That's Fit

Last spring, NYC restaurants were required to post calorie counts for all foods. Each meal, each brownie, each special coffee drink... labeled with that little (or not-so-little) number. Now, months after the change was made, Self Magazine checked in with New Yorkers to see the results.

The magazine surveyed 100 New York women and found:

• 79% like that calories are clearly posted
• 55% order less now that they know what's in their meal.
• 13% have stopped going to certain eateries altogether.

Many of the women quoted in the article state that the calorie information has changed their habits. Either they're limiting the number of times they indulge in their favorite treats or they're opting for lower-calorie items instead.

I know we don't usually think of the phrase "make your own" anything when it comes to reducing stress. But in the case of kids' meals, I honestly believe it applies.

We often divert to going out to eat when we're maxed out on stress and running way short on time. However, let's disect this knee-jerk reaction a bit and see how much time we're really saving:

By the time kids are loaded into the car, you drive to a restaurant, wait in line to order or wait to be seated, decide what to order, wait for it to be prepared, eat it and come home, you could have easily boiled some water for pasta and steamed veggies and called it a night. Think about it. What's really easier? Another thing I like to do to save time and feed my family, make a couple of dishes on Sunday that can be eaten all week long: enchiladas, a pot of soup, lasagna. I also often make chicken tenders with a package of chicken cut in that format, dipped in bread crumbs, salt and pepper and sauteed in a little olive oil. Takes 10 minutes, tops.


If you still prefer to go out, knowing what's in kids' meals at various restaurants might stress you out enough to keep you home. According to the article, one Chili's Bar and Grill kids' meal composed of country-fried chicken crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolate milk contained 1,020 calories, while another composed of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, and lemonade contained 1,000 calories. A Burger King meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk has 910 calories, and Sonic has a "Wacky Pack" with 830 calories worth of grilled cheese, fries, and a slushie.

While there are some healthy choices on restaurant menus, "parents have to navigate a minefield of calories, fat and salt to find them," the report said. Plus, there's the price of the food and the gas to get to the restaurant.

Now do you believe me that it's less stressful to stay at home?

If you have a diet soda instead of a regular one, do you think that means you have more "room" for a big piece of cake? It sounds kind of crazy, doesn't it? Odds are the piece of cake would be more calories than the soda, and what does one thing have to do with the other anyway?

According to Brian Wansick PhD, author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, that type of reasoning isn't unusual. In the Journal of Consumer Research, Wasnick states "We found that when people go to restaurants claiming to be healthy, such as Subway, they choose additional side items containing up to 131% more calories than when they go to restaurants like McDonald's, that don't make this claim."

So when we perceive a restaurant as being "healthy," we become more liberal in our choices -- potentially choosing more calories than we might have consumed at a restaurant with fewer healthy choices. Wansick calls habits like ordering cookies to go with your low-cal sub the "halo effect." While having cookies or other treats isn't necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, it's the fact that many people are consuming these calories mindlessly; they aren't viewing them as treats, but more of a regular item that they have made space for by eating foods that they perceive as healthy.

Remember, restaurants don't always tell the whole-truth-and-nothing-but about their nutrition information. Check out Bev's post and learn why it's more like the whole-lie-and-a-bigger-butt.

Healthy fast food? Could there really be such a thing? A West Hollywood restaurant in California called O!burger seems to think so, and they're not talking cold sub sandwiches either. Burgers, fries, and shakes make up a good part of their menu, along with veggie burgers, yogurt smoothies, and salads.

Their main claim to fame (and health) is that they're 100% organic and striving to be eco-friendly in every way they can. They do have a healthy sounding veggie burger made of spinach and corn, but no mention of fat grams or calories. Is being organic enough to make such a broad claim like "healthy?" Unfortunately I don't live in the area and can't go try it for myself but if you do then give it a shot and let us know what you think!

Love to eat out but hate the damage it does to your diet? Try these easy tips and tricks for having all the fun and none of the flab:

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), if you live in Austin TX or Boston MA you might want to think twice before going out to eat.

