FSNE Calorie Labels on Menus

UNMANNED DISPLAY

If you are using this as an unmanned display, try to limit your visuals; the display contains a lot of information in itself, so too many additional visuals could detract from the main message. Below are some suggestions to accompany this display.

• Display Handout

MINI SESSION

The following activity is for use with the display in a 15-20 minute session. Your goal is behavior change, so discuss the display, use open questions to personalize this activity, conduct the activity, and send the participants off with a good idea of the goal (to use the calorie information on restaurant menu labels to make healthy food choices).

Take Home Messages

• Most people need about 2,000 calories a day to be at a healthy weight. If you don’t know how many calories are in the food you eat, you might be choosing foods with too many calories. Extra calories can lead to weight gain.

• Chain restaurants must show you how many calories are in each item (including how many total calories are in combo meals); these must be easily visible on menus and drive-thru boards. In general, foods with high amounts of fat and/or sugar are high in calories.

• You can use the information on menu labels to compare food choices and select the items with fewer calories.

• Adding extra toppings, dressing, and cheese will add more calories than those listed.

• Super-sized food portions may amount to half of your day’s total calories! Consider splitting a large portion with someone or plan to take half of it home for another meal. And of course you can just order a smaller food portion.

• Sodas are high in calories and contribute no nutrients to a healthy diet. Drink water instead!

Calorie Labels on Menus

When I eat lunch at a fast food restaurant, I choose my favorite meal but always make dinner a “salad meal” to keep calories down.

My kids love eating out but I worry about how many calories are in the foods they choose. We make eating out a special treat.

In 2011, chain restaurants began listing the calories in each item (and total calories of combo meals) on menus and drive-thru displays.

How will this information help you make healthier choices?

Remember these simple facts about calories and weight:• You gain weight if you take in more calories than you need.• You lose weight if you take in fewer calories than you need.• You stay the same weight if you take in the same number of calories as you need.

Most people need about 2000 calories a day. A meal that has 1000 calories has half the calories you need in a day! You will have to eat foods with fewer calories the rest of the day in order to take in only 2000 calories.

Think about calories in meals and snacks.Try to “spread your calories” throughout your day so you don’t get too hungry. For example:

Breakfast ........................ 500 caloriesSnack .............................. 250 caloriesLunch .............................. 500 caloriesSnack .............................. 250 caloriesDinner ............................ 500 caloriesTotal ................................ 2000 calories

I am trying to lose weight. Having the calories listed on menus helps me plan what I will eat the rest of the day so that I don’t eat too much.

Sodas have a lot of calories so I don’t buy them when I am eating out. I have switched to water. This saves money and calories.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP in cooperation with Maryland’s Department of Human Services and University of Maryland Extension. The University of Maryland Extension will not discriminate against any person because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

Opening Questions

• Ask, “Think about a typical meal that you order at a fast food restaurant. Do you know how many calories that meal contains?” • Ask, “Would you be willing to select other foods if you knew you would be eating fewer calories that way?”

Activity

1. Assemble the materials you will need (hand-held calculator; fast food restaurant menu worksheet; pens/pencils).

2. Have participants (individually or in pairs) choose a sample meal. Have them add up the calories in their meals. Ask participants to share their totals with the group.

3. Ask each participant to make changes to their sample meal from the list to reduce the calories in the meal. Have them add up the calories in their revised meal. Have participants share how the calories in their first meal compared to the calories in their revised meal.

Closing Questions

• Ask, “Now that you have the calorie information on the menu, will you use it to make lower-calorie, healthier food and drink choices?” • Ask, “What types of changes are you willing to make when you are choosing a fast food meal?” (Encourage them to use the available calorie information to pick better choices.)

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP in cooperation with Maryland’s Department of Human Services and University of Maryland Extension. The University of Maryland Extension will not discriminate against any person because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

Fast Food Restaurant Menu Worksheet

Fast Food Restaurant Menu Food Number of Calories Hamburger 250 Cheeseburger 300 Double cheeseburger 450 Big Mac 550 Whopper 650 Small chicken sandwich 350 Chicken sandwich 500 Fish sandwich 400 Chicken Tenders (4 pieces) 200 Chicken Tenders (6 pieces) 300 Chicken Tenders (10 pieces) 450 Small soft drink 250 Large soft drink 500 Small French fries 285 Large French fries 520 Small vanilla milkshake 550 Large vanilla milkshake 800 2% milk 150 Water 0 Directions 1. Choose foods from the Fast Food Restaurant Menu above to make a meal that you would typically buy. List your choices in the left hand column below and calories in the right hand column. 2. Add up the number of calories in your meal.

Food Number of calories

Total

Lesson continues on the back of this sheet.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP in cooperation with Maryland’s Department of Human Services and University of Maryland Extension. The University of Maryland Extension will not discriminate against any person because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

3. Now choose foods from the menu to make a lower-calorie meal List the foods and calories in the table. Add up the number of calories in your lower-calorie meal:

food item/name number of calories

Total

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP in cooperation with Maryland’s Department of Human Services and University of Maryland Extension. The University of Maryland Extension will not discriminate against any person because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.