Comments on: Expert: Many Underestimate Calories

Health Advocates Want To Force Restaurant Chains To List Calories On Menus

[namazzip]

I am a Food Manufacture of Pizza for all of North American. I find it unbeleivable that this Industry you reported on finds them selves "Out of Touch" with most Americans that want and/or need this information. They are hiding behind every rock they can find to stay "Out of Touch". Regaardless of what they say it is "MONEY" they are trying to protect not lives.
I would like to see the Representative for this industry go on line and try to grocery shop. Then show up at his local retailer and purchase his food with "NO" pricing on the shelves. Then he could have the retailer tell him, "Our prices are posted online"!
These people need to be pulled into the 21st. century, and quit worrying about lining their pockets while lining our Arteries! Mike

[gerticia]

So, maybe what we need are solutions that work. For example, we could foster a love of fruits & vegetables in our kids in school - if they stop counting ketchup as a vegetable, and if they take out the vending machines with the colas and junk food that compete with healthy alternatives. I''m sure the people at this site have even better ideas than Dr. Frieden. Maybe we should reallocate our tax dollars!

[gerticia]

Dr. Fieden''s solution takes us down a slippery slope. Calories are just one piece of the nutritional puzzle. To eat a well-balanced diet, people should take into account more than just their caloric intake. For example, with America''s growing epidemics of heart disease and diabetes (to name just two), we should also be concerned with the sodium and carbohydrate contents of our foods, not to mention the processed sugars we use now. By the time we add all of this information to the Menu Boards, there will truly be no way to see the food choices! In the end, he will expect fast food to try to talk their customers out of that Whooper. Crazy? You bet!

[gerticia]

Why shouldn''t we expect parents to do a little research (on the internet or on posters at the restaurant) to find out what they are feeding their children? We should not be so quick to abdicate our personal responsibilities. There are two simple truths. The first truth is, this is America - land of the free. People are free to eat what they want, when they want it. And, with freedom comes responsibility. It is our responsibility to eat a well-balanced diet, so that we can enjoy our freedom for years to come. The second truth is that in America we are driven by a Market Economy. So, the "evil" fast food restaurants simply give the people what they know they will buy. If people demand fruit and vegetables from McDonalds and Wendy''s, they will sell fruit and vegetables. So, instead of looking to the fast food industry to take responsibility, let''s look inward, and ask ourselves what we can do.

[gerticia]

Maybe Dr. Frieden would prefer it if fast food just fill up a trough with the food he decides is appropriate for the public. Then we could just belly up to it when we feel the urge to eat. And, what is wrong with Ms. Stahl''s journalistic instincts? Could she be more biased? I think it''s a stretch to jump on the guy from Wendy''s and claim that asking parents to look nutritional information up on the internet is too "hard". Her exagerated, self-righteous tone was a bit too much. Please! What ever happened to Personal Responsibility?

[jmd106]

if Leslie Stahl wanted to look like a foolish woman ordering her sub, she succedded. heaven help me if i was in line behind her

[displeased]

I think we need to educate our children at very early age. And the best way to start is in our schools.
Posted by nwebba

I agree, we need to educate the children. It''s too late for the adults. Beginning with the schools is a start but it won''t be enough. They can provide healthy meals throughout the day but half the problem is when the children get home. Parents will need to reinforce healthy lifestyles that the children learned at schools. How can parents educate their children when they can''t or won''t educate themselves?

[ray2632305]

So, New York''s health commissioner, Thomas Frieden thinks that there is a need for regulations to save people from obesity. Yet, if one were to look at Mr.
Frieden, one would not see an obese man. And one would have to assume that Mr. Frieden grew up to his current point in life without such regulations being in place.

The obvious message from Mr. Frieden is, "I am intelligent enough to take care of myself but the rest of you are too stupid. Therefore, I must act as your "Nanny".

Hmmmmm - seems like another case of arrogant "Nanny Government" running wild!!!!

[jowand]

Eat at home more, and really have it your way; it''s cheaper too. If you want to lose and control your weight you have to stop stuffing food in your mouth.

[ravenkitty1]

I found it hard to believe that anyone doing a report on calories found it confusing that a 12" sub would have twice as many calories as a 6" sub. I think that would be about second grade math. Is there anyone out there that does not realize that putting mayo on a sandwich will add lots of calories and fat! You can make any food or recipe unhealthy if you try. On the other hand, you can modify the same and make it healthy. Don''t buy the 12" sub with tons of mayo! Subway does have many healthy choices. Instead of picking on the chains that do supply nutrition info., go after the ones who will not. Everyone has the right to know what they are eating. It should not only be fast food chains but all restaurants that must supply this info. Fast food chains are not the only ones who make unhealthy foods. Some of the best and/or most expensive restaurants prepare their foods using very unhealthy methods. What about all the restaurants that serve fried foods and think of all that butter we dip our lobster in! And we didn''t even touch on how much salt you get when eating out (or in processed foods as well). Why do companies have to put nutrition info on foods bought at the grocery store if restaurants do not have to supply the facts. I thought this story was poorly done and frankly did not make Lesley look to intelligent.

[ravenkitty1]

I found it hard to believe that anyone doing a report on calories found it confusing that a 12" sub would have twice as many calories as a 6" sub. I think that would be about second grade math. Is there anyone out there that does not realize that putting mayo on a sandwich will add lots of calories and fat! You can make any food or recipe unhealthy if you try. On the other hand, you can modify the same and make it healthy. Don''t buy the 12" sub with tons of mayo! Subway does have many healthy choices. Instead of picking on the chains that do supply nutrition info., go after the ones who will not. Everyone has the right to know what they are eating. It should not only be fast food chains but all restaurants that must supply this info. Fast food chains are not the only ones who make unhealthy foods. Some of the best and/or most expensive restaurants prepare their foods using very unhealthy methods. What about all the restaurants that serve fried foods and think of all that butter we dip our lobster in! And we didn''t even touch on how much salt you get when eating out (or in processed foods as well). Why do companies have to put nutrition info on foods bought at the grocery store if restaurants do not have to supply the facts. I thought this story was poorly done and frankly did not make Lesley look to intelligent.

