• USA Today, Wednesday, January 6, 2010 10:51 AM

Bruce Horovitz reports that many of the nation's fast food eateries -- not just Taco Bell, as Karlene Lukovitz reported last week -- are offering menus (and the concomitant ad campaigns) with reduced calories for the annual weight-loss season.

In fact, 61% of Americans would like to lose 20 pounds, the NPD Group says, and 64% say they are taking steps to improve the "healthiness" of their diets, according to the 2009 Food and Health Survey from the International Food Information Council.

Dunkin' Donuts will announce today that customers can order any breakfast sandwich or Wake-up Wrap made with egg whites instead of eggs, reducing calories by at least 25%, Horovitz reports. Starbucks is rolling out four hot Panini sandwiches under 400 calories next week and is promoting its "skinny" sugar-free lattes made with fat-free milk. Applebee's, meanwhile, has introduced a menu with five entrees under 550 calories.

"Just because something is 'low-cal' doesn't mean it's good for you," cautions one nutritionist who nonetheless welcomes the less-is-better movement.

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