A new law tucked into the U.S. health reform bill requires that restaurants with 20 locations or more display calorie counts on menus, menu boards and drive-throughs.  Although many restaurants already display calorie counts on a wall, or their website, the new law makes this information more visible.  The purpose is to make sure customers see calorie information as they are ordering to help them make the most informed decisions.

I am very excited about this new requirement and I think it will be a huge eye- opener for most people when they see calorie counts start popping up on menus. I believe it will make people stop and think about the choice they are making and hopefully reconsider opting for the unhealthy items.  Oftentimes we don’t understand why we weigh as much as we do.  We may think that we are making healthy choices, but then learn that the cappuccino we regularly pick up from Starbucks or the salad we ate for lunch at Wendy’s could be hindering us from having a healthy, low-calorie, diet. My hope is that this new law will also force restaurants to provide more low-calorie, healthy menu items for their patrons because of customer demand and a reduction in the sale of the unhealthiest items.

Fighting our nation’s obesity epidemic requires health education.  I see this as a great step in leading our country to become better educated about the food they are placing in their bodies. Of course, unhealthy food options will still be available in restaurants, but we will be more enlightened to make the best decision possible if we seek to make healthy choices.  

More on the new health law can be found here.

– Dr. Darren Soong