What are menus really telling you?

When dining out, you look for the ingredients that make you drool. When you want to eat healthy, that’s when you get lost!

In 2010, the United States Supreme Court required big restaurant chains to state clearly nutritional facts about every meal in their menus. This step allows consumers to be more aware of what they are eating and it definitely affects their food choices.

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And in a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and dietetics, researchers found a decrease in calorie, saturated fat and sodium consumption after such a regulation.

In Lebanon, this regulation might not happen any time soon. Some restaurants may be stating calories of low fat items. However, no regulations regarding the matter exist.

So in the meantime, you can regulate your food choices by knowing what’s being said between the lines of a menu.

Check out what the menus are really telling you:

Baked (مطبوخ) Grilled (مشوي) Braised (مطهو ببطء) Lightly sautéed (سوتيه) Broiled (مشوي) Poached (مسلوق) Steamed (على البخار)	Fewer calories/ Less Fat
Au gratin Batter fried Scalloped Hollandaise French fried	More Calories/ Fat
Cured Smoked Teriyaki Pickled	More Salt

Take control of your food choices at restaurants. And most important of all, dare to ask about the ingredients. Don’t stay in the dark when it comes to dining out!

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