Underestimation of Intake at Restaurants: How Much are you Really Consuming?

Restaurant PictureEating out at fast food establishments has unfortunately become a big part of our fast-paced, convenience driven culture.  According to national statistics from 2007-2010, an average of 11% of daily calories are consumed through fast food by American adults.  When you are not preparing your own meals, do you really know how much you are consuming?  According to a recent study in the British journal of Medicine, the answer to this question is no.  A large scale analysis was done evaluating the difference between how many calories adults and teens thought they were consuming at fast food restaurants versus what they actually consumed.  It turns out that people, especially teenagers, are consuming a lot more calories than they think they are when they order fast food.

In 2011-2012 researchers surveyed close to 3,400 adults, teens, and children at 89 different fast-food establishments in the New England area.  They found on average adults underestimated their meals by 175 calories, while teenagers underestimated by 259 calories.  If you eat a fast-food meal twice a week, this could lead to a 5-8 pound weight gain per year!  Participants also seemed to be confused by the “health halo” placed on side dishes like salads which seem healthy, but whose toppings and dressings sometimes make them the unfavorable choice to french fries.

At the time of the study, the fast food chains didn’t post calorie information on their menus.  One can only hope that now that this information is available that it has impacted people’s decision making process to some degree.  However many sit-down restaurants are still not required to provide calorie information, so patrons still run the risk of jaded opinions on “thought to be healthy” foods or hidden calories found in sauces and marinades.

Want to know how to avoid some of the pitfalls that eating out offers?  Stay tuned next week for tips on enjoying your meal while eating out and being healthy.

Your turn to take action:  With calorie labeling on restaurant menus becoming more prevalent, have you been surprised by the calories in some of your regularly ordered dishes?

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7 replies
  1. Kathy Widenhouse
    Kathy Widenhouse says:

    Not only calorie content, but also portion size … so many restaurants these days offer excessive portions. Those of us growing up “cleaning our plates” can save calories by simply leaving a little bit of food on the plate.

    Reply
    • Bonnie R. Giller
      Bonnie R. Giller says:

      Exactly Kathy! That’s what I am teaching my clients in the iEat Mindfully™ program. It’s a challenge for those who grew up in the “clean the plate club” to leave food behind. Or, if they are determined not to waste money since they paid for the restaurant meal…they will often eat past the point of satiation just to finish what they paid for.

      Reply
  2. Susan
    Susan says:

    I don’t really do ‘fast food’ any more, since my digestive system rebels (and often repels) it. That’s probably more information than you care to know, though. Sorry. But this is an important issue and I’m glad you’ve highlighted it here today. Even though I don’t do fast food, I still eat out at restaurants regularly and, even though I go for healthy options (mostly), it’d still be helpful to have calorie info on the menu. Thanks for this interesting article today. It’s really got me thinking.

    Reply
  3. Arla DeField - SayingNoWithoutFeelingGuilty.com
    Arla DeField - SayingNoWithoutFeelingGuilty.com says:

    I am not surprised by this information. I don’t do the fast food thing, I think it is too much money for not good food, (just my personal opinion) ((although I do french fries as a treat once about every 6 months))

    I know what you mean about the clean the plate club. I grew up in that environment and still find it challenging to leave food on the plate. When I dish up at home, I have learned to take small portions and give myself permission for more if I really want.

    The challenge is when dining at someone else’s house when they dish. What I have started doing is let my guests dish for themselves, so there is not a problem with portions!

    Reply
    • Bonnie R. Giller
      Bonnie R. Giller says:

      I agree Arla. I don’t dish out for my guests. That’s the only time I serve family style and let them take for themselves. I really love what you wrote…that you give yourself permission to take more if you really want. That’s great, and exactly what being an intuitive eater entails. Keep up the good work.

      Reply

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