How do you calculate hor d'oeuvres or appetizers when at a party or function?

ciacyrus29

Tonight and a number of times over the next few weeks, I will be attending either parties or functions. I find it very difficult to calculate hor d'oeuvres and small appetizers. So often salad is not on the menu - so how do you calculate something you don't know who made or what is in it?
Any suggestions?

sandryc79

I just guess the best I can, picking higher calorie options in the tracker if there is a big difference. Exercise but don't eat your calories and keep the meals you can control very light.

sprintto50

There is always the option to quess, and add "Quick Add" calories. The more you track food, the better you get at guessing the calories.

Unknown

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Abby2205

I look for similar frozen or restaurant appetizers in the database and just live with the uncertainty.

csuhar

I use the T.L.A.R. (That looks about right) or W.A.G (Wild a** Guess) system. You'd be surprised what might already be in the database. So I try to find the closest item I can and then I try to log high. That way, if I'm wrong, I'm hopefully logging more calories than I actually consumed.

(And sometimes you find out that the people who served the hor d'oeuvres actually got them out of the freezer section at the store.)

freeoscar

I recommend looking up the numbers for the types of things you tend to eat (say spanikopita or pigs'n'blankets) ahead of time, so you have an idea as to the quantity you can allow yourself. And of course, they almost always have some type of crudite - if you stay light (or avoid) the dressing/dip, that's a great way to be a part of the eating while keeping your caloric intake down.

segacs

csuhar wrote: »

I use the T.L.A.R. (That looks about right) or W.A.G (Wild a** Guess) system.

^^^ I do this too.

ruggedshutter

The times that I have had to do this were at weddings and I left over 1000 calories in my day for dinner and left it blank. Yeah you end up having a low calorie day in your diary but I didn't gain anything and ate pretty light those meals...plus wedding cake. One of the best benefits of being a wedding photographer

jaga13

I try to avoid most appetizers and just wait for the meal. But if I do have some, I have a small amount and take my best guess.

ciacyrus29

csuhar wrote: »

I use the T.L.A.R. (That looks about right) or W.A.G (Wild a** Guess) system.

Oh my goodness, you just made me laugh!

Hippychick5983

csuhar wrote: »

I use the T.L.A.R. (That looks about right) or W.A.G (Wild a** Guess) system. You'd be surprised what might already be in the database. So I try to find the closest item I can and then I try to log high. That way, if I'm wrong, I'm hopefully logging more calories than I actually consumed.

(And sometimes you find out that the people who served the hor d'oeuvres actually got them out of the freezer section at the store.)

This is so me!! Love it

snoringcat

Abby2205 wrote: »

I look for similar frozen or restaurant appetizers in the database and just live with the uncertainty.

This is what I do, plus have some 'spare' calories (eg from a workout) to allow for any underestimations in calories.

maxit

The TLAR and WAG methods are what I use helped, of course, by data base entries that seem relevant ~

callsitlikeiseeit

csuhar wrote: »

I use the T.L.A.R. (That looks about right) or W.A.G (Wild a** Guess) system.

ditto. or try to break it down (but i married a chef and am not too shabby myself so between the two of us we can usually get pretty close, with some quick add for possible cooking oil or butter, unseen ingredients and such...)