NYC: A Sad Day for Muffins, Pastries, Sweets

It might sound cliché, but honestly, do you know how many calories you are eating? Sometimes we think we are diving into something healthy, only to find it went right to our behinds.

If you’re like me, you are trying to get to the bottom of it, and figure out how many calories are actually in the foods you eat.

Luckily in New York City, the first city to implement a law that forces chain restaurants to post the calorie count of each food item as the same size as the price, you won’t have to guess anymore.

Did you know that some muffins can contain 500 calories? Well now you better know blunt and cold before you purchase.

Stores like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks are now placing new calorie labels at counters in front of tasty looking morning treats - right above the price. Some customers are shocked to see a corn muffin that’s over 500 calories. Fast food chains are now showcasing calorie information on websites and posters in store. T.G.I Friday’s is a leader among the chain sit-down restaurants, who have already added the calorie counts to their menus. Which came as an eye-popper for customers who once thought that pecan-crusted chicken salad at Friday’s was good for them, the hefty salad is packed with 1,360 calories.

The calorie counter is doing exactly what the New York City Health Officials hoped. They are planning that the calorie counter labels will reduce the number of obese New Yorkers by over 100,000 by 2012. This of course would help to prevent over 20,000 cases of diabetes.

New York’s first calorie labeling law also includes chain restaurants with 15 or more locations nation wide. There will even be fines for these restaurants for violating this law, restaurants without a posted calorie count will be slapped with a serious $200-$2,000 fine.

It doesn’t end in NYC, other cities such as Seattle, Santa Clara, and San Francisco are about to start similar plans later this year.

I am kind of sad to know that my favorite Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’Onion has over 2,000 calories in it. Yup, it looks like my Bloomin’Onion days might be over.

Written by: Isobella Jade