Calories are under attack again as the latest study of popular restaurants was released. The report states that while most calories counts are accurate, the ones for the lowest calorie menu options are on average 100 less than what they actually are. This is what might be called “low-balling.”
The researchers found huge discrepancies, especially in sit down restaurants where the portions and preparations by chefs are not as consistent as at fast-food eateries. (Score “1” for fast food.)
What that means is that if you are ordering a salad or other healthier food, you may be getting about 100 or more calories than you bargained for, which may lead to up to 15 pounds of weight gain per year.
Every year, the Center for Science in the Public Interest also analyzes menu items from the country’s most popular restaurants. They are looking for the worst nutritional offenders and have no problem finding candidates. This year, like most years, sit down food chains, like Denny’s and Cheesecake Factory took top billing.
Not only did many restaurants surveyed offer entrees that were larger than we need, but also they exhibited a kind of excess that comparable to gluttony. They were often attempting to make low-quality ingredients more palatable by layering on sugar, fat and salt for flavor and texture. Consequently, they are increasing the size of the portion.
This seems quite perverse to me as if by adding more calories, they can create greater value. Ugh!
Most Americans eat about a third of their daily calories out, and cannot rely on the nutritional information being provided to them as accurate. With obesity rates still climbing, restaurants need to accept their complicity in the problem. At the same time, individuals have to take responsibility for their weight concerns.
What can health clubs do to counteract this practice intended to entice diners to take in more calories? The advice I would give to members and clients is, “Don’t eat out so much!” And create an opportunity to advise members what to do when they are in restaurants. Suggest the following strategies:
• Set guidelines before going out, such as no all-you-can-eat buffets or not going over a certain number of calories.
• Make special requests, such as no butter or breadbasket, or dressing on the side.
• Ask for substitutes, as in a salad for fries.
• Eliminate extras. So no bacon, cheese, mayonnaise, croutons or double patties!
• Stick to water, still or sparkling, and skip alcohol, especially on an empty stomach.
Furnishing your members with a simple dining-out guide would be a public service! Of course, your club, if it has a restaurant or snack bar, should be as fat, sugar, salt and calorie-conscious as you would want any other restaurant to be.
Judith Samuels, M.A. is a certified nutrition and wellness consultant and master personal trainer at Sport&Health Clubs in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. She can be reached via e-mail at judi@judisamuels.com.
