Nutritional Information Rarely Requested at Fast Food Restaurants

You probably already know that many of the most common fast food restaurants now have nutrition information available. But apparently, few are checking it out. A recent study of four major fast food outlets showed that only one-tenth of 1% of people take the time to check out the nutrition facts before they indulge. That means most of them simply order what appeals most to their taste buds with little concern about the number of calories they might be consuming.

This is an especially important insight for those with diabetes. Eating out with type 1 diabetes is always challenging because a “serving” is often tough to determine. Even more difficult can be estimating the number of carbohydrates you might be eating in an approximate serving. Eating out is often associated with overeating and out-of-control blood sugars.

Do you routinely check the nutrition facts when you visit a restaurant or even ask if the food outlet has this information available? If not, what would it take for you to begin practicing this habit when you eat out? Post your responses below.

• Portion control tips when eating out
• Portion control using the plate method
• Meal planning options