Your health is local. Your knowledge should be too.

For those with eating disorders (anorexia, orthorexia), mandatory calorie counts can trigger anxiety and restrict social dining. Furthermore, calories do not measure nutrition. A 500-calorie quinoa bowl with avocado and salmon is infinitely healthier than a 400-calorie bowl of refined white pasta with sugary tomato sauce, yet the lower number might seem "better."

So next time you sit down at your favorite neighborhood haunt, look at the menu. If you don’t see calories, don’t be shy. Ask. Demand. Suggest. The local eatery listens to its regulars. And if enough regulars ask for transparency, the "mom and pop" shop will realize that a little math on the menu is a small price to pay for a lifetime of trust.

For individuals managing diabetes, obesity, or heart conditions, visible calories are empowering. A 2020 study from Tufts University found that when calories were listed, diners at full-service restaurants ordered meals with 8% fewer calories on average. That is the difference between gaining and maintaining weight over a year.