FOOD: Calories in restaurant menus

By Sree Sreenivasan, technology reporter

My wife and I were in an Applebee’s recently, our first trip to the chain restaurant. It was also the first time we’d been to any chain since the NYC law went into effect forcing chains to list calorie counts on their menus. Gotta say it does make a difference to see the counts right next to the items themselves (680 calories for one appetizer; 1,300 for one entree).

We ended up not ordering what we’d originally wanted (I went with a grilled piece of tilapia – Cajun Lime Tilapia – “a grilled Cajun-seasoned tilapia fillet flavored with lime juice and topped with a black bean & corn salsa. Served on a bed of rice pilaf with a side of seasonal vegetables” – just 310 calories.)

A recent WSJ article took a deep look at the menu/calorie question. From Melinda Beck’s “Health Journal” column, “On The Table: The Calories Lurking in Restaurant Food”:

It’s no mystery why Americans are getting fatter. We’re expending less energy to work, play, travel and acquire food. And we’re taking more calories in. And how!

New York City’s recent law requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts on menus has revealed some intriguing — and appalling — information. Some observations:

Studies have shown that even dietitians often underestimate how many calories dishes contain, and no wonder. Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken packs 1,290 calories. Pizzeria Uno’s Individual Chicago Classic (serves one) has 2,310. Who could eat another bite after an appetizer like T.G.I. Friday’s Jack Daniel’s Sampler at 2,330? Bear in mind that to maintain their present weight, most men should consume from 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day; most women from 1,500 to 1,800, depending on activity level and size.

Read the full story, watch a video and take an interactive quiz – How Calorie Savvy Are You?