Research has shown that people make smarter choices when restaurants list the calorie counts on their menu. But what happens if the numbers aren’t accurate?
Researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University found that roughly 50 percent of the food you get at places such as Wendy’s, Applebee’s, Olive Garden, Denny’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, P F Chang’s, Domino’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell is more fattening than those places say they are. In the worst cases, some foods had twice the calories stated on the menu. The average dish had 18 percent more calories than advertised.
The same study also took a look at some frozen foods from Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine – foods that are supposed to be the dieter’s choice. A close examination revealed that some of their offerings contained 8 percent more calories than what was listed.
The study’s lead author, Susan Roberts, said this amount of extra calories may not seem like much. But for those watching fat, calories and salt, the difference can add up fast for people expecting to lose a few pounds in a certain timeframe.
