New Year’s dieters say calorie counts should help

Those with New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier or lose weight have a tool that wasn’t around at this time last year: the calorie counts posted at chain restaurants in Philadelphia.

Some restaurant workers say they expect people to pay a little closer attention to these numbers this month. Danny Amin, manager at a Subway sandwich shop in Center City, said he expects to see more people buying the healthier menu options this month.

“If they want to have a just 400 calorie meal, they can just pick something from the calorie menu,” Amin said. “I think this will really help people.”

Amin said he sees an increase every January in people buying things like salads and tuna or turkey sandwiches. Down the street at Dunkin’ Donuts, Tamika Harding ordered her breakfast: an egg white flatbread veggie sandwich.

Harding said she actually started going to the donut chain more when calorie counts began to be posted. That is when she realized how many calories are in bagels, which she used to eat for breakfast.

 “I think people have misconceptions of what’s healthy,” Harding said. “When you see those calorie and fat options in front of you think of bagels a lot less than an egg white omelet.”

 Harding says the counts are going to help her stick to her New Year’s resolution of eating healthier. Not everyone has the same priorities this time of year, though. Outside of the shop, Kayzar Abdul-Khabir says he didn’t make any resolutions, and he doesn’t pay attention to calorie counts.

 “You be so hungry you don’t even look at ’em,” Abdul-Khabir said. “You just go ahead and buy what you need and eat it.”

 Abdul-Khabir said he looks for his two donuts to give him a sugar fix to get through his day.