What Teens Care About When It Comes To Food

Don’t assume teens will necessarily select the lowest-calorie options if they’re given nutrition information when they eat out.

In New York City, where fast-food establishments are required to post calorie counts for items on their menus, about half the teens surveyed took notice, according to a study from New York University.

However, only 9 percent used the information to purchase lower-calorie foods, say researchers: Taste was the most important consideration when making fast-food selections, followed by cost.

The study, which focused on teens in lower-income neighborhoods, looked at receipts to see what the young consumers were buying. Their purchases averaged 725 calories each.