If you have dined out at any major restaurant chain in the last several months (think T.G.I.Friday’s, P.F. Chang’s, The Cheesecake Factory, or California Pizza Kitchen just to name a few), you might have noticed a significant addition to their menus; the implementation of healthier options for which to choose. Coincidence? Not hardly. As part of the new Healthcare Reform Package just signed by President Obama, the healthcare bill has added a stringent component to menus mandating that they disclose all nutritional content including the total fat, calories, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber and protein per each menu item listed.  

This, which is favored by nutritionists and the Restaurant Industry alike, is believed to help reinforce the standardization of food preparation despite those mitigating factors such as location or kitchen staff. “This legislation will replace a growing patchwork of varying state and local regulations with one consistent national standard that helps consumers make choices that are best for themselves and their families” reports Dawn Sweeney,. Chief Executive of the National Restaurant Association.  In addition to the health efforts the law initiates, under the new Federal bill passed, restaurants, drive-thru’s, and bars will now all be required to follow the current labeling already found on all packaged foods, allowing for a more uniformed standard in food practices.

In a recent survey in the March edition of ‘Restaurants and Institutions’ Magazine, 43.7% of individuals polled agreed with the statement that they would prefer to see nutritional information printed on menus and menu boards.  In driving this point even further, The National Restaurant Association has predicted that when diners see the corresponding caloric totals next to the items available to choose from, individuals will be more inclined to choose those that are more healthful.