We're seeing food labels virtually everywhere these days, and it's not that they are posted by choice, it's a government mandate. Now the government is asking for your input on how to go to the next level.

At Panera Bread, we'll find a lot of fresh ingredients.

"I'm having the Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad, and I'm pretty excited. It was pretty low calorie and healthy and lots of fresh fruit in it," says Marja Ricci.

But it's not just freshness we'll find on Panera's menu. There's a list of important numbers up there too.

"Me and my friend were talking about it while we were ordering, that it sure is nice that there are calories right there to tell you so you know exactly what you're ordering," says Ricci.

Diane Speck with Panera Bread says, "it revolves around our customers and it's a win-win when a customer needs to have that information immediately and it's there for them, posted, and it allows them to look at options and different choices."

It's numbers we'll soon find on all fast food menus, even on drive-thru menus like Taco Johns, where Wednesday, Nicole Dropinski and her friend picked up "Potato Oles and a churro."

That’s fast food with the calories to match. A large Potato Ole has 770 calories and 46 grams of fat. They’re numbers Dropinski thinks we all should see.

"Yes, it's a very good idea because I think everybody should know how many they're eating, especially if they're on diets."

Whether a diet or just healthy eating, knowing what we're eating is crucial. Nutritionist Nicole Fox with the Nebraska Medical Center says without the numbers right in front of us, many of us are unaware.

"It's a portion issue or they don't realize all the ingredients that go into something and are amazed to find out that certain things that they're choosing and they think are healthy, may be low calorie or low fat, are not so," says Fox.

But with the truth in the numbers, the hope is for healthier eating.

"I'm for it. I think people have a right to know what's in their food and even if it's just starting with calories, again, it's a start," explains Fox.

Although most fast food restaurants don't have calorie counts on their menus yet, you can find them on their websites.

The FDA wants input from all of us on the best way to make this new system work. To voice your opinion, click here.

1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar
2. Enter the docket number FDA-2010-N-0298 in the “Keyword” space
3. Select “Search”

To submit your comments to the docket by mail, use the following address:

The Division of Dockets Management
HFA-305
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Be sure to include docket number FDA-2010-N-0298 on each page of your written comments.