Calories on Menus: What Happens Next?

Calories on Menus: What Happens Next?

So on 7th April 2022, it became mandatory in the U.K. for companies with at least 250 employees to display calories on in-person and online menus.

The government has introduced these measures to help you make "healthier" and more informed choices when dining out or ordering takeaways.

But is it as great as they say? First of all, this article is going to be more so 'playing devil's advocate' throughout this 'calories on menus: what happens next?' article, because:

1. Sometimes it's easy to judge if something is a good idea purely from your own world experiences and the people you surround yourself with, e.g. your social media bubble. This is a flawed way of thinking regarding something that'll impact the 68 million people in the U.K.

2. It'll hopefully help you reach your conclusion about the calorie menu topic, and I'll give you my opinion at the end.

Suppose you listen to my 'The Leo Alves Podcast'. In that case, you'll know this 'menus with calories' topic has already been covered in one of the episodes, although if you prefer reading to listening - this article is perfect for you.

Let's get started.

An example of the new calorie menu is below.

Calories on Menus: Why Was This Introduced?

The government estimates that overweight and obesity-related health conditions cost the NHS around £6.1 billion yearly.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or obese, as are one in three children when they leave primary school.

Meaning that action needs to be taken, but whether or not menus with calories are a good idea is discussed below.

Let's get into the cons.

Calories on Menus: Cons

Children May Get too Fixated on it

Whether having a calorie menu for children will be a pro or con will only be revealed in one or two generations. However, my gut feeling is that it'll result in more youngsters being increasingly clued up on calories and their role in your health, but unfortunately, an increase in eating disorders too.

How so? Imagine the

• Pizza Express menu calories, or the

• Tim Horton's menu calories, or the

• Nandos menu with calories

is the only thing your child sees whenever they go out to enjoy food?

This could result in a long-term increased fixation on a restaurant calorie menu or the fast food menu for at least a few youngsters, especially if the education forced upon them by their guardians is more negative than positive.

Perhaps a calorie-free menu could be provided for children? Although this opinion will be expanded upon towards the end.

Those With Eating Disorders are Being Overlooked

Around 2% of the British population is estimated to have an eating disorder.

When it comes to calories on menus being introduced - this can result in:

• Increased feelings of guilt for those who have binge eating disorder.

• An increased fixation on caloric restriction for those with anorexia or bulimia.

As two prime examples.

The most interesting part? You'd assume that the government had already considered this, although they decided to have menus with calories anyway so that they could focus on the 63% rather than the 2%. 

Do you think it makes sense? When looked at statistically, yes - you could say it does, as 63% is much bigger than 2%. But the 2% are real people going through daily battles regarding what they eat. To be overlooked by the same people who should have their best interests at heart, you could argue, is a poor move by the government.

Can you please everyone? Certainly not, but it again brings up the argument about restaurants having both menus with calories and without - allowing customers to decide for themselves.

Positive Nutrition Habits Go Beyond 'Just Calories'

Although calories are essential and do play a huge role when it comes to your health, a lot of people may misinterpret the calories on menus in a way that implies that counting calories is the be-all and end-all - which, of course, it isn't, with fibre, protein and vitamins all playing an important role too.

On the plus side, this extra information is something you can generally find if you search online; for example, if you Google search Nandos menu with calories, you can easily find more information about each dish.

It's Not Something That Always Needs to be Seen

This may surprise you coming from a personal trainer and online coach, but having a calorie menu isn't something I'd always want myself - although it would be more of a situational thing.

How so? For example, suppose there's been a week where you know you've eaten out a lot more than usual. In that case, a calorie menu is good as it'll mean being more aware of what’s being eaten becomes much more manageable.

Although on the other hand, if there's been a lot of consistency recently, eating out is a treat, and having menus with calories is the last thing you'd want, as it could likely impact decisions, whether you subconsciously realise this or not.

Let's move on to the pros of menus with calories.

Calories on Menus: Pros

Something Needs to be Done About the Growing Obesity Levels in England

Obesity in the U.K. is increasing yearly, and the burden on the NHS is becoming too big to ignore - meaning that something needs to be done.

It's all good to say that menu calories are ‘terrible’, but do you have a better suggestion? If not, then perhaps don't be so quick to shut it down - and if you do, then I’d love to hear it via email at leo@kairos.online

Perhaps you'll also remember the obesity shaming posters shown in 2019 by Cancer Research - which was a terrible idea, as it’s clear by now that shaming does not help implement consistent and positive healthy habits.

