I would love the count to be posted. It would help me think twice if I saw the count and perhaps choose something with less calories.

Cheryl51 said...

It probably would deter me from eating it unless I could somehow work that calorie count into my target goal for the day. Sometimes when I'm in "binge" mode though, nothing satisfies me more than a greasy burger.

Anonymous said...

It would, it has! In New Zealand MacDonald's started offering nutritional information leaflets about their burgers in the stores along with healthier menu options and there was a definite shift, for mums with their kids etc, onto the healthier options. Even kids started choosing apple slices and milk instead of fries and soda with their happy meals.

brandi  said...

I would really think about not eating, it. But, at this point, I have let my body have the best of me and I would just feel terrible because I would choose to eat it. I don't want to be that way anymore. I want my mind to win.

KS said...

It would depend on how hungry I was. In most cases, I would probably buy the burger and plan on only having a little bit... but then just end up eating the whole thing and feeling guilty after the fact. Knowing how many calories were in it would only add to my guilt.

hadassah said...

YES YES YES!!! In fact, I try to look up online before I go out with my friends to know what I can eat and what I can't. That would save me lots!

Karen said...

I think it might stop me, more from the stigma of an overweight person being SEEN ordering a 1200 cal burger. The power of what others will think, if you will. Because for myself I can always if I try hard enough justify what I am going to do.

eileen said...

I believe that counting calories and obsessing over them is what leads to a lot of eating disorders and compulsive overeating. You don't need the calorie count to know that a cheeseburger has more calories and fat than a dry salad. If I am craving a cheeseburger the healthiest thing for me to do is to eat it slowly and enjoy it until I'm full. Then stop. My body knows how much I need and if I denie it altogether than I'm setting myself up for a binge later on. for good reason.

Anonymous said...

I think it would definitely help me to pause and consider whether it was worth it to consume a really high calorie dinner. And the pausing often helps me to make better decisions.

Betsy said...

Yes! I would love that. It would definitely help to know before I just dive in and then it's too late. Sometimes I do not have a clue. A muffin I thought probably had about 450 calories actually had 850 when I stopped and looked at the nutrition information on the package. I had no idea!

emily osborn said...

I would already have a hint of how calorific it would be but I would like to know the calorie count.

Kathleen said...

I guess it would all depend on how 'in my right mind' I was at the time. If my Hunger Switch was on and I was a Woman on a Mission, I would have at least two or three good excuses ready for why the numbers didn't matter I'd be programmed for self-destruction and disconnected from reason. But if I saw 1200 calories on my third consecutive successful day of self-awareness and self-care, I'd roll my eyes at the obvious poor food choice That burger is just Suicide! and go for a salad. Maybe the moral of the story is the importance of knowing that -- without understanding the anatomy {and autopsy} of an EEE -- I could be seriously at risk for failure in the blink of an eye.

Tayley said...

I think it would definitely help me make better food choices! Excellant that they are doing that! Now, what can they do about smoking? Maybe they could post the 50 harmful chemicals/toxins in each cigarette!!? And also, let people know what vitamins they destroy and what diseases they may risk getting if they continue to smoke! Total anti-smoker. Brother had cancer and step Mom as well. My step Mom died and my brother had almost half his tongue removed due to cancerous tumour!

Kathie Tedeschi said...

YES,It would deter me from eating it-

Christine said...

It would definitely stop me from ordering it!

Mike C said...

Knowing the high calorie content usually convinces me to select something else on the menu. However, it never prevents me from eating when I'm not hungry.

Linny C said...

It could. There have been times when I've read labels and chosen not to have something because of the fat content. Reading labels affects what I buy in the grocery store so knowing the calorie count could be a deterent for me.

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