You Are Being Lied Too!

Ok here is the deal, when I say weight loss foods — the researchers basically took some common frozen entrees with less than 500 calories, like Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine, and analyzed them to find out THE TRUTH!

They did the same with some common restaurant foods.

Ruby Tuesday, PF Changs, and Denny’s were just 3 on the chopping block too!

You won’t believe which place underreported their calories by over 200%

We tell our Boot Camp clients all the time to learn how to read food labels.

Now of course, foods that have labels should be kept to a minimum  — meaning any packaged food — but of course there will be times when you’ll eat them.

Also eating out at restaurants should be limited.  While you can always make smarter decisions in a restaurant (baked vs. fried, for example) you still lack total control of what goes in your foods.

But recently many restaurants started sharing their nutrition information…

…on their websites, at the restaurant itself, and sometimes even on the menu.

In fact, a recent law went into effect in California that all chain restaurants must include the nutrition info front and center for customers to see.  I know I’ve done a double take when seeing the amount of calories in restraunts entrees — some of those numbers can really shock you!

But what if they were ALL WRONG?

What if the companies we were putting our trust in to give us at least a little help were lying?

I guess that means we should rely solely on frozen, pre portioned (and therefore calorie controlled) meals, right?

Wrong again!

A new study published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association just blew the roof off the accuracy of calorie counts on a lot of these foods – with one restaurant having 200% MORE calories than stated in a particular food!

Researchers from Tufts University measured the calories in 39 prepared, convenience foods, that were supposedly “favorable” for weight control — this was defined as <500 calories per serving, being “typical” American foods, and having among the lowest stated calories on the menu.

The foods chosen were from restaurants and frozen entrees.  

The restaurants selected were both quick serve and sit down; the calorie information had to also be available.

The researchers then measured the actual nutrient information from the selected foods (39 in all) using a very accurate method of analysis.

The results?

On average, restaurant foods contained 18% more calories than stated, with some providing over twice as many calories than reported!

Likewise, frozen meals were about 8% higher than listed on the label!

Here were just a few of the shocking differences:

Denny’s grits (with butter): Reported – 86 calories.  Actual – 258 calories

Ruby Tuesday brown rice pilaf: Reported – 240 calories. Actual – 322 calorie

P.F. Chang’s Sichuan-style asparagus: Reported – 260 calories.  Actual – 558 calories

Lean Cuisine Shrimp and angel hair pasta: Reported – 250 calories. Actual – 319 calories

Weight Watchers lemon herb chicken piccata: Reported – 252 calories. Actual – 306 calories

Now some foods were also lower than reported … not much, but lower.  

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TAKE HOME POINTS
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1. Eat out less often.  A recent survey showed Americans eat out an average of 11 times each month.  We know those who eat out more often weigh more.  The examples in this study were of foods reported to have less than 500 calories; most of the time people are not selecting the supposed “low calorie” items, meaning what they do choose is significantly higher in calories and fat.

2.Eat less packaged foods.  The less we rely on convenience items, the better we will be. 

3.Eat foods with less ingredients.  This goes along with #2 — fruit has 1 ingredient.  Vegetables have 1 ingredient.  Raw nuts, lean protein, and healthy fats, like those found in avocados or olive oil, all have 1 ingredient.  They should be the focus of your diet, so there’s less worry about accuracy of calorie counting.

Stick to those few nutrition basics and others fat loss strategies we’ve discussed above and we discuss with all our Boot Camp cliets — and you’ll be guaranteed to reach your fat loss goals!