"Foods in Supermarkets Come With Nutrition Labels Anyway, so What's the Difference Between That and Menus With Calories? Choice and Information are Only Going to Help People."

Although I do feel that comparing foods in a supermarket to calories on menus is a bit of a long shot, it's easy to get behind the fact that more information will help many people, especially those with more severe health conditions. For example, someone who knows they need a calorie deficit to lose weight but finds eating out impossible to avoid.

Plus, if nutrition labels on foods at the supermarket can help you make a more informed decision, then knowing more information will only be a positive addition to calories on a fast food menu. However, there is a time and place.

Having Calories on Menus Will Encourage Businesses to Provide Healthier Options

It's been stated by the government that having calories on menus may also encourage businesses to provide healthier options, likely forcing companies to think more carefully about what they put on the menu and the ingredients they use. Therefore, being more likely to create lower-calorie alternatives.

Of course, this isn’t to say that “lower calorie” automatically means healthier, but this can only be a positive move towards lowering the obesity rate.

One great example is Starbucks, where their Frappuccino 'used to contain half of your daily calories' (my guess is it had anywhere between 900-1,100 calories), but since calories on menus became law, Starbucks has introduced lower calorie alternatives to the Frappuccino.

Wagamama has Gone One up

Wagamama has one-upped most chains, and even the government, by providing both menus with calories and without. So the best of both worlds.

This provides nutritional information for individuals who want to see it and continue giving menus without calories for those who find that seeing calories on menus negatively impacts them, e.g., those with eating disorders.

Well done, Wagamama.

For a Final Pro, it Will Educate More People, and Potentially You too

As someone who trains people online globally, one common theme I encounter is that many people have 0 idea about calories and it’s role in their health. 

Most people who see calories on menus may need help understanding what they mean. For example, is 800 calories for a dish good? Bad? You're not sure.

Although this could lead to you being more likely to take the initiative and educate yourself on why calories are essential.

This is perhaps a big indirect win of having calories on menus, as it'll likely get many people to educate themselves. A lack of education is certainly not the only cause, but it still significantly contributes to obesity.

So, What Do I Think About Menus With Calories?

1. There's no perfect solution. Because when it comes to a move as big as trying to lower the increasing obesity rates for an entire country - there will always be a group of people who aren't happy.

2. Calories on menus are a step in the right direction because more information will only help most of the population.

   Although I do believe that restaurants providing menus with calories and without calories would be the ideal scenario. Great for those with eating disorders, children and those who don't want to see it.

3. Most importantly, better nutritional education needs to start at school. I'll admit that I have 0 idea what it's like nowadays. Still, as someone who went to primary school in the 00s, all I can remember is the food pyramid - which wasn't helpful.

   Learning how to create a balanced meal, understanding which foods should be emphasised more, e.g. fruits, veg and protein. Knowing which foods are high in protein and why fibre is good etc., are a few positive examples alongside the calorie menu change.

Before finishing, I wanted to go over one common argument about calories on menus, “Having calories on menus isn't a good idea because it doesn't show the difference between good, bad or empty calories".

Let's make this clear.

Although there's no doubt that there are good intentions behind the statement, there is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' calories because:

1. A calorie is simply a unit of measurement for energy. When you hear something contains 100 calories, it describes how much energy your body can get from eating or drinking it.

   You can't have a 'good' or 'bad' mile or a 'good' or 'bad' degree celsius.

2. Some foods are more nutritious than others. Broccoli has more nutritional value than a Krispy Kreme Donut - but that doesn't mean the Krispy Kreme Donut is 'bad'; it didn't rob a bank.

3. If you feel I'm nit-picking, I can guarantee I'm not.

   This needs to be said because it's the sort of black-and-white thinking, e.g. calories are either 'good' or 'bad', that's a massive factor as to why so many people, potentially you included, struggle with your nutrition.

   Because whenever you want to change for the better, you'll ban everything you've arbitrarily labelled as 'bad', which isn't sustainable.

   Again, some foods are more nutritious than others. However, understanding that you can have everything in moderation and still make significant progress is vital. This becomes harder when you label food as 'bad'. Still, it could get easier by introducing calories on menus.

4. Empty calories are made up and aren't real; it's impossible for a calorie to be 'empty' - it has to contain a carbohydrate, fat or protein.

That's it for this article, 'Calories on menus: what happens next?' I hope you enjoyed it!

If you did, be sure to sign up for my email list by clicking here. I send out an email once a week about various fitness-related topics.

Speak soon,

Leo

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