Governor Wants Nutritional Info On Fast Food Menus

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is pushing for a bill that calls for most restaurants in the state to make changes to their menus. The Governor wants you to be more aware of what you're eating.

Tennessee is one state that helps it live up to the United State's reputation as the fast-food nation. The Volunteer state has the dubious distinction of being the third fattest state in the country.

Health experts believe consumers do not making the right choices when eating out, because we don't know how many calories are in what we eat.

For example, a Baskin Robbins Heath Bar Shake has not 700, not 1,100, but 2,300 calories. Men's Health magazine calls it the worst drink in America. The calories in the shake equal 12 doughnuts, or 60 strips of bacon.

Governor Bredesen wants people to know exactly how many calories are in the foods we eat, when we eat out. He's driving legislation that would require major chain restaurants to post the information on drive-thru's and menus.

The question is, if you knew a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger from Jack in the Box had almost 1,100 calories - or that McDonald's Crispy Chicken Ranch Sandwich had almost 600 calories - would it change your eating habits?

State lawmakers will debate the bill soon. The Metro Health Department is still trying to pass similar legislation.

Some restaurant owners say posting the information would be extremely costly.