I'm interested to know what you think about displaying nutritional information and calories on menus. Do you think it will deter people from eating out or assist with healthy eating?
I don't believe that Menu's should display calorie/nutritional information. The first main reason is that the cost in ensuring you are presenting the correct information is costly. The larger fast food chains can provide this information as they have such a standardized menu and they need the good publicity.
The way for restaurants to go is applying themselves to fresh locally produced food, avoiding pre-made products and hiring true chefs who know how to cook and not just produce.
no one will be expecting calorific information if they know the food is fresh and as EC friendly as possible.
I don't think it willl do either
A customer tends to frequent Fast food type restaurants regularly whereas destination restaurants tend to be a special occasion event.
It wouldn't stop me eating a steak, chips and veg if I knew it contained 1000 calories as I am fortunate enough to know the value of balanced diet and that an occasional treat won't be a problem
We need to look more at education, being able to cook and the sustained use of oven ready/microwave meals at home. You dont get overweight on one meal out per month or even per week! It is a sustained overconsumption of calories that causes it!
Calvin Hanks
www.cjgroup.co.uk
I'm interested to see how the government in the UK respond to moves in the U.S around this.
Would it be fair to say I'm not the only one who would find the idea of calerie information on a fine dining menu for e.g spoiling the experience? Somehow reminding you of your gluttonous sin for what may be a special once in a year meal.
If restaruants were being forced by legislation to provide some degree of information I would say it shouldnt be rammed down the customers throat on a menu - rather if someone would like to know they can be pointed to a specialist website or printed material which outlines the information.
Seems like a fairer way to go to me? Or is that far too reasonable? :)
Hi Lindleyblogger
We have had a lot of previous debate on this subject. Maybe you would like to take a look at some of these comments http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/forums/calories-on-restaurant-menus-3349.aspx#16624. It's definitley a hot topic!
I enjoy informing myself about calories content in products I buy in a supermarket or in a fast food. I really don't see how this burden could be imposed on restaurants. As a previous poster said, food in fast food chains is standardised: all the burgers and buns will weigh exaclty the same, there will be the same amount of sauce and condiments. In a restaurant/hotel kitchen this could never happen. What about "menu du jour" or specials? Last minute changes?
At any rate the question we should be asking ourselves is: do restaurant customers really want to know? The answer is most likely no.