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New Yorkers try to swallow calorie sticker shock
MSNBC ^ | 7/16/08 | Roni Caryn Rabin

Posted on 08/03/2008 8:25:52 AM PDT by mngran2

New Yorkers have been in the throes of sticker shock since this spring when the Big Apple became the first city in the country to implement a law forcing chain restaurants to post the calorie count of each food in the same size and font as the price.

Restaurants have not exhausted their legal challenges, but the city will start fining violators up to $2,000 beginning Friday, say officials with the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

While some sit-down chains and fast-food eateries are waiting until the last minute, coffee shops like Starbucks — home of the 470 calorie raspberry scone and 610 calorie cookie — have been replacing their menu boards and adding calorie tags to pastries in recent weeks. The result: Do a little eavesdropping in a New York City restaurant, and you may think you’ve stumbled into an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

At T.G.I. Friday’s, one of the few sit-down chain restaurants to have already added calorie counts to menus, a group of young women gasped as they studied the menu, barely able to find a meal under 1,000 calories, never mind an appetizer or dessert. Both Stephanie Fowler and Lindsay Green asked about the suddenly popular Classic Sirloin — at 290 calories, it was one of the lowest calorie items on the menu — but learned the restaurant ran out by the time the dinner rush started.

Outside the Forest Hills’ Dunkin’ Donuts, Juan Restrepo, the 45-year-old owner of a construction company, said he was quitting corn muffins — 510 calories! — this time for good.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: New York
KEYWORDS: calories; food; foodpolice; foodsupply; nannysrate; nannystate; newyork
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To: NCjim

Just eat half.


21 posted on 08/03/2008 9:20:22 AM PDT by Kirkwood
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To: mngran2

We live in an INFORMATION AGE. That said the idiots in charge cannot interpret IMPORTANT and BASIC information. The impotent morons can only pass stupid laws overwhelming a rotten bureaucratic system. I DON’T CARE ABOUT CALORIES, I WANT TO KNOW THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF WHAT I AM EATING.


22 posted on 08/03/2008 9:23:52 AM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: John123
Many folks will argue with you that Cholesterol in foods (meat, eggs...) is NOT dangerous... think of it this way... our ancestors would have all died off because they ate a diet rich in meat...

The average life expectancy at birth for Americans in 1900 was 50 years.

the Eskimos would all be dead and their diet is primarily meat.

The average life expectancy of an Inuit population in the 19th century was 43 years.

23 posted on 08/03/2008 9:24:54 AM PDT by ReignOfError
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To: mngran2

I don’t want it mandated, but I sure would appreciate it if every restaurant put the cals and fat next to each item right there on the menu.


24 posted on 08/03/2008 9:27:11 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: John123
Many folks will argue with you that Cholesterol in foods (meat, eggs...) is NOT dangerous... think of it this way... our ancestors would have all died off because they ate a diet rich in meat... the Eskimos would all be dead and their diet is primarily meat.

It seems that problems with serum cholesterol can be genetic. Your body manufactures cholesterol. Some people (like me) can eat eggs, red meat, butter without concern for cholesterol levels. The more important number is the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratios in your blood chemistry. Mine is excellent, so I don't worry about it.

Of course, not being obese and getting regular exercise don't hurt.

25 posted on 08/03/2008 9:27:13 AM PDT by FixedandDilated
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To: John123
our ancestors would have all died off because they ate a diet rich in meat..

OH NO!!!! My ancestors ate meat and THEY'RE ALL DEAD!!

But so are the ones who ate Shredded Wheat and Tofu, only they died with a permanent scowl on their faces from not being able to enjoy life or a good meal once in a while.

26 posted on 08/03/2008 9:30:42 AM PDT by Mygirlsmom ("My advice: Quit supporting the party that is symbolized by an ass." Ted Nugent)
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To: FixedandDilated

Absolutely! It sounds like you know what you are talking about. I am similar to you. I eat eggs and meat every day. I also eat lots of raw veggies and exercise too. But I think it is a myth that eating lean beef and eggs are dangerous to your cholesterol levels...


27 posted on 08/03/2008 9:32:10 AM PDT by John123 (Obambi said that he has been in 57 states. I will now light myself on fire...)
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To: ReignOfError

Very good... but you are comparing apples to oranges here. Medical care was non-existent... a broken arm was a death sentence... harsh living conditions. Those factors probably had a MUCH greater impact on life expectancy rather than cholesterol...


28 posted on 08/03/2008 9:36:16 AM PDT by John123 (Obambi said that he has been in 57 states. I will now light myself on fire...)
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To: Mygirlsmom
OH NO!!!! My ancestors ate meat and THEY'RE ALL DEAD!!

And alas... you are still alive :)

29 posted on 08/03/2008 9:37:40 AM PDT by John123 (Obambi said that he has been in 57 states. I will now light myself on fire...)
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To: mngran2

I am so glad that I don’t have to worry about calories and never will (it’s in the genes) and have to put up with ridiculous laws such as this. I do, however, have to watch cholesterol, as does everyone.


30 posted on 08/03/2008 9:38:08 AM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: John123; ReignOfError

A large part of the life expectancy calculation was death due to childhood infectious diseases. Antibiotics really made a difference in survival rates. Lots of children didn’t make it past the age of 5. That’ll drag down the life expectancy averages.


31 posted on 08/03/2008 9:39:28 AM PDT by FixedandDilated
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To: mngran2

I’m lovin’ it.


32 posted on 08/03/2008 9:40:22 AM PDT by countess
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To: mngran2

I went to the Chelsea last week to see Dark Knight. So many seemed shocked that a medium popcorn had 1,350 calories. My fave chocolate chip cookie at B&N has 450 calories.


33 posted on 08/03/2008 9:44:25 AM PDT by Clemenza (McCain/Palin; Maverick and the MILF)
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To: FixedandDilated

Sure... the poster that quoted stats to me skipped the obvious about Eskimos. Those folks live in the harshest environment you can live it. And if they can live to a ripe old age of 43... well God bless ‘em! But you can no way, shape or form compare them with anyone living elsewhere...


34 posted on 08/03/2008 9:44:44 AM PDT by John123 (Obambi said that he has been in 57 states. I will now light myself on fire...)
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To: countess

It is hillarious (the reactions, that is), isn’t it? LOL.


35 posted on 08/03/2008 9:44:59 AM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: John123

Fiber now or colonoscopy later!


36 posted on 08/03/2008 9:45:11 AM PDT by Clemenza (McCain/Palin; Maverick and the MILF)
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To: Clemenza

And you didn’t already know that?


37 posted on 08/03/2008 9:45:46 AM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: GOP_Lady
I am so glad that I don’t have to worry about calories and never will (it’s in the genes)

Can I have your phone number? ;-)

38 posted on 08/03/2008 9:46:02 AM PDT by Clemenza (McCain/Palin; Maverick and the MILF)
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To: mngran2

While it’s nice to have calorie information with the meals, it’s not necessary if you have some basic knowledge about food and portion control. I don’t much care for government mandates like this one. I can look at a menu and have a pretty good idea of what not to order. Does it have a lot of cheese and sauces? Lots of refined carbs? Is it a huge slab of meat? I’ll also ask the server how big the meal is if I can’t tell from the menu or what I see other people being served.


39 posted on 08/03/2008 9:46:44 AM PDT by FixedandDilated
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To: Clemenza

Is there a relationship between fiber and colon cancer?


40 posted on 08/03/2008 9:46:46 AM PDT by John123 (Obambi said that he has been in 57 states. I will now light myself on fire...)
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