Portions that are too big and foods that are too sweet and too fatty. This would explain why a la carte restaurants have higher calorie meals than fast food, according to two studies published in the British Medical Journal December 12. Because if the nutritional content of the menus of fast food chains is already known to be poor, traditional restaurants would not respect public health recommendations either.
33% more calories
The first UK study assessed the calories of 13,500 dishes served in 27 UK restaurant chains, including 7 fast food outlets. On average, the main course in these had 751 calories, while for traditional restaurants this figure climbed to 1,033 calories. In the 21 typical establishments studied, only 11% of full services met the limit recommended by the British health agency Public Health England of 600 calories per lunch or dinner.
The second US study analyzed the calories of the most frequently ordered meals in 116 restaurants in Brazil, China, Finland, Ghana and India, comparing them to data from the United States. On average, the main course in fast food restaurants contained 809 calories, while in traditional restaurants this figure reached 1,317 calories – or 33% more calories. Only the Chinese consumed fewer calories than the Americans. Indian meals, on the contrary, tended to contain more. Additionally, only 6% of full services met recommendations.
Display the calories of dishes
According to Eric Robinson, director of the UK study and lecturer in psychology at the University of Liverpool interviewed by CNNrestaurants serve meals that are far too rich: “Many meals contain too many calories, whether due to portion size, ingredients or cooking methods. The biggest problem is that we live in a food environment that encourages people to eat more calories than they need”.
“If a government is serious about reducing obesity and the number of people dying young from poor diet and obesity, the food environment must be addressed”, he continued. In Great Britain, a debate is held around the possibility of obliging restaurants to display the calories contained in their dishes. This display is already respected by fast food restaurants, but it would be useless according to an American study.
The authors of the two reports point out that no definitive conclusion could be drawn from their results, which are based on observational studies. However, they warn that their deductions may not fully reflect reality, as they did not take into account drinks, appetizers, desserts or extra orders.
Read also :
- Lose weight: eat at the restaurant without gaining weight
- We do not eat more balanced in restaurants than in fast food
