Who cares about “bad” foods?

Men’s Health magazine has released its latest list of what it’s editors believe are the “worst” items on chain restaurant menus. Yawn!

Unlike, say, the very misleadingly named Center for Science in the Public Interest, I don’t think that Men’s Health favors any government regulation to prohibit these items or dictate what people should eat. Insofar as it may make some people more aware of their choices, I suppose a list like this can serve a valid function. But, to me, the entire exercise seems a bit pointless. Without exception, nobody would ever confuse these dishes with health food. All involve large portions, many are fried, and just as many are slathered with cheese and mayo-based sauces. Although a few do contain so much fat that they’re probably unhealthy for anybody, none are so high in calories that they couldn’t be part of a reasonable diet. Somebody who eats a bowl of Cheerios with skim milk for breakfast (140 calories) and a single-serve microwave Pizza for lunch (250 calories) can enjoy an order of Chili’s Honey Chipotle Crispers with Chipotle Sauce (2,040 calories) and still have avoided consuming too, too many calories in the course of a day.