Counting calories

This past Saturday I walked into Panera to the familiar smell of bread and pastries.

The café chain offers up sandwiches and soup, but on this particular brisk fall afternoon, I was craving something with espresso. So, approaching the counter, I was ready to order a cafe mocha when I looked up at the menu and noticed that beside each listed item there was a calorie count. Unfortunately, the drink I had been craving contained almost 400 calories while the café latte listed above it only had 110. When the cashier asked me what I wanted, I ordered the latte and saved myself any guilt from consuming the drink. As I left, I thought about how helpful it would be if these calorie counts were listed in all the restaurants I eat at.

It seems that Congress has the same idea. They want to extend these calculations to all food establishments that are “part of a chain with 20 or more locations.” This provision can be found in Section 2572 of the House Health Care Bill and could dramatically help reduce the rate of obesity as well as diabetes in the country by keeping people informed about what they are eating.

These are the same nutritional facts already found on all food products offered at the grocery store. But why limit this information when it can be just as helpful in many other contexts? For people trying to lose weight, knowing how many calories are in their available food options - in and outside of the supermarket – could be very helpful for them in attaining their goals.

Such a provision already exists in New York City. This policy was put into effect in March 2008 and has seen some real success. Since the plan went into action, a poll by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shows that on average, a burger buyer eats about 106 fewer calories per purchase.

What has worked in New York City should be implemented throughout the rest of the country.

The measure will ensure that calorie counts are listed on the menu and drive-through board of qualifying restaurants. The calorie contents of products in vending machines will be affected too, as “a vending machine operator shall provide a sign in close proximity to each article of food or the selection button.”

This is a comprehensive policy that will only affect chains that can afford it. That way smaller restaurants will not be burdened with having to test all of their products for nutritional content - an expensive procedure.

For a country that is trying to become more health conscious, this would be a move in the right direction. The first step to making someone eat healthily is to give them knowledge about what they are already consuming. And for the lower class whose diets disproportionately consist of cheap fast food value meals, this policy could prove that knowledge isn’t only power – it’s a health factor.