When nutritional information is available on fast-food restaurant menus, parents are more apt to pick lower-calorie foods for their kids, new research finds.
Often spurred on by legislation, many U.S. restaurant chains are now posting nutrition information about their menu items. But whether this information would translate to healthier eating was unclear.
The new study, conducted with McDonald’s menus, suggests that it does.
"When parents are provided with calorie information they chose about 100 calories less [per meal] for their 3- to 6-year-old child compared to parents who didn’t have that information," said lead researcher Dr. Pooja Tandon, a graduate fellow in the department of general pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle.
"One hundred calories over time is actually a significant amount in terms of weight gain, given the rates of fast food consumption and childhood obesity in our country," she added.
The report is published in the Jan. 25 online issue of Pediatrics.
I think a lot of people really do want to eat better. Nutritional information can be too complex. If a label is kept simple, it is more likely to be useful. Calories, carbos, fat, saturated fat, sodium, and protein should be in bold print, along with the percentage of the RDA. Other info might be useful, but these things are what really matter. If products and restaurant menus had this info, I do think many of us would eat better.
.-= Ferd´s last blog ..Macro Monday =-.
I so agree about the label and keep it simple! Like you Ferd I think people do want to be healthier and are concerned about what they’re putting into their (and children) bodies. If given the basic information I think people would make better choices. Perfect example Starbucks, if people knew that Frappuccino they were ordering was 600 calories would they still order it? Many wouldn’t.
I love the puppy sniffing the poppies picture!
I think this is very true. It doesn prompt some parents to actually think before they choose something to eat. This is encouraging.
.-= Keli´s last blog ..Juggling Stupidity on the Telephone =-.
Thanks Keli! I made that header back in 2008 and decided to put it up again. I get bored with the same one and try to switch them out every couple of months or so. I agree, seeing with your own eyes may prompt a parent to make healthier choices.
I also agree that the ingrediants on packaging should be right to the point….I have heard it said if you can’t pronounce most of the words then perhaps you shouldn’t eat it.
I like the last part of your comment about not being able to pronounce the word on the list of ingredients maybe you shouldn’t be eating it. Which takes us back to eating REAL food and sadly so many people don’t.