Have you noticed the Chain Restaurants and Food Manufacturers are feeling the nutrition pinch.  Taco Bell’s Weight loss Campaign features 7 “Fresco” menu items with less than 9 grams of fat.  Applebee’s launched a new category of menu items, all less than 550 calories and this is in addition to their Weight Watchers menu.  Starbucks had expanded its food line with the addition of a variety of Panini sandwiches of 400 calories or less and will begin promoting all of its beverages under 90 calories.  Dunkin Donuts has introduced a “DDSmart” menu that features “better-for-you choices that keep you running” and include hot and cold beverage options, muffins and breakfast sandwiches.  KFC offers 395 calories for $3.95 for 2 pieces of grilled chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans.  General Mills says it will cut the sugar in 10 of its cereal marketed to children to single digit grams of sugar per serving in response to consumer desire for less sugar. 

All of this added information seems to help us exercise restraint and curbs appetites, but is it changing the way you eat at home?  At the Capital District YMCA we have dozens of nutrition programs designed to help you eat better and live a healthier life.  You can check out these programs at www.cdymca.org.