Dining out under health care reform
Just how many calories are in that restaurant meal you're ordering?
Under the massive health care reform legislation signed into law Tuesday, restaurant chains will have to post that information right on the menu.
Chain restaurants with 20 or more locations will be required to provide customers with nutrition information similar to what they find on packaged foods. Caloric information will have to go on menus, menu boards and drive-through boards, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Some chains already post nutritional information on their Web sites, but how many people check beforehand?
On Red Lobster's Web site, for example: The Steak, Lobster-Shrimp Oscar weighs in at 1,170 calories and 77 grams of fat. In contrast, Maple-Glazed Chicken is 570 caloreies and 9 grams of fat.
The restaurant association says the legislation will replace a growing patchwork of state and local regulations with one consistent standard that will help consumers make the best menu choices for themselves and their families.
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