Unveiled Calories

The FDA has recently ruled that chain stores will have to display the calorie count of their menu items.

This is a big reveal, which will no doubt cause many shifts in restaurant practices. Some will be for the better, and some will be less so. For people who care deeply about what they consume on a day to day basis, this takes a lot out guesswork out of calorie counting.

Generally, popular restaurants and stores get their attention from the taste of their product. It’s not unreasonable, but it’s not all that people care about. Every taste has a cost, the addition of ingredients that shouldn’t be regularly consumed.

People will likely be surprised when we find out that their favorite burgers may have several times more calories than one could expect. Most understand that a burger isn’t a healthy thing to eat on a regular basis, but it’s a lot easier to justify its consumption when you don’t actually know its exact contents.

Good news is, people who have trouble deciding on menu items will likely be swayed towards the truly healthy options. Certain products are deceptively fattening, such as flavored bread. An item can easily fool a person with a neat appearance, but that will no longer be an issue once the new FDA requirements are fulfilled.

Unfortunately, as with all rules, loopholes will exist. Combo menu items will likely dwindle due to their combined calorie counts. Extra toppings and filler, such as cheese, may soon be removed altogether, and must be asked for in order to be included in a menu item.

Still, it’s a good change. Having some more transparency in the food industry will benefit those who want to lead a fit life. Knowledge is power, and you should know as much as you can about what you’re putting through your digestion tract.