A university nutritionist says 40 percent of Kentuckians' food budget is spent in restaurants, and adds that when it comes to the dietary costs of eating out, most are way off-track in dodging quick-serve menu items that pack on the pounds.

Janet Mullins, associate professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Kentucky, tested Kentuckians' calorie-counting skills at popular fast-food eateries in a recent study. She found that at least half made the wrong choices.

"Even people with training - such as myself as a registered dietitian - I cannot accurately, consistently all the time pick the lower-calorie option, because it's not apparent; it's counter-intuitive."

As an example, Mullins says two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have thirty fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese.

The new federal health care reform law requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to include calorie counts on their menus and menu boards. Mullins says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to issue menu-labeling guidelines by year's end.

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