The Surprising Secrets of Calorie Counting

July 9, 2009 — -- Here's a quick pop quiz for today's healthy fast-food consumer: Which has fewer calories -- a McDonald's Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich or a Big Mac?

The answer: the Big Mac at 540 calories, compared to 630 for the chicken sandwich.

How about a Dunkin' Donuts glazed doughnut versus a plain bagel? The doughnut wins with 220 calories compared to 330 for the bagel.

Most people don't know that, especially when standing in front of the cash register about to order.

But that soon could change. Four states -- California, Maine, Massachusetts and Oregon -- soon will require chain restaurants to post calories on their menus. Another 14 considered similar legislation this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and a bill is working its way through Congress to require such disclosures nationally.

New York City was the first in the nation, in July 2008, to require calories on menus at chain restaurants.

Click Here to Learn More About Burger Calories Across the Country

Starbucks customer D.J. Martin, 29, said sometimes he'll splurge on a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit -- 500 calories -- but generally, seeing the calorie counts at the store helps convince him to avoid the chain's baked goods and stick to fruit and artificially-sweetened coffee.

"I just feel healthier," Martin said.

But not everybody feels that way.