Calorie Counter

This morning we decided to escape the heat and visit the American Museum of Natural History for a few hours of cool fun. Kate seemed to enjoy the displays and animals scattered throughout; although, it did appear that she enjoyed the people watching just as much (like her mommy). We were there just about an hour and Kate looked up at David and I from her stroller and showed us the sign language for "all done". Sometimes I'm glad we taught her the signs and other times it really hinders our plans. You are already done, sweet baby? OK. We got the point, little one. We stayed a little longer and then decided to go grab a quick bite at Uno Chicago Grill, across the street. Kate seemed up for that option as well. 

You've just got to love chain restaurants for their kid-friendliness, spaciousness, and more cost-effective menus. We have never been to this one and so we decide to give it a go. It is across the street from the museum and we are on the West Side of all places - truly unfamiliar territory. 

The menu, or book, is long and full of desirable choices. David and I take a look through the options and he decides on a salmon salad which is listed as the "Under 600" option. What? It took me a while to remember that, of course, all of the restaurants in NYC (who have 10 or more locations) are now required to list the calorie counts for each and EVERY menu item. Drinks, sides, appetizers, you name it. Really!?

I had my heart set on the Farmers Market pizza, which has to be healthy, because it's all fresh vegetables and feta cheese (yum!). Right? Wrong, I guess. I was so torn between the Asian Chicken Salad and the pizza and after realizing the calories were listed, I wasn't even sure I wanted to know. I looked. Ouch! The salad had under 600 and the pizza over 1,000? Ouch! 

We went with the salads. Oh, but I longed for that pizza. 

It kind of made me mad. David loved it, because he felt like he was making a well educated decision, but for me, it took away some of the fun of eating out. I feel like I'll obsess over how many calories everything has more now than ever before. I'm usually not a diet person and I pride myself on that. I know I can be thinner, but I love life and I LOVE me some good food. So, I throw out the question to you. 

Would you prefer to see the calories of everything you eat? Or, would you rather not know? Would you change what you always order after seeing the calories at Starbucks or your favorite chain restaurant? Do tell.