I'll count my own calories, thanks

The photograph above this article bears perilously little resemblance to my current appearance. The MA has been using this pic for a number of years. But since then I've porked up a little, partly because I'm no longer running marathons, which I used as an antidote to my burger intake, and partly because — having moved from pubs to brewing — the delights of our cask-ale range have helped modify my physique.

Nevertheless, a recent medical and, more inspiringly, a large hill to climb later this year have made me determined to shed some weight since Christmas. So far, it's going well. I have taken an uncommon interest in food labelling since I started. As I was staring into my (small) bowl of porridge this morning (142 kcal with water, 283 with milk), I was reminded that the Food Standards Agency is just completing its consultation into the use of calorie labelling on menus in catering outlets, including pubs. A number of managed- house businesses have been trialling this on a voluntary basis.

Now, I wouldn't want to pre-empt the results, but I bet it's a fair guess that the consultation is going to be all glowing and positive about how consumers could imagine using calorie information to enable them to make positive choices to maintain a healthy weight, while still enjoying their favourite foods.

Personally, though, I don't want this stuff bombarding me when I go out for a meal. If I'm trying to cut down, I know fish & chips isn't a wise choice and that choosing chicken salad instead may just help me get up Kilimanjaro rather more easily.

It's certainly helpful to have it on the packaging in Sainsbury's — but should the free trader at the Shire Horse, my local, have to endure the rigmarole of having all its dishes tested? I think not.

I've been keeping a close track of my units of alcohol, too. It's surprisingly easy to get to the recommended limits, but I'd much rather trade off a few pints in the pub for a bottle of wine at home.

Having unit labelling on take-home products is one thing, but, frankly, when I'm out to relax over a pint the last thing I want is yet more nannying or cajoling. I don't want to have yet more information about units or calories. I want to enjoy myself. That, after all, is the point. It's a pub — not a health farm.