I think it's wonderful that restaurants are mandated to provide nutritional information. Knowledge is power and consumers deserve to be privy to such information.

It's a more complex answer. I think it's ok to indulge sometimes but I would first need to know that I'm indulging. The calorie count gives me that information. On the days I prefer lower calorie choices, I would obviously not to go to that particular restaurant but chose something else. But again, I only know what restaurants offer lower calorie choices by calorie postings. Also it's important to remember, lower calorie does not necessarily mean healthier.

I do think calories on a menu are a good wakeup call. Have you seen that study that says people often think they are eating healthier at a restaurant that has healthful options on the menu, but they tend to order less healthy things?

Basically, Panera has healthy options on the menu that you're wasting if you're skipping the salads and getting a roast beef and cheese sub.

The posted calories haven't deterred me from certain restaurants, but they do guide my choices.

I think it is a terrible idea. Research shows that calorie counts don't affect the choices of people who tend towards overweight, but it significantly affects the choices of those who are at risk for becoming underweight or developing disordered eating, like teenagers and athletes. Nutritional information should be available, but it should not be posted for all to see. Rather, it should be in a booklet or brochure, where someone has more of a choice of whether they would like to view caloric and other nutritional stats.