Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…
I was lucky enough to score tickets to opening day at the new Yankee Stadium a couple of weeks ago. Though I am a die-hard Mets fan and a huge proponent of the National League (Designated Hitter? Why?) how could I not be awed by the history being made and the excitement of reigning in a new era? As I toured the new stadium and all of the enticements it had to offer, I couldn’t help but notice one thing that excited me above all else…the concession stands had their menus labeled with calorie counts. Suddenly I found myself choosing the 320 calorie hot dog over the 1100 calorie bag of roasted peanuts in the shell.
Why is this so exciting, and not just to a nutrition nerd like me? Menu-labeling (as it is called in the food policy world), is not a novel concept. We have all looked at food labels at one time or another in the grocery store, helping us decide perhaps which cookie is “healthier” than the other, but having clearly posted menu labels in restaurants (particularly fast food and chain restaurants) has never been readily available to help us make an informed choice before ordering that double cheese burger and chocolate shake.
Indiana and Kentucky lead the nation in obesity rates and the many complications that go along with being overweight. There are lots of debates about how we can best address these very serious threats to our community’s overall health, but in a world filled with increasing value and convenience by dining from the dollar menu, it is generally agreed among those advocating for improvements in public health that menu-labeling would allow Americans to exercise personal responsibility and make informed choices for a growing part of their diets…fast food and chain restaurants.
“Few people would guess that a large chocolate McDonald’s milkshake has more calories than a hamburger, small fries, and a small coke!”
More than twenty states and localities are considering policies that would require fast-food and other chain restaurants to provide calories and other nutrition information on menus and menu boards—four have already passed policies. Kentucky and Indiana should seriously consider joining this effort. Senator Denise Harper-Angel has introduced menu-labeling legislations through SB 133, to learn more about this proposed bill: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09rs/sb133.htm
In fact, we have a real hometown hero right here in Louisville, YUM! Brands. In October of 2008 YUM! made a groundbreaking announcement that it will add calorie counts to menu boards at KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Long John Silver’s is fabulous news for health-conscious consumers. Talk about thinking outside the bun! YUM! has also gone an important step further by voicing its support for legislation that would require restaurants to list calories on menus and menu boards
More links to learn about the benefits of menu-labeling:
http://www.cspinet.org/menulabeling/
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3054233
Very cool info Kelly! I dont think I will have a mcdonalds shake now again…The food info and content would be great to have everywhere (vs. inconspicuos as it is now so many places) to help people make better choices.
I LOVE this, on many levels, Kelly!!! You presented this fabulously – who would have thought the roasted peanuts would have that many more calories than a hot dog?! Of course, as a consumer, having easily accessible nutrition information makes a huge difference in where I feel comfortable purchasing my food. As an employee of Yum!, it made me extremely proud when we made this move last fall. It was a courageous step for our industry – and in my opinion, a necessary one. I believe that any company that takes this step shows dedication to transparency, and true pride in the products that they produce. Thanks for this great blog!