In the article Diners eat fewer calories when menu lists entrees' contents, it talks about the different outcomes of what consumers eat if the calories are listed on the menu. The article says that people eat far less at dinner and afterward if the calories are listed on the menu along with how many calories they should consume in one day. Researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obestity at Yale University recruited 303 adults and invited them to dinner with a wide variety of menu options. The adults were divided into 3 groups. 1 group had just a regular menu with no listings, the 2nd group had a menu with just the calories listed, and the 3rd group had a menu with the calories of all options and the recommended daily amount of calories, about 2000. The diners who saw the calorie label and the 2000-calorie reference consumed the least amount. They ate about 1,380 calories at dinner and afterward. That compares to with about 1,630 calories for the other 2 groups. Christina Roberto a researcher for the Rudd Center says that the calories saved from one meal would add up over time and have substantial effects on people's weight over the course of a year. Director of the Rudd Center, Kelly Brownell, says it's "crystal clear" that menus should include calorie labels plus 2,000 calorie reference number to make it easier for consumers to make healthier choices.
I don't go out to eat very often so when I do it is usually for a special occassion or just a treat every once in awhile. When I go out to eat I don't want my meal choices based on numbers I see. Also the portion sizes are large for me that I usually end up bringing leftovers home. If an entree has a high calorie count but it is something I want to get I would still get it and eat a portion of it and bring the rest home for the next day. In that case all those calories aren't being consumed in one day. I work at Outback Steakhouse where our Aussie Cheese Fries have been named the #1 worst food for you. With something like 5,000 calories in one order it is still one of our most popular apps. Our customers are aware of this also and some people watching their health say that they are treating themselves or they love them so much they don't really care.
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This article is very interesting to me, since I, like most American's, am very calorie conscious. However, I do think that having calorie counts on the menu could be harmful to a restaurant's business. Like Kristin said, when people go out to eat, it is usually for a special occassion, when indulgence is the goal. Dining in a restaurant where calorie counts are glaring in the face of diners could turn them off from indulgent entrees, which is proven by the study in the article.
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