The real cost of eating out!

I've just finished a short article for FFWD addressing the real cost of eating out. With all the media stories about rising food prices, the cost no one seems to talk about is the cost we are mostly oblivious to: fat and calories. (In Canada, a restaurant’s disclosure of nutritional information is voluntary.) Last month, the New York City Board of Health voted unanimously to pass a new law that requires large fast-food chains to post calorie information about standardized food items on their menus, helping consumers make healthier choices.

Most of us are aware of the calorie and fat cost of a Big Mac (540 calories, 29 g fat and 1020 mg sodium) and understand that fast food in general is an unhealthy choice. But because restaurants are not required to provide nutritional information for the items on their menus (like packaged food products must do), it’s difficult to gauge what you’re consuming at what might seem like a wholesome dining room alternative to a drive-thru.

Case in point: at Earl's, a penne Alfredo with chicken entrée weighs in at 1777 calories, with 123 grams of fat (67 of them saturated) and 2424 mg sodium. That's the caloric equivalent of more than three Big Macs, and the fat equivalent of over four. (You're actually better off having a couple of Big Macs for lunch.) Similarly, Spicy Thai Green Curry with Shrimp contains 1065 calories, 78 grams fat (38.5 g of them saturated) and 3381 mg sodium. (To gauge how much this is, 1500 mg is about as much sodium the average Canadian should consume over an entire day.) Their cheeseburger is twice that of a Quarter Pounder with cheese, at 870 calories and 59 grams of fat. A salad isn't always a better option; Earls’ popular Hot Chicken Caesar packs 1120 calories and 77 grams of fat.

At The Keg, an order of Honey BBQ Ribs, on their own without any sides, will cost you 2212 calories and 167 grams of fat. (The kids’ platter is half that - still far too much even for an adult.) Add a twice baked potato (571 calories; 29 g fat), Caesar salad (492 calories; 55 g fat) and garlic cheese toast (965 calories; 51 g fat) and you’re eating 4240 calories and 302 grams of fat.

And when you're eating out, who only gets an entrée? At Milestones, the Bocconcini Garlic Bread appetizer contains 1060 calories, 61 grams of fat and 2050 mg sodium; the Butterscotch Pot de Crème dessert weighs in at 940 calories and 74 grams of fat, and perhaps most shocking: on the children’s menu, the Noodles & Cheddar with Garlic Cream Sauce contains 910 calories and 54 grams of fat and the Chicken Tenders with Fries and Ranch Dressing has 810 calories, 48 grams of fat and 2200 mg of sodium. On the regular menu, their Shanghai Noodle Stir Fry contains 1500 calories and a staggering 4200 mg of sodium – about 3 days’ worth of sodium in one entrée.

Kudos to Earls, The Keg and Milestones for at least posting nutritional information on their websites though. I was unable to get any info from Moxie's, even after emailing the company. But now that I see what's in a typical dish, I can't say I blame them for not wanting us to know what's really in that spinach & artichoke dip.