Fast food establishments have enriched its offer with less calorie alternatives, but not always healthier
A plate of salad, a veggie burger, natural juice, hamburger patties and a huge serving of bacon and cheese hog the counter of a fast food establishment. At first glance the customer is surprised by how it has changed the menu in a few years until recently was not possible to eat vegetables and fruits in these places. Determined to eat a hamburger since I walked through the door, faces an unexpected dilemma. He does it because is controlled to not be tempted to eat poorly. Eventually, however, choose the burger with extra bacon and cheese. This is not an isolated act. According to the results of a new U.S. research, the mere presence of healthy foods can help a person choose precisely the less desirable options.

These are the paradoxes of food psychology.

In 20 years, a portion of soda in the United States has increased from 261 grams
This fact is reflected in a study published last October in the Journal of Consumer Research.Research shows that the tendency to choose less healthy dish is accentuated when the culinary offerings are more appropriate forms are added to consumer health. According to its authors, the sight of salads, fruit or juice reduces the guilt qualified for purchasing any junk food dish.
Given the findings of the authors of the analysis suggest that some of the efforts to control and improve nutrition among the population could be counterproductive. Therefore invited to discuss in detail the impact of changes in dietary behavior. In any case, the goal remains to make society aware of that fast food affects the development of obesity by the high energy density, the large portion sizes and low cost product that invites you to eat it often. An effect that has not diminished despite the inclusion of menus, apparently more balanced.

Healthy Choices, only apparently

Salads, fresh fruit salads, fruit juices and light drinks are the stars among the growing number of alternative balanced diet of fast food. However, his appearance healthy blend into extra ingredients are added, accompanying sauces and creams that make up the intention of eating a healthy dish.

Salads
The supply of fast food establishments including salads, but also suggests genuine align with their sauces and dressings, making salad lightly on a dish very energetic. The inclusion of cheese, bacon, fried chicken strips, fried bread cubes (croutons) or nachos is a marked increase in calories and fat dish. A salad of lettuce, corn, cherry tomatoes and cucumber per serving contains about 55 calories (without dressing) if you add yoghurt vinaigrette, add about 90 calories. The same salad with crispy chicken strips is 5 times more calories (260 calories) than the original, while the one made with strips of grilled chicken (instead of battered and deep fried) records an intermediate energy intake (145 calories ).

Desserts
In many fast food restaurants offer fruit pieces (salad or skewer) or yogurt, but if accompanied with caramel syrup or chocolate fondue, add-ons available for the client to serve the amount you want, nutritional value is unchanged. If you opt for sweet desserts like brownies, profiteroles, truffles, cakes, biscuits, pancakes and ice cream, energy value is higher. And if you combine several proposals the outcome is still worse. Of those already providing 355 calories a serving of chocolate brownie, passing the 411 if you carry a portion of ice cream. If vanilla ice cream provides 257 calories, chocolate syrup added, is increased by 61 calories a dessert already very caloric.

The light drinks
The difference in calories between a small soda (300 ml, 126-156 calories) and large (500 ml, 210-260 calories) is considerable. The advantage of soft drinks is that the value light energy is zero, regardless of size. However, the continued consumption of soft drinks is not healthy: the cola containing phosphoric acid in excess, cause bone demineralizing effect, the acidity and high sugar content soft drinks, including juices, deteriorate the enamel and promote decay; the fizzy drinks are associated with episodes of aerophagia, accumulation of gas in the stomach and intestine, making it difficult to digest, and if they contain caffeine, can be exciting and stress the anxiety and insomnia.

The portion sizes

It is usual image of a customer who orders a hamburger and the waiter asks if you want another size larger for just 1 euro more. Saying yes is an extra intake of 200-400 calories, plus the rest of the menu, can be up to 1,500 calories, more than half the recommended energy intake for an adult in a day.
In the United States within 20 years, a portion of a soda has increased 260.78 grams, 50 grams burgers, salty snacks 23 grams, and chips, 120 grams. It was the late 80’s when a well known restaurant chain sold, first in the U.S. and years later in Spain, the size "super size" for soft drinks and chips. This excessive size has invaded all segments of the food industry and has come to our country. At present, the global expert nutritionist Lisa Young warns that a popcorn bucket is big enough to feed a whole row of people in the cinema. Even more surprisingly, the cup holders of American cars are manufactured with superior size to hold the beverage giant one or two liters. The current medium-size equivalent to a few decades ago, but the client does not pay much more for this increase. However, overeating is takes its toll, not money, but in consumer health.

There is evidence that the greater the portion offered, the more you eat
Numerous studies show that the greater the availability to purchase food and the greater the portion, the more they eat, and not always aware of this behavior. A person generally does not feel much compunction about eating a cupcake kind muffin on the way home or work, but think twice before eating five slices of bread to the equivalent. Another clear example of mindless eating is food that is made in a buffet setting, breakfast, lunch and dinner are consumed in these places are far from the amount of food, as usual, eat at home.

Calories, to the letter, have a deterrent?
In 2006 the Department of Health of New York issued a document requiring chain restaurants to include a clear and concise the calories of every dish on their menus. Two years later he launched a revised version as a more of this department in its commitment to reduce obesity rates in the city.
Health authorities justify this proposal with the results of studies supporting the usefulness of this measure. According to its promoters, helps to raise awareness about what you eat and causes them to consume 15% less calories. However, the authors of the report published in the Journal of Consumer Research are not so clear. They assert that the greater the propensity of people to underestimate the energy content of main dishes and side dishes at restaurants that offers healthy report for establishments that do not make that allusion.

Tags: calories, healthy eating, nutritional