The Restaurant Meals Program is a voluntary segment of the food stamp program (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP). It allows people to use their food stamp benefits in participating restaurants. As early as 2004, more than half the country had a Restaurant Meals Program, although few restaurants actually participated.
However, the economic recession has changed the trend. More restaurants are participating in the Restaurant Meals Program, accepting food stamp EBT cards to attract more customers.
In L.A. county alone, over 500 restaurants are now accepting food stamps, including Dominos, El Pollo Loco, Jack-in-the-Box, Subway, Papa John’s, Popeye’s and KFC.
The growing number of fast food chains participating under the Restaurant Meals Program has raised some eyebrows. Many critics are asking how SNAP can allow people to use their food stamps to purchase unhealthy fast-food meals, particularly when obesity is a growing concern in the country.
However, the new health care bill may provide an answer to this dilemma. Under the Health Care Reform Bill, menu labeling will be mandated in restaurants with 20 or more outlets. This means that these restaurant chains are obliged to disclose the number of calories in their menu items. In addition, these restaurant chains must provide additional nutrition information if requested by the customer.
Restaurant menu labeling will help people make informed food purchases
The average adult needs to consume about 2,000 calories a day to stay healthy. Anything over that and you’ll start to accumulate the pounds if you don’t do extra exercise or physical work.
Under the restaurant menu-labeling rule, Wendy’s would have to disclose that the Baconator Triple has 1,330 calories. This means that if you wanted to maintain a healthy weight, you’d have to consume just 670 calories for the rest of the day. Here are other calorie counts from popular fast food meals:
- Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich – 1,310 calories, 88 fat grams
- Sonic SuperSonic Cheeseburger with mayo – 980 calories, 64 fat grams
- Carl’s Jr. Guacamole Bacon Six Dollar Burger – 1,040 calories, 70 fat grams
- McDonald’s Angus Bacon & Cheese – 790 calories, 39 fat grams
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