How Many Calories in that Kids Meal?
Putting nutrition labels on fast food may lead parents to pick lower-calorie meals for their children, researchers say. In a small study, parents ordered about 20 percent fewer calories for their kids when they chose from a menu with nutrition information on it, Dr. Pooja Tandon of the University of Washington and colleagues reported online in the journal Pediatrics. “One hundred calories over time and at a population level is actually a significant amount in terms of being able to avert weight gain,” Tandon told MedPage Today. Many fast-food restaurants don’t provide nutrition information at the point of purchase. In a recent study, just about half — 54 percent — of the largest chains made some nutritional information available on site. Labels have long been advocated as a means of lowering calorie consumption. So to determine whether nutrition labeling specifically on fast-food menus would lead to lower-calorie choices for children, the researchers conducted a randomized, controlle
