Posting calories in fast food restaurants was only the beginning. Fortunately, New York City is flush with cash and Wall Street is far away and the financial crisis and lost jobs will not lower local tax revenues in the slightest, and the city’s schools and other municipal services and infrastructure have all the funding they require. Taxpayers won’t mind that the ”city Health Department is expanding its healthy-eating campaign with subway ads that say most adults should limit themselves to 2,000 calories [a] day” and that point out just how many calories are in that giant burrito you want for lunch. An excellent use of public funds, especially since the AP reports that “officials are betting people will eat fewer calories if they know how many they should consume.” This campaign can’t possibly fail:

Natalia Kaplan, of Queens, said she hadn’t noticed the poster directly behind her on an E train featuring that 1,170-calorie burrito, but she approved of the campaign.

“It makes you aware,” said Kaplan, who said she pays close attention to the calorie information fast-food chains are now required to provide.

“If I go to Dunkin’ Donuts, I look at the calories, and I try to take the least-calorie doughnut,” she said.

Kaplan didn’t even notice the ad that was directly behind her, but she approved of the campaign because “it makes you aware.” I love that. Also, she tries to “take the least-calorie donut.” I think, America, we’re really turning a corner on the obesity thing. Thank you, New York.

About Scott Stein

Tags: Pitney patrol, money //