Full Disclosure

As a NYC resident I do not really support taking our local labeling system national for a couple of reasons:
1. Most people for whom the information would be beneficial COMPLETELY ignore the menu breakdowns
2. The people who are paying attention wither were already health conscious and fairly skilled at choosing healthy options and therefore most likely do not REALLY need to have the EXACT numbers staring them down, logical estimates are generally sufficient (and online queries can reveal those mystery offenders when necessary)
3. For some, the numbers can breed obsession with caloric intake and obsession with ANYTHING is an unhealthy thing for anyone
Having struggled mightily with a severe eating disorder since high school I have had to adopt a 'blinders' policy when it comes to menu breakdowns (though I generally just avoid chain restaurants because they are not usually the healthiest anyways...) and I wish they would just go away. The pain of obsession with every morsel that crosses your lips is not a fun experience. The joy of maintaining health through proper exercise and eating is a very one. I am a HUGE proponent of a holistic nutrition education for every, single person that includes an appreciation of moderation and enjoyment in one's approach to food. My opposition to the policy stems, not from a wish to watch Americans continue to ignore how bad their diets are for them but from a want to see more of a solution than another nutrition facts panel that can be so easily ignored. I want to see people LEARN about what makes them feel good in their bodies without obsessing over it. Good nutrition is simple once you get the hang of it, whole foods beat fake foods, everything in moderation, stay active, eat from the earth not the laboratory. Menu labels will not solve our health crisis, nutrition education on the other hand can.

I think this is a GREAT idea. I used to work at a chain coffee shop and it was hard to resist telling healthy-looking people just how bad their daily drink was -- because they probably had no idea (not that I did, but I wanted to!)
General rule of thumb at coffee shops: if you want to keep your calories in check, the following are your ONLY options - coffee (with or without skim/2% milk), tea, a skim latte, a skim cappuccino, an americano, or straight espresso. Of course, any sugar-free flavor shots are guilt-free.
And that's all, folks. No mochas. No smoothies. No fancy blended drinks (Frappuccino Light is OK, but stick with a grande or tall). Even if you order your white mocha with skim and no whip, it still has enough calories to be considered an indulgent treat, not breakfast. As far as bakery items, the only thing typically under 200 calories is biscotti. I was shocked when I found out just how bad this stuff was...but hey, it makes deciding what to order easier.

Instead of putting calories on the menu, restaurants should be required to supply all ingredients, as well as where the food comes from. People are fat because they our consuming large volumes of processed, chemically laden food. Also, the nutritional information on packages coincides with the rise in obesity, so what proof do they have that listing the calories really work. Apparently it does not.

This nonsense is just a way to make restaurants responsible for something the consumer should be responsible for. Every time there is an ???epidemic??? it becomes the job of business owners to babysit consumers.

Eat whole food and exercise, the formula hasn't changed for being healthy.

To realistically minded's comment, let me say this...... "You are what you eat." Nutrition 80% Exercise 20%

Although working out has its undeniable health benefits, eating a healthy diet and not exceeding your necessary caloric requirements plays the biggest role in fat loss, muscle gain, and everything in between. See your local gym treadmill or elliptical machine for an example of people who think just working out (mainly cardio) and not changing their eating habits will attribute to fat loss.

To expand on the article, the people who choose to ignore the nutritional facts provided at these restaurants either A) don't have a weight problem and don???t care about their health or B) Have a weight problem and just don???t care that they are fat. While adding these facts to menus wont bring an end to obesity, the epidemic in America is largely attributed to consuming more calories than needed to maintain your weight coupled with the ever increasing lack of exercise.

Im sure myself ,and other health conscious individuals, are looking forward to seeing nutritional facts at chain restaurants. For the percentage of the population that want to turn a blind eye and continue to expand their waistline, there are a lot of us who want to do the opposite and now we have better knowledge and can easily spot the healthiest options when we eat out at any of these chains. .

You have got to be kidding me?!!! Are people so out of touch about what they shove in their mouths that we need the government to mandate calories on menus. The government has better things to do than worry about how much calories are in french fries. We all know everything is in moderation is best.

@ MICKEY

Hi, No one is saying you can't buy/eat it. Just buy/eat it if you want to. I personally love the idea! What better way to keep your diet on track than having the information in front of you! No excuses then. :)

welcome to communist america where you are not free to eat as you like.

This will not fix anything because obesity is caused my more than the variable of eating out. It's also a combination of lack of activity, lack of meal planning, etc.
We didn't evolve sitting at a desk with a convenience store or supermarket on every block, so of course the body responds by getting fat to the inactivity and sugary, high fat conveneince food.
I suppose it's a good idea but honestly, people are dumb. If they don't think that big mac and fries might have close to 1,000 calories they're just stupid.

yah brien tell that to people in Ethiopia. im sure it will reduce famine. it's easy to say when you have so much around you. oh how so much you sound like marie antionette when she said "let them eat cake" . but please go tell people in ethiopia and kenya "let them eat soy"

I do know that a national law mandating vegetarianism would reduce global warming, environmental crises, famine, deforestation, obesity and cruelty against animals.
Brien Comerford

This info is posted on the Resaturant's website in 9 out of 10 cases. If you REALLY want to know the calorie count.... You'll find it !

I believe that it should be a law to show the caloric value of every meal. I strive to keep a 2,000 calorie diet, and it's near impossible to do without some kind of guide, because you can't hit a restaurants website while you're trying to order. The proportions of the meals offered at most fast food restaraunts are absurd and if people can see the calories in each meal it gives them a tool to keep a healthy diet. It definately makes people more concious of the decisions they're making. If you want to eat a triple cheeseburger despite knowing it contains 1,500 calories more power to you. If this even saves one life why shouldn't it be there?

I think if they made food more expensive depending on the calorie count THAT would have a more significant impact!

The ideal scenario, in my opinion, is to have nutrititional information available to those who want it. Personally, I've gotten in the habit of checking restaurants' websites before I go so I have time to figure out the healthiest option ahead of time. However, I would rather not see calorie counts posted on EVERYTHING. Sometimes I don't want to know. :)

Not only should there be a calorie indicator on all restaurant food, but we need legislation criminalizing caloric intake beyond prescribed levels and a federal department employing 30 million inspectors to enforce it.As it turns out, there will be a lot of job seekers now that we are in an Obama market. I always knew I could get with the liberal swing of things if I really tried.

It's about time! I am so tired of too many establishments having vague information -- or weasling out of it by saying, "Oh tell the chef to prepare it this way...." NO! Be honest with me -- even if I choose not to eat there because nothing on the menu fits into my food lifestyle, I'll think more highly of you and maybe even recommend your fare to my friends. I'd rather know than hazard a guess (and put my health and wellbeing in hazard, too!)

GOOD! It's about time. I watch my food intake, and there are plenty of places that are very vague about their menu items. I'd rather know what my options are -- even if it includes walking out the door and going elsewhere! Can't come soon enough!