[skinnyminny2]

I shouldn''t be shocked at how stupid people are, but yet the masses never cease to amaze me. Everyone knows (or should know) most fast food is bad. Fried stuff is bad. Gobs of mayo is bad. A veggie or turkey sub with no cheese or oil...not so bad. It''s not that hard, people. I can''t believe people are so dumb that they can''t figure out on their own what is and isn''t healthy.

[grammawhamma]

While watching the "health conscious" Mr Frieden tonight on 60 minutes I was picturing him laying in a hospital bed being told he was going to die. He had a look of disbelief on his face..."Who me??? That''s impossible...I led a healthy life!"

[gruin2]

Why does a restaurant have to post ''large print'' calorie posters when a person needs a magnifying glass to read labels in the grocery store? I''m sure that the same people who squint to read labels are the ones who will check their restaurant on the internet before they dine out. We would all like to live like today''s ''perfect world'' television commercials, but in real life we are merely human beings all different and each being responsible for our choices...and may that never change because that''s what diversity is all about. Perhaps Mr. Frieden should should switch from regulating the Restaurants to TV Ads & spend a few evenings in front of his television set watching all the (glamourized) liquor and pharmaceutical ads that reach millions of adults and children....now talk about an unhealthy message and one we have no control over! I love my whip cream caramel lattes and I burn the calories off working hard to pay taxes that pay people like Mr. Frieden to protect consumers, not take away their sense of reasoning and responsibility.

[grammawhamma]

RavenKitty: Why don''t you change your name to RavenProphet and start spamming about Ron Paul...you are becoming just as annoying as the RP spammers.

[yongamerica]

What about diet mayo?

[ravenkitty1]

I found it hard to believe that anyone doing a report on calories found it confusing that a 12" sub would have twice as many calories as a 6" sub. I think that would be about second grade math. Is there anyone out there that does not realize that putting mayo on a sandwich will add lots of calories and fat! You can make any food or recipe unhealthy if you try. On the other hand, you can modify the same and make it healthy. Don''t buy the 12" sub with tons of mayo! Subway does have many healthy choices. Instead of picking on the chains that do supply nutrition info., go after the ones who will not. Everyone has the right to know what they are eating. It should not only be fast food chains but all restaurants that must supply this info. Fast food chains are not the only ones who make unhealthy foods. Some of the best and/or most expensive restaurants prepare their foods using very unhealthy methods. What about all the restaurants that serve fried foods and think of all that butter we dip our lobster in! And we didn''t even touch on how much salt you get when eating out (or in processed foods as well). Why do companies have to put nutrition info on foods bought at the grocery store if restaurants do not have to supply the facts. I thought this story was poorly done and frankly did not make Lesley look to intelligent.

[atpfitness]

I have been studying exercise and nutritional science for over 23 years. As a personal trainer I have dealt with hundreds of clients and others who have struggled with calorie control and body fat reduction. Over the years I have preached the EQUIL need for attention towards diet and exercise. I have been very frustrated by marketers who have exploited the public%u2019s ignorance in nutrition. I am a firm believer of education and %u201Cfree will%u201D. Ignorance is when someone does not know and makes a poor choice. Stupidity is when someone knows and still makes a poor choice. I am upset with the government%u2019s willingness to consider regulating the food industry because the public chooses to make stupid choices. I do however believe the government should be spending more time and money on educating the public. It is NOT the role or burden of the fast food industry to educate us on nutrition. It is their job to feed us. It is our job to be informed and make educated choices. I eat very healthy all year long but every once in a while I like fast food. I keep my body fat in an excellent range and at 46 years old my blood profile is excellent as well. That does not mean I will never eat a Carl%u2019s Jr. burger and fries or a candy bar from time to time. I enjoy the choices I have and the FREEDOM to choose. The bottom line is the fast food industry is NOT in anyway shape or form responsible for the obesity epidemic in our society and I can prove it.

[grammawhamma]

harkakaren: Exactly! The health concious people already don''t eat at fast food places...the ones that don''t care will continue to. It doesn''t matter if the calories are posted or not.

As for smoking in bars. Leave it up to the owners. The non smokers that claim a smoking ban will not harm the bar owner''s business can open one up and see how successful it is. They will get rich if they are right. Where I live most tavern customers are also smokers as are the bartenders.

[ravenkitty1]

I found it hard to believe that anyone doing a report on calories found it confusing that a 12" sub would have twice as many calories as a 6" sub. I think that would be about second grade math. Is there anyone out there that does not realize that putting mayo on a sandwich will add lots of calories and fat! You can make any food or recipe unhealthy if you try. On the other hand, you can modify the same and make it healthy. Don''t buy the 12" sub with tons of mayo! Subway does have many healthy choices. Instead of picking on the chains that do supply nutrition info., go after the ones who will not. Everyone has the right to know what they are eating. It should not only be fast food chains but all restaurants that must supply this info. Fast food chains are not the only ones who make unhealthy foods. Some of the best and/or most expensive restaurants prepare their foods using very unhealthy methods. What about all the restaurants that serve fried foods and think of all that butter we dip our lobster in! And we didn''t even touch on how much salt you get when eating out (or in processed foods as well). Why do companies have to put nutrition info on foods bought at the grocery store if restaurants do not have to supply the facts. I thought this story was poorly done and frankly did not make Lesley look to intelligent.