Calories Count

On the one hand, I find it admirable that an ordinance was passed requiring chain restaurants here to post the caloric content of all of their foods. On the other hand, I certainly no longer want a 300-plus calorie scone at Starbucks....and I certainly don't want a 430-calorie "low-fat" blueberry muffin at Dunkin' Donuts! That is a lot of calories for any baked good, and how much is the full-fat version?! 600 calories? Isn't that like half a day's worth for a woman on a diet or something?

My issue here is, I have no doubt that actual foods at actual restaurants, as opposed to chains, have even more calories in them, but we are supposed to fend for ourselves in the landscape of truffle french fries and lamb shoulder. This makes no sense. I get in theory that the chains are more able to accurately calculate the caloric content of their mass-produced food, but am I seriously to believe that the other guys can't at least take a stab at the ballpark? The legislators who came up with the brilliant idea of allowing me to shudder at a 350 calorie slice of processed banana bread in the Starbucks case should at least have the decency to worry about my health and well-being and ability to make an informed decision just as much when I am contemplating a black-and-white cookie at Dean & Deluca. It's like a bizarro form of reverse classism, if you ask me.