Should Calorie Counts Be Present on All Menus?
We’ve talked before about calories and their relationship with your body, but we’ve never discussed the effect that calorie counts have on your decision making ability. When you eat out in the Big Apple, the menu clearly states the calorie counts for each dish. So if you’re at Burger King and you’re craving a Triple Whopper with Cheese, you’ll know that you’re consuming 1250 calories. Or if you are a fan of the fried macaroni and cheese at The Cheesecake Factory, you’ll know that if you clear the plate you’ll have eaten 1570 calories. (And even though it doesn’t say it on the menu, this dish has a colossal 69 grams of saturated fat, which is more than you should eat in 3 1/2 days).
Public-health advocates and the Senate are trying to pass nationwide laws that all chain restaurants put the calorie counts on the menu. Currently only New York City, West Chester County, NY and King County, WA, have mandatory calorie counts on menus. A recent study confirmed that 82% of New Yorkers said the new in-your-face nutrition data have affected their ordering.
When can mandatory calorie counts on menus be implemented on the Main Line? I know that I would definitely think twice about ordering some of the (ahem) not-so-healthy stuff I order if I knew how many calories came along with it. Would chomping down the Quesadilla Burger at Applebee’s at 1440 calories really be worth being on the treadmill for hours working it off? I don’t think so. Sometimes I have to be shamed into making the right decision, and staring back at calorie counts on my menu definitely would make me think twice before placing my order.
Knowledge is power, and displaying calorie counts on menus is, I think, an important step towards raising the public awareness around our health decisions and empowering Americans to make better choices for ourselves. I hope that this measure comes to the Main Line soon.
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About the author
Dwayne Wimmer founded Vertex Fitness Personal Training Studio in 2001, excited to bring a new concept about personal training to the people of Philadelphia’s Main Line in Pennsylvania. Driven by knowledge and results both, while a strength coach at Villanova University, he worked closely with world class athletes such as Brian Westbrook, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, on strength training and conditioning for optimal performance. Dwayne’s client base extends much further than world class athletes. Along with athletes, he works with adolescents to seniors, and he’s a highly acclaimed and sought out personal trainer who has received numerous awards, such as Best of the Main Line Personal Training Studio and Best Main Line Personal Trainer. A graduate of Missouri Western State University, Dwayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Coaching. Aside from personal training, he’s spent time as a physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, and a football coach, but has found his passion and home in the fitness industry, inspiring and reaching out to others. As a strong believer in continuing to learn, Dwayne has also taken classes at East Stroudsburg University toward a Masters Degree in Sports Management. He can add author to his list of accomplishments, having created a chapter in the upcoming book The Soul of Success with Jack Canfield, renowned for the Chicken Soup series. To get to the point where he is now, Dwayne has always been thankful for the support of his father, a man who always believed in his mission and saw the need for what it was that Dwayne envisioned. During his free time, Dwayne is an avid motorcyclist who enjoys viewing the amazing landscapes and finding good restaurants to enjoy that are off the beaten path. He also takes advantage of opportunities to travel and experience many other cities while attending fitness seminars and giving presentations about the industry he is so passionate about. As a way to give back to the community that has been a part of his entire life, Dwayne has created Vertex Fitness PUMPED (People United Making Progress through Education and Donations), which provides support to area non-profits through a community-wide outreach effort. At this time, they help three non-profits per year in the Philadelphia area. For more information from Dwayne, you may contact him at (610) 525-6604, dwayne@vertexfit.com