Restaurant Menu Labeling
Something that still has escaped the notice of some people is the different numbers on the menu of their favorite restaurants.
Have you noticed?
If not, you are not alone.
The Numbers? They are The Calories.
I know it may seem obvious, but not everyone seems to know this.
Those “extra” numbers list the average total calories for that menu item.
Why Are They There?
Since the U.S. implemented the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, one of the things included in that act and supported by the National Restaurant Association was the addition of calories on the menu along with other nutrition information for standard food items,
Some restaurants did this even before the ACA came into play, but the ACA required restaurants to do so.
This addition was done in part to help people make informed choices regarding their food options.
If people want to know, it is there.
But I Order My Menu Item Differently
The calories listed on the menu board or printed menu at the point of sale are for the standard of that menu item with no modifications.
Modified Coffee Drink - How Does That Work?
Take, for example, Starbucks’ menu board (inside and out) has the value for the standard of that menu item.
A café mocha has the calories listed for the standard of that size beverage with no changes. For example, the tall mocha with 2% milk and whipped cream is 290 calories.
If you say non-fat milk, no whipped cream, or extra mocha pump, coconut milk instead of cow’s milk, or any other changes that everyone seems to have, those calories will change. Starbucks is not required to give you that information at the sale.
But you can go to their website (or app) and make your modifications there and see what happens to the numbers.
The menus at the point of sale are not required to have all those possible changes. We could have four people order the same menu item, and each has its modifications, and it would be a challenge to know what those calorie changes add up to without a computer.
Who Is Required to Have This Information?
All restaurants with 20 or more outlets nationwide are required to have this information. So while we could say “national chain” restaurants, that isn’t entirely accurate.
Regions or states may have their popular chain restaurants, which still counts.
If your favorite pizza place in high school had grown in popularity so much that it went from the 10 in town when you were in high school, expanded to additional states, and now has more than 30 locations, it is required to have this information.
However, if they never went past 19 locations, they would not have to do that.
If the chain is the same company – but goes by a different name in different regions of the country, they would still have to comply.
So, if “Mario’s Pizza” expanded nationwide or even to the whole state or a few neighboring states, but there were only 15 locations, they would not have to have the calories listed or known. Even if they have 19 locations, they will not have to do it. But let’s say that Mario’s has their 15, but then decides they will open the same restaurant but name it “Maria’s Pizza.” They would have to comply as soon as the 20th location opens (with the two combined).
There is no skirting it by trying to name the restaurant differently.
As noted, the calories are at the point of sale. Meaning on the menu at the drive-through and the menu board when you walk in and order at the counter (quick-serve restaurants) and sit-down restaurants where you have the printed (or digital) menu.
Does This Help People Make Healthier Options?
Whether people make healthier options due to this is hard to know.
Some people don’t care.
Some people do and will make a different choice.
And others may think they are making a healthier choice, but not really. And others may not know what it all means in the context of their needs. And some people don’t want them there at all.
Let’s use McDonald’s as an example. Even if you don’t eat there, won’t ever eat there, or have your opinion about it, you know the chain and some of the items sold there.
Let’s say a person orders a Quarter Pounder (with cheese), medium fries, and a medium vanilla shake.
The person who doesn’t care – may not even realize the calories are listed. And, if they do? Then, they don’t care what they are and are completely fine with their order.
Some people may see those numbers and change their order to a small fry (230 vs. 320 calories) or a small milkshake (480 vs. 610 calories).
Others may see those numbers and note the calories for the Quarter Pounder (520 calories), but don’t include the fries (320 calories in a medium) and milkshake (610 calories in a medium). Again, this isn’t to be deliberate, but they aren’t registering the entire meal.
And still, others may know and acknowledge the total calories in that meal but not know what their individual needs are on average, so they don’t realize that this single meal could be half (or more) of their total calories for the day.
So, while the information is available to people, its usefulness is limited.
I have often said that the restaurant provides the information, and I give the education. We are not expecting the restaurant to educate everyone about nutrition. That is not their role. They are providing the information so the individual can make informed choices.
How all this fits into the individual diet is up to the individual to learn and educate themselves (or seek out an education).
And I, as a dietitian, am here to provide education on how it applies to them.
Not everyone likes that these numbers are there. Some people do not agree with counting calories. However, providing calorie information does not equal counting calories more than giving a nutrition fact label on a package equaling calories.
Depending on my mood, I may make a different choice. For example, when there is a choice of baked potato, fries, mashed potatoes, or Cole slaw – I won’t pick Cole slaw just because the calories are lower, because I don’t like Cole slaw. But between fries and mashed potatoes? Maybe I would make a different choice based on calories. Maybe.
Right now, I am not suggesting that everyone needs to care or pay attention to these numbers. I find them helpful (and startling) at times. When I see a burger with a calorie count of over 2,300 calories, I will not likely order it.
