Meals identified as healthy choices on restaurant menus: an evaluation of accuracy

Abstract

This study evaluated the accuracy of restaurant entrees identified as healthy choices on menus at two fast food restaurant chains. Entrees were purchased at two different locations of each restaurant 35 days apart. Samples were processed in duplicate for total fat contents, sodium analysis, and adiabatic bomb calorimeter for total energy. t-Tests compared a) the mean experimental values to claimed values for fat, energy, and sodium, b) nutritional content at different locations for the same restaurant, and c) the mean experimental values for fat, energy, and sodium levels to the recommended Daily Values. Results indicate that entrees identified as healthy choices at these selected restaurants are in fact healthy choices, are accurately labeled, and are consistent among different locations of the same restaurant chains.