Eating out
Published nutrition figures, and what they are worth
An independent publication about eating out: how menu nutrition information is produced, what menu labelling rules require, and why the figure on the board is often not the figure on your tray.
This URL previously hosted a weight-tracking software product that was discontinued by its author. It is not published here and is not available from this site.
What is here is editorial about eating out and about the nutrition information operators publish.
Start here
- What menu calorie labelling does and does not require
Rules differ by country and by the size of the operator, and the exemptions explain most of what people find confusing.
- Why two sources give different figures for the same item
Databases, apps and operator sites routinely disagree. The disagreement is usually explicable and the resolution rule is simple.
- How to read a nutrition panel without being misled by it
The panel is honest and frequently misread. Four habits remove most of the misreading.
By operator
- Subway: where the published nutrition figures come from
How to find Subway own current figures, and why the board number is not your tray number.
- Arby's: where the published nutrition figures come from
How to find Arby's own current figures, and why the board number is not your tray number.
- Burger King: where the published nutrition figures come from
How to find Burger King own current figures, and why the board number is not your tray number.
- Taco Bell: where the published nutrition figures come from
How to find Taco Bell own current figures, and why the board number is not your tray number.