Are You Counting Your Kids Calories?  by Monica M. Jones
Do your kids love fast food?  When they enter a fast food restaurant the last thing on their minds are the calories in their favorite choices, but you can think about it.  I recently saw a video of Dr. Pooja Tandon speak about a study she did that indicated, when parents can count calories the foods they choose for their children would have fewer calories.  

Dr. Pooja Tandon, from Seattle Children's Research Institute, had about 100 parents of 3-6 year olds participate in the study.  Half of the parents considered menu items they might buy for their kids. The remainder of the parents considered the same menus – but also saw calorie information for each item.

Dr Pooja Tandon spoke on the results, "They chose about 100 calories less than parents who didn’t see that information. And 100 calories, added up over time, is actually a significant amount.  What menu labeling does is give consumers, individuals and parents the tools to make healthier better choices when eating out at restaurants.  The end goal is that with restaurants, parents and communities working together we're able to provide a better nutritional environment for children to eventually tackle the childhood obesity epidemic that we're facing."

Are you aware of the calories in the choices you make for your children when eating out at restaurants?