CSPI has ranked 20 US cities from best to worst using criteria from the city's food inspectors. The ranking considers "how often city inspectors found five major health hazards and five less critical concerns in 30 high-end, medium-range, and fast-food eateries in each city." Hand washing, maintaining food at a proper temperature, and improper cooking are some of the major health hazards. Minor infractions include poor employee cleanliness and hygiene, rodent and/or insect infestation, presence of sick restaurant workers, and contact of bare hands with food.

The CSPI encourages cities to adopt a restaurant grading program similar to a program in LA County where restaurants have to post what health inspection grade they received -- A, B, or C. (Lower grades would result in temporary or permanent closure).

Keep reading to see the CSPI's "Dirty Dining" list from worst to best.

We now know that a city the size of New York can ban trans fats altogether. But is it possible for a city the size of Los Angeles to ban fast foods? The LA City Council thinks so, and they plan on doing just that for a whole year according to recent news.

OK, they're not banning all fast foods. Rather, it's a ban that will keep new fast foods restaurants from opening up in the LA area for a year. But just what defines a fast food restaurant? Here's the criteria: "any establishment which dispenses food for consumption on or off the premises, and which has the following characteristics: a limited menu, items prepared in advance or prepared or heated quickly, no table orders and food served in disposable wrapping or containers."

It's thought this move will help reduce rising obesity levels in the LA region. That and help independent sit-down restaurants establish roots. What do you think of the move? Will it work?

Our family is saving on gas costs by driving less. There are the unavoidable excursions -- trips to school, work, the grocery store -- but when we can manage it, we stay home. We just can't afford to drive all over town. I know you can relate.

I must say the best slim-down we've made on the driving front has been cutting down on eating out. Once an almost twice-weekly habit, we rarely dine out anymore. It all started when we realized the following:

• The four of us can never agree on a place to eat.

• Two kids with short attention spans rarely make for a relaxing restaurant experience.

• Our seven-year-old who begs to eat out typically complains of a belly ache once his tummy is full.
  

• We hardly ever exit a restaurant without spending $50 on food and drinks.

• Eating out can be a terribly unhealthy endeavor and we aren't even sure opting for the healthiest fare guarantees a nutritious meal.
  

Goodness knows I've done it. I'm a terrible emotional eater and, if I don't stop to think, I can easily find myself digging in the cupboard for food. Not to satisfy hunger, but in a futile effort to stuff down some other emotion. (I'm not proud, but there's the truth.) Even if you don't emotionally eat, it's easy to overeat when sitting down to watch a movie and the over-sized bucket of popcorn is right in front of you.

To stop overeating, you have to understand your triggers. AOL Body has some great tips about overeating. Some of the causes:

• Environment. Restaurants invite you to relax, enjoy the environment, and usually order more. Fast food joints super-size your quick meals. Buffets let you eat all you can. Don't succumb to the environment and eat more than you normally would.
  
• Eating by association. You turn on the TV and it's time to snack, right? No! You're supposed to eat when you're hungry, not because your activity dictates it.
  
• Portion distortion. Our eyes play a big role in what we eat. If your plate is over-sized, don't be fooled into thinking the whole plate needs to be filled.

For more causes of overeating and tips on how to stop, check out the AOL Body slideshow.

Would you steer away from that juicy restaurant burger if next to its menu description came a whopper listing of its calories? New Yorkers are facing this very question now that the city's chain restaurants are legally required to post calorie counts on their menus.

Officials are hoping that publishing calorie facts will inspire healthier dining and minimize out-of-control obesity. It might. Kind of like journaling your every bite might prevent you from over-eating, staring at the number 2,900 while you drool over the Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries just might cause you to pull in the reigns. Gazing at a Starbucks pastry case may become a whole new experience too. Apparently, people were recently seen backing away from the glass at one location as they read labels.

