How to make your calories count
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | 04:34 PM ET
by Tara Kimura, CBCnews.ca
What are we to make of calorie counts and suggested sodium and carbohydrate intake recommendations? Is an appetizer containing 700 mg of sodium too much? How long will it take to burn off that side of fries? For the average diner, the numbers may seem abstract and theoretical.
This week, CBC News has launched a new database containing nutritional information from 12 restaurants — and we'll be adding more in the coming weeks. Readers can sort the information by restaurant and calorie counts. Consumers can compare the nutritional value of appetizers and main dishes and desserts.
And on our details page, we've included information with daily calorie, fat and sodium recommendations and a table that shows how long it will take to burn off consumed calories.
Which restaurants would you like to see added to the database?
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From trends and culture to politics and nutrition, Food Bytes serves up tasty tidbits about food and the issues surrounding it that flavour our everyday lives.
About the writers
Amber Hildebrandt writes for CBCNews.ca in Toronto. Growing up on a farm in Manitoba, she acquired an insatiable appetite, but it was during a stint in Japan that she developed her discerning tastebuds and "foodie" ways.
Andrea Chiu is an associate producer at CBC Radio Digital. Though she loves to eat, cook and discuss food,
don't ask her to bake. It never turns out well. She tweets as @TOfoodie on Twitter and organizes food and wine events in Toronto called FoodieMeet.
Tara Kimura is the consumer life reporter for CBCNews.ca, covering a wide range of issues that range from rising food costs and the growing organic movement, to new trends in the marketplace.
Andree Lau is a CBC web reporter in Calgary. Her journalism career includes seven years as a CBC-TV reporter. Her own blog called "are you gonna eat that?" chronicles her eating adventures (including sampling snake and camel hoof tendon).
Jessica Wong is a CBCNews.ca writer who loves to eat and cook, as well as discuss, read and watch programming about food, sometimes all at once.
Kevin Yarr, CBCNews.ca's writer in Prince Edward Island, wrote about food and beer for national and regional magazines before joining the CBC. He acquired a desire for new tastes on his first trip to Europe, and an appreciation of eating locally and in season when he finally settled down on P.E.I.
Elizabeth Bridge is a writer with the CBC Digital Archives in Toronto. She first ventured into the kitchen as a child to indulge a sweet tooth by baking cookies and making fudge. A student budget compelled her to be a vegetarian (for a while) and instilled in her an ongoing curiosity about food and cooking.
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Comments
Ben Carter
I would like to see Dairy Queen, Kelsey's, Pizza Hut, Harvey's, Domino's, Arby's, and New York Fries added.
Posted May 15, 2008 09:50 AM
Dee
Toronto
I would like to see a chinese food outlet, mr greek, ny fries, pizza pizza
Posted May 16, 2008 07:27 AM
Alex
Hamilton
So, this is a healthy diet?
Breakfast: 10 oz English Toffee Cappuccino from Tim Horton's (4g protein, 7g fat, 6g sat. fat, 5mg chol, 220mg sodium)
Lunch: Crunchy Taco Supreme Beef from Taco Bell (8g protein, 13g fat, 6g sat. fat, 35mg chol, 400mg sodium)
Dinner: 8oz sirloin steak from The Keg (47g protein, 37.5g fat, 12.4g sat. fat, 103.5mg chol, 1783mg sodium)
TOTAL: 59g protein, 57.5g fat, 24.4g sat fat, 143.5mg cholesterol, 2403mg sodium
According to your Recommended Daily Intake values, it is.
Is this kind of reductionism, where food becomes nothing more than a collection of macronutrients, really the path to healthy eating? If so, could we expect to see a significant reduction in the rate of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke by following the steak, taco and coffee diet?
Posted May 18, 2008 11:37 AM
A. MacDonald
Winnipeg
The rule of Thumb: Enjoy your food. Moderation is the key when consuming foods high in sodium, saturated fat, high in sugar and processed foods. Water, fibre, whole grains, high quality protein, fruits and veggies,essential fatty acids, exercise, any is better than none. it should fit your shcedule and be fun!Ideally, 60% of your daily calories should be from carbohyrates, 30% from protein and 10% from fat. Health Cananda has a new food guide out and dieticians and naturopathic doctors can help create a diet specific to your needs. Find creative ways to prepare and cook your food, it can be really satisfying to try new things and create beautiful, nutritious and delicious meals for yourself and others. Now that summer is upon us look for fresh local produce at farmers markets, or grow your own , fresh herbs are awesome! You'll feel good from the inside out and prevent ailments and disease. I've been in the health food industry for 7 years and in University now for 2 years and I'm learning new things everyday. The best way is to become the informed consumer when making dietary choices.
Posted May 19, 2008 09:20 AM
Jennfer
ottawa
I'd like to see a Chinese menu analyzed for nutritional value. I'm a fan of Ho Le Chow's Shanghai noodle dish and would like to see how it fares nutritionally.
Posted September 23, 2008 03:47 PM