Does The Calorie-Count On Menus Really Help?

The idea of putting the calorie count on menus is so that we can make healthier choices if we want to. But, does that really work? Not for me!

This past summer, I was at a New York Yankees game and when I went to get a bite to eat I noticed that all the food on the boards at the different food stands had a calorie count. I did find it interesting, BUT it didn't affect my decision at all.

According to New York University, I am not alone. When we see calorie counts on menus, the theory is that we'll choose healthier and less fat-filled items. But the reality is, it doesn't work that way.

Calorie labeling on menus appears to have very little impact on what we choose to eat. So what if the double cheese burger has way more calories than the garden salad? That's the word from New York University researchers from the Langone Medical Center, who analyzed fast food purchases in the region and concluded that menu calorie information alone is not enough to lower obesity rates.

The study found calorie consumption in the 2013-14 survey averaged between 804 and 839 per meal at restaurants with calorie counts and between 802 and 857 per meal at restaurants without calorie counts. In the 2008 survey, calorie consumption averaged 783 per meal at restaurants with calorie counts and 756 per meal at restaurants without calorie counts.

[via: New York University]