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Victoria's Restaurants Scene: Chain Nutrition Information

In the "olden days" chains competed by offering larger portions, so you either ate really well or were forced to leave something on your plate. With the "obesity epidemic" we've learned to be more cautious about what we are eating. We No longer look for "mondo" portions, or settle for heavily-salted food that's bad for our hearts.

Here is a review of major chain's nutrition information. Because it's the law in the certain parts of the US (Notably Califorinia & New York City), most of the chains' US sites have posted nutrition information, though some Canadian-only chains are also doing so.

The Canadian Food & Restaurant Association (CFRA) lobbied effectively to prevent passage of federal legislation that would have required chains with more than $10 million in revenues to provide nutrition information on their restaurants. Instead, the CFRA has recommended voluntary nutrition information to be provided by restaurants.

There is a recent CBC story, based on University of Toronto research about high levels of sal in restaurant food

Many sites are very good, providing calculators, information about gluten info, allergies, and diabetics, along with healthy eating tips. Some chains provide NO INFO, like Applebees, Hooter's, Olive Garden and Red Robin. Makes you wonder, if those restaurants are hiding their nutrition information from the customers, what's really in their food that's so worth them hiding it?

Nutritional information by chain

If you are considering a chain, please consider those that are concerned about their patron's health, and preview the nutrition information before going out.

Here are some other Non-chain websites about good restaurant nutrition:

• Health Check program
• Canadian Stroke Network

Some examples of nutrition information for popular dishes from popular chains are Noted in a CBC Marketplace episode called "Calorie Confidential". Read More