"Oh man, I never would have guessed it was that much," said one woman about the cookie calorie counts. "It definitely discourages me from buying."

The city of brotherly love has decided to spread some nutritional love. A Philadelphia city council has given the thumbs up to requiring area restaurants to post nutrition information include calories, fat, and carbs. A final vote is still pending and there is some dissention about the measure. Critics feel that the requirements are too broad and that it would be difficult for some establishments to comply.

Not all restaurants would be required to post nutrition information. Only chains with 10 or more locations, convenience stores, delis, bakeries, and some coffee shops are included in the measure.

For some restaurants, determining nutrition data could be difficult -- particularly if meals can be customized or if there is a rapidly changing menu. But from a consumer's standpoint, I love that Philly is taking a stand. Sometimes restaurant meals can be shockers, so having the information there in black and white is a helpful tool. Remember, even if the restaurant you're going to doesn't post the info on their web site or in the restaurant, ask your server. They may know/can get the info for you or, at least, can let you know how it's prepared.

It's not easy sitting at home and preparing every single meal of the week. Even the people who love to handle their own food may find a day that demands eating out. But where to go? There are so many flawed menus in the food industry that it makes choosing a healthy establishment feel like playing the lottery.

Enter America's top 15 healthiest restaurants as chosen by Health magazine. Some of the eateries may surprise you by being on the list! For example, Denny's brought up the bottom of the pack thanks to their Fit Fare menu featuring items that are 15 grams of fat or less. The editor's pick for their favorite choice off this menu was the Grilled Chicken Breast Salad.

P.F. Chang's also made the cut partly thanks to their carb-free vegetarian lettuce wraps. The other contributing factors were their use of whole grain rice, all-natural chicken, and reduced sodium sauces. These are not the only reasons, but you can bet they're not loading you up with excessive fat and preservatives. Criteria for these restaurants included how they prepared the food, the trans-fat content, portion control and other nutritional factors. Check out the full list for more information and see the other healthy establishments.

The editors at Texas Monthly magazine wanted to know what Texas dining will look like in the next few years, so they asked the leading chefs, restaurateurs, and cookbook authors in the state. Here's a little about what they learned, which you might take the liberty of applying to your own state.

• Are carbs coming back? 89% say they are; 11 % say they are not.

• Is beef on the wane? 9% say it is; 91 % say it is not.

• By 2010, will every dish in the majority of restaurants contain at least one genetically modified ingredient? 57% say they already do; 43% say "no" because people are becoming increasingly aware of what's in their food.

• True of False: By 2015, 90% of our meals will be eaten in chain restaurants. 24% say true; 76% say false.

For more on what these trendy food folks have to say about the state of dining, here's the article.

Next time you dine out, consider this: Subliminal cues at restaurants can cause you to eat more than you normally would. So next time you find yourself tucked away in a cozy little eating establishment, here's what you should do.

• Sit at a table, not a booth. Booths promote privacy, comfort, and the desire to stay and eat longer. If you simply must opt for the booth, go for it -- just don't eat too much -- but if you're OK with a table, this is your safest bet.

• Go olive oil, not butter. When the bread arrives, ditch the accompanying butter -- it will cause you to eat 29 percent more -- and try olive oil instead.

• Ignore the table tents. You know, with the pictures of delectable desserts and calorie-packed specials. It's a fact: When you see food, you want to eat it. So turn those photos around and ask the server to skip the dessert tray.

• Just say NO. When your server asks, "Can I start you off with a drink?" or "What kind of appetizer would you like?" just say NO. Try "No thanks" or "I'll start with my entrée" and then move on.

• Go small. Most restaurants serve heaping portions but that doesn't mean you need to eat every bite. Visualize the smaller portions you eat at home and eat just that amount.

• Embrace the mess. Studies show people are less likely to eat more when their tables are cluttered with dishes -- it's easier to see what you've already eaten this way. When plates are cleared, people tend to eat 27 percent more. So don't complain if your server doesn't come around to tidy up your table. It just might save you a few calories.