How Many Calories in that Happy Meal?

The primary result almost could not be less important. Don't be fooled by the apparent good outcome. It will not prove to be worthwhile.

Putting nutrition labels on fast food may lead parents to pick lower-calorie meals for their children, researchers say.

In a small waiting room study, parents ordered about 20% fewer calories for their kids when they chose from a menu with nutrition information on it, Pooja Tandon, MD, of the University of Washington, and colleagues reported online in Pediatrics.

The secondary finding is important.

Interestingly, Tandon said, there were no differences between the groups when it came to parents' choices for themselves. Both ordered about the same number of calories.

Here is the real value of the study.

Parents cannot control their own Calories in.

When away from the remarkable QC of major fast food chains and left to preparing foods at home, it is more than likely that they overfeed their kids Calories.

And this will always be the undoing of these studies by real life.

Until the parents get it right, there will be almost no way for the kids to learn the skill of caloric intake control.