The idea is, if you knew how many calories were in a venti Frappucino, then maybe you wouldn't buy one. Starting today, California is requiring that fast food and restaurant chains list how many calories are in each item. The eventual idea is that those numbers will be right on the menu you order from.

Even though it can be a little depressing to know the truth, this seems like a good thing for our health. New York has had calories on the menu for awhile, and I remember how shocking it was when Dunkin Donuts made the transition to list calories. Here I had been trying to be healthy by ordering bagels instead of donuts--and the bagels had more calories in them!

Being more informed is always a good thing, and when it comes to food, it's no different. The truth might be ugly, but we deserve to know. Maybe having calories listed will even make fast food chains offer healthier alternatives.  It all comes down to money, and if chains see that knowing the calories in a Big Mac are scaring people away, then maybe they'll finally be motivated to make healthier, but still tasty food.

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