Calorie Counts on Menus

'I was shocked': Why health advocates want calorie counts on your menu and in your face.

New York City mandates that large chain restaurants post calorie counts on their menus. Sarah Kosmack's selected drink totalled around 800 calories, more than the amount in many burgers. "I was shocked," Kosmack, who lives in Toronto, recalls. "It was so brutal. The calories were so high, I couldn't do it."

People in Ontario may soon be in for a similar shock. Starting in 2017, the province will require that food service establishments with 20 or more locations list the calorie amounts on the menu or menu display board. Smaller eateries are exempt because of the costs of meeting the requirements. Some health advocates are pushing for all of Canada to adopt similar regulations and to add even more nutritional details. Critics in the restaurant industry argue it's just too much information and could cause confusion. Many national health organizations including the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Diabetes Association want calories listed on chain restaurant menus across Canada. The Fitness Industry Council of Canada is running a campaign called Menu Truth, asking Canadians who support the cause to contact their provincial health minister.

I'm curious... How do you feel? Would you like to have calories available on the menu? Tell us your answer and why you feel the way you do (either for or against). As for me, I would like to have the calories visible as I find it helps me have an honest awareness of what it is that I am about to consume and if too high, it may sway my decision. Maybe I will order something different or maybe I will eat less than I would have if I was ignorant to the calorie level. I do not view this as a negative thing but rather awareness of my choices. Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

Stefanie