Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPhil
Panera has excellent healthy and low cal food options. I don't eat out too often but when I do I appreciate the ability to see calories. I usually know the healthier options without the calorie count on the menu.
Well, yeah, if that's what you eat then you know it isn't healthy or low cal with and without the calorie count on the wall. 
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Since going out to eat isn't, in my opinion, something that should be done all the time, I don't mind wasting calories every now and then on one of those warm delicious bagels! (from a personal stand point...now once I open a restaurant I want people to go out to eat for every meal at my restaurant! $$$

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We have discussed this in various classes (I'm a hotel, restaurant & institutional management major) and because for a majority of people, going out to eat is a special treat, you're not going to limit your calories on that one special night.
There's a lot of research to support the fact that almost nothing changes when you post calories.
I go to Panera for my potato soup in a bread bowl with a baguette on the side or my french toast bagel with fatty delicious cream cheese or mac n cheese and when the calories get posted in my Panera, I'm still going to want those things and most likely still going to buy those things.
Is there evidence that posting calories does change what people buy? Yes.
There is a complete toss-up right now on whether it will help or not.
Some people will buy into this, others will just get what they always get.
It still comes down to the same personal decision that you always make. Big Macs are high in calories but they still sell like crazy offered next to a salad.