"calories" news and stories

In case you've never encountered the convenience yourself, there's a drive-through window attached to one-third of the nation's Starbucks outposts. And the company has recently taken some heat over the newly designed menus offered at those drive-throughs. On August 31, listed items dropped from about 70 to a mere 25, and leaves out the option to buy a Tall (translation: smallest and least expensive) cup of coffee.

The Tall is still an option, just not an obvious one. Company spokeswoman Deb Trevino tells USA Today the change came in response to customers' requests to simplify the menu -- they were "frustrating" to read -- adding that Talls don't sell as well as Grandes and Ventis. She also says the company is making room for calorie postings, which will be required next year.

You've always known that that giant tub of buttered popcorn at your local cineplex wasn't exactly good for you. And that chocolate long john you picked up on your way to work after filling up at the gas station -- you probably should have grabbed a banana instead. We know which foods are bad for us; what we often don't know is how bad they are.

The Food and Drug Administration is about to change that.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, the FDA has recently announced new guidelines that would require a whole new range of businesses to post calorie counts for the food they sell, including movie theaters, convenience stores, and even airplanes. The businesses would also have to make other nutritional information available upon request, such as fat, sodium and carbohydrate content.

It's all part of the massive health-care overhaul passed earlier this year. The new law requires that restaurant chains with 20 or more locations post calorie counts and provide nutritional information. Now the FDA is saying the law applies to more than just restaurants.

KFC is currently testing the Double Down. Photo: KFC

Why bother with the bun? That's the premise of KFC's latest offering -- the Double Down -- a sandwich that replaces the traditional bun with two Original Recipe chicken fillets.

"It's such a meaty chicken sandwich, there's no room for a bun," Rick Maynard, a KFC spokesman told Slashfood.

But the sandwich -- currently being tested in Omaha, Neb., and Providence, R.I. -- has some wondering if the Colonel has gone too far.

As we head into the holiday season, aka the Season of the Endless Buffets, portion control sticks in the back of any health-conscious or body-conscious mind. You know, at least while that mind is sober.

How are your portion control skills? Check them here on WomensHealthMag.com in a test where you are presented with pictures of two separate servings of pretzels and you have to guess which one you think is the 100 calorie serving. Sound tough? It is!

I got it wrong. Whatever, I just ate a pint of Ben & Jerry's. That's about 100 calories, right?

Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to declare that all those 100 calorie packs totally bite, except maybe the Wheat Thins. They taste like the cereal version of whatever they're supposed to be. When I want Oreos, I don't want 100 calories worth of hexagonal Oreo-inspired crisps.

Everyone knows the secret of a good diet is to go ahead and eat what you crave, just don't eat too much of it. My entire pint of Ben & Jerry's? Well, I guess I'm not on a good diet today. Blame the economy. I don't know why, just do it.

Ever wonder how many calories you're swallowing during your large Thanksgiving feast? Have one measly serving of everything could cost you close to 2,000 calories. For one meal. Don't forget pre-dinner snacking and meals. That certainly deflates the tasty allure of helping #3.

If you don't want to think about the inevitable holiday weight gain, you could intake food through the nose! You can smell your cookies instead of eating them, although that might be a tease too tempting to bear.