You check the food labels and the restaurant menus and think you know how many calories you’re getting. But did you know those calorie counts can be way off? A new study from Tufts University finds on average, packaged foods may have eight-percent more calories than their label says, and restaurant meals may have 18-percent more. Wow – that can really add up!
I am constantly checking labels and menus for nutrition info, so I am pretty disturbed by this. You?
Interesting and disturbing all wrapped into one!
Although…I am trying to eat more and more whole foods this year. This article just might have inspired me to make this one resolution that I should actually keep.
I mainly eat whole foods, but for those times when I grab something packaged or order something off a menu because of the calories, etc., this is just so wrong!
Sounds pretty realistic to me. The listed calories are based on specific amounts, but if you’ve ever watched a cook prepare food, you know there’s no measuring involved. So the calories are based on 1 Tbsp of butter, but the actually tosses in 2, or it’s calculated on an ounce of cheese and the chef/cook throws in a handful, which may equal 3 ozs. Same with condiments on a fast food sandwich, or how well the grease is drained off a serving of fries.
I try to use the calorie guides as a starting point, but assume they will always be higher. Better safe than sorry.
Consuming just 5% more calories can add up to a 10 pound gain in a year. Scary!
girliefriend – Scary indeed!
I saw this and I admit, I didn’t think the numbers would be off by this much! That’s why it’s important to use things like a scale, mirror, clothes, etc to see how we are doing, and adjust accordingly, calorie guesstimates be darned!
And that’s exactly what they are – guesstimates.