How to Live in a World Where Calories Are Important on Every Menu
Calorie counting was supposed to be mandatory on restaurant menus this summer, but Trump’s new FDA blocked the rule shortly before it was supposed to take effect. The agency has now changed course and says calorie counting will become mandatory from May 2018, which is both good and bad news.
Calorie counting is great if you keep track of what you eat. I also love how calorie counting makes the rip-off menu items really obvious. If you pay $ 7.95 for a 240-calorie salad ( looking at you, Corelife ), you’re going to be hungry again, in what five minutes?
But not everyone needs to constantly count calories on their face. I asked Faith Harper , a Licensed Professional Consultant and Practicing Clinical Nutritionist, what this means for people who may be struggling with eating disorders. “It’s a mixed picture,” she says.
“Could this information be a reminder or a shame for someone trying to have a healthier relationship with food? Definitely, she said. “But I think that a lot more people do not realize the calorie content of what they eat, especially when they eat outside the home. This is a good start for becoming more aware (for people who have not provoked over-awareness again). “
How to stop obsessing over calories
Calorie counting is already included in many menus, so if they bother you, you’re probably already looking for ways to deal with it. Karen Koenig , a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders, says that if calorie counts are getting too much in your head, focus on other aspects of eating: “I would advise you not to digest the data and ignore it.” manufacturing. I assure you that when I eat some of the dessert I bought today tomorrow night, I will be focusing on taste and satiety, not calories. ”
Dr. Harper agrees. “Do you like food? Do you have time to enjoy it? Enjoying a shared dinner with other people? Did you notice when you are full? Have you noticed how you feel after eating and during the next day? Putting the numbers aside and staying connected to our bodies, their nutrition and the enjoyment of food, then calorie counting, weight, size and all these terms associated with nonsense of the emotional mind will begin to quietly become clear in the background. “
You can read the full FDA regulation here . This is a “draft guideline,” which means they publish it and accept comments before it goes into effect. If you have strong opinions, please submit them by January 8, 2018.