Restaurants reveal calories under new law

FRESNO, Calif. — You can still order a Bloomin' Onion at Outback Steakhouse, a slice of 30th anniversary chocolate cake cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory, and a Pizookie at BJ's Restaurant Brewhouse.

But you'll have a harder time enjoying them in blissful ignorance. Since July 1, chains with at least 20 restaurants in California have been required to provide diners with the gory nutritional details — including calories.

The law — similar to others in New York, Washington state and elsewhere — already is beginning to change how restaurants sell food, even beyond California. And customers, startled to see how many calories they have ordered, are changing their habits as well.

"Most people know eating out is bad," said Jennifer Massingham of Fresno, Calif. "But they assume it's just a couple extra calories, not hundreds or thousands."

During a recent visit to BJ's in Fresno, Massingham and her husband had planned to order an appetizer, entrees and a Pizookie (a large deep-dish cookie topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream).

But the Pizookie alone can contain as much as 1,166 calories, the couple learned by reading the back section of their menus. So they changed their plans, ordering only entrees instead.

Sally Noxon had a similar experience at an Outback last week.

"It was so depressing," said Noxon, who was celebrating her friend's birthday. "I couldn't believe the calories in the food."

During past visits, her typical meal started by splitting a Bloomin' Onion, the battered, fried onion served with dipping sauce. Then she'd have a steak and salad and share a dessert.

After reading the nutritional information in a brochure at the table, she chose a soup and a salad — and didn't even finish the soup.

The information "does change what you end up wanting to eat," said Massingham, who was surprised by the Bloomin' Onion's 1,560 calories.

But her friend, Jordan Zack, had a different take. "You don't want to know the calories on any day, especially not on your birthday," he said. "I just want to enjoy my food."