I have been avoiding this topic like the plague. However, I love food and I love to write about it. The ban on trans fat in New York City as well as other proposed legislation is hot button issue in food right now. Frankly, I long for a simpler time when food was just there for eating but such is the case no longer.
You may have heard that New York City banned trans fat in all its restaurants. Eateries have until July of 2008 to get rid of the artery clogging substance. My opinion? This is a good move. The transition is not difficult to make, it just requires cooking with different oils. It is possible that our McDonald’s might go up in price but I’m sure our medical bills will go down. I doubt too that it will change taste too much. I do not use anything with trans fat in our house and taste definitely does not suffer.
The other hot topic in New York City restaurant eating is that restaurants (mostly fast food and chain restaurants) are going to be required to post detailed calorie counts of their food items. The rule will go into effect July 1 of this year but only affects restaurants who were already providing calorie data after March 1. To avoid complying with the law Wendy’s and White Castle removed all posters with any calorie information.
The bill is touted as the best and strongest piece of anti-obesity legislation ever. Here’s where I must stop and ask the question: why do we need legislation of this nature? Why do I need to know the caloric content of my fast food?
I know, I know. . .someone is going to comment on how that piece of information is going to help me make better choices but I have to be honest. When I go to Cheeburger Cheeburger and order a juicy cheese burger with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa–I am obviously not concerned about calories. In fact, I usually eat that cheeseburger with cheese fries and a milk shake. I can promise you that having the caloric content of my cheeseburger will not even cause me a twinge of guilt.
If I get absurdly fat off of eating cheeseburgers and drinking soda. . .why is it Wendy’s fault or the health department’s fault? My answer is that it’s not–it’s mine. I am in control and it is my fault if I don’t get five fruits and vegetables every day, my fault if I eat fried foods and my fault if I don’t exercise. If people need help losing weight then let me propose that this is not the way to do it. Why not use tax dollars to have insurance companies pay for dieticians, nutritional counseling or even a discount on a local gym membership?
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