- Chain restaurants in America are now required to post calorie counts on their menus.
- The FDA suggests eating roughly 2,000 calories a day to sustain energy.
- Americans tend to consume much more than that on average, and many think processed foods, sugars, and fats that are often present in fast-food is to blame.
- We grabbed some pretty ordinary meals from major fast-food chains that add up to at least 2,000 calories — and it's pretty surprising how little it takes to reach it.
As of Monday, chain restaurants are now required to post calorie amounts on menus, per a requirement of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends an average daily intake of 2,000 calories.
Yet according to data from The Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unit red Nations (FAOSTAT), Americans eat about 3,600 calories daily — a 24% increase from 1961. Healthier, more transparent practices are making their way into the fast-food industry, yet simple awareness isn't always effective.
The Upshot took pictures of 2,000 calories' worth of restaurant food in 2014. We decided to do our own version and visit 13 fast-food chains to discover what ordering 2,000 calories looks like.
While many of these arrangements look like single meals, each would be all you are recommended to eat in an entire day.
Marina Nazario contributed reporting on a previous version of this article.
Starbucks
Venti white-chocolate mocha, sausage and cheddar classic breakfast sandwich, dark cherry Greek yogurt, salted caramel cake pop, coffee cake. Total calories: 2,030.
McDonald's
Bacon clubhouse crispy-chicken sandwich, large fries, mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, Oreo McFlurry. Total calories: 2,010.
Panera Bread
New England clam-chowder bread bowl, chips, chocolate-chip cookie, bottled lemonade. Total calories: 2,160.
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