Restaurant Customers Consuming Fewer Calories

WASHINGTON -- Restaurant chains are reducing the number of calories in many of their menu items, a new study finds. The report, by researchers at the department of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University, looked at the calories in the items served at more than 60 large U.S. chain restaurants including Chipotle, Wendy’s and Applebee’s Bar & Grill.

Overall, the menu items that the chain restaurants introduced in 2013 had 12% fewer calories than items in 2012, the report found. Calories in new children’s items dropped a significant 20%.

“This report is a sure sign that the restaurant industry is continuing its commitment to promoting health and wellness,” said Joy Dubost, director of nutrition and healthy living at the National Restaurant Association. The association, she added, is especially pleased with the progress the industry is making in providing consumers and their children with more healthful kids’ meals.

“We’ve been promoting healthful options on menus through Kids LiveWell, our children’s nutrition program,” she said in a prepared statement. “We also vigorously advocated for a nationwide menu-labeling standard that gives consumers the nutrition information needed to make choices that are right for them. The information in this new report shows that restaurants are not only meeting consumer demand for more healthful items, but helping them dine smarter.”

Joan McGlockton, vice president of industry affairs and food policy, said the study is proof that restaurants are committed to delivering healthful options. “More and more chefs are using their creativity to develop more healthful, flavorful items that consumers will want to eat,” she said. “Diners today are savvier about food and nutrition and are driving the demand for better choices. The findings in this report signal that restaurant companies are listening and giving guests what they want.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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