“Guesstimating” food calories

ellie7187

I know, bottom line when losing weight is calories should never be guesstimated. But how would you go about doing it if you HAD TO?

I’m going it for a girls’ night tonight and we are meeting quite early to have dinner first. Problem is this month (we do girls’ night monthly) they’ve chosen a pub style restaurant that has ZERO nutritional info online or in store and that basically only serves wings, nachos, and variations there of. So I know tonight will be a dent to the calorie deficit.

Now I’m basically just going for damage control. I’ll be drinking only water and/or diet cola. And I’m going to share plates so I can just have small sampling’s of the calorie heavy food. Problem I’m having is I have NO IDEA how to even approach guesstimating the calories. Any help?

TavistockToad

just look up something similar in the database, most generic restaurant food will be in there. or quick add 1200 cals and enjoy yourself.

cmriverside

Things like restaurant wings or nachos - there are plenty of chain restaurants with calorie info...just use one of those. Like TGI Fridays, Applebees, Chipotle, etc. It's all going to be a guess anyway. Part of weight maintenance is allowing for special occasions where you can't get accuracy. Do the best-guess and move on.

Have fun!

ladybug4233

I have to do this every once in a while. Just find something similar in the database and log that. You know it won't be exact but it will be an idea. Have fun and enjoy yourself!

CarvedTones

What they said. I think it is important not to get in the habit of not logging, so I log even if I am not really sure. I had someone give me home made banana bread the other day. Generic and vendor ones are all over the map calorie wise. I chose one slightly higher than what seemed to be average. When eating out, quantity is harder for me than finding a similar listing I feel pretty good about. That I just guess and could be way off, but I log my guess and move on. I only use quick log when I know the calories from a packaged food, yet what coes up from a scan is wrong.

cmcollins001

While logging everything is important to a point, there are times where you have to live life and just let a night go. As long as it stays the exception and doesn't become the rule, you'll be fine. Any "weight" you gain from one night is water weight most likely and will work itself out in a day or two. Being aware of your intake is the most important. The tracking makes you aware of how many calories you actually take in each day so you can make a plan to cut those calories, but it shouldn't be so controlling that you forget how to have fun with your friends from time to time.

Sunna_W

Great advice above. Just enjoy yourself and try to stay below your normal caloric deficit in the coming days. Keep in mind that many of these snacks are high in sodium and you may have water weight gain.

While it probably won't help this time, unless you can find it locally, you can offset excess sodium by drinking something called "Dandy Blend" (tastes like coffee and 2 TBSP contains 133 mg. of potassium) which helps balance out the sodium.

Get the small package on Amazon (7 oz sells for about 12.00 USD) in case you don't like it.

CarvedTones

cmcollins001 wrote: »

While logging everything is important to a point, there are times where you have to live life and just let a night go. As long as it stays the exception and doesn't become the rule, you'll be fine. Any "weight" you gain from one night is water weight most likely and will work itself out in a day or two. Being aware of your intake is the most important. The tracking makes you aware of how many calories you actually take in each day so you can make a plan to cut those calories, but it shouldn't be so controlling that you forget how to have fun with your friends from time to time.

I disagree based on my experience, but yours may be different. This time, I have been very disciplined and at this doing have maintained a loss of over 60 pounds about 3 months. For me, exceptions become easier to justify once I start; it's Pandora's box. I always log, even if it is likely to inaccurate for reasons like the OP stated. Not logging is a slippery slope I have fallen down before. I am still tracking in maintenance, BTW.

peggym4640

I do what others mentioned which is input something close. I also make sure I give myself a pat on the back for enjoying the meal without overdoing it. That's a big mental win for me and helpful when trying to reinforce new habits. Have fun!!!

Deviette

Try and find something generic in the database, or something similar from another place. When looking at a range of things, I tend to pick something that is a little bit higher than the average from what I can see from a quick look. If you're super worried that it looks low, chuck on an extra 150 kcals starters and desserts (each), and 350kcals extra for mains and you'll have probably got yourself covered, if not an over estimate.

Then go and enjoy yourself

Poisonedpawn78

100-150 calories per wing depending on size and breading. Add sauce to that. If that helps. So if you order those when they arrive take a quick mental picture of how big they are and if they are breaded and do the quick math of how many you should eat for your meal goal. Stick to it and offer any left overs to your friends or take them home!

elizabethmcopeland

Also consider suggesting to your friends that you also order something with a protein-focus (wings, charcuterie board), and also vegetables (sharable salad, pickles, etc). These items may be easier to guesstimate portions for.

NovusDies

Someone suggested the last time this thread was created to take pictures of the food to help log later. I thought that was clever. I would probably forget because I never remember my phone has a camera being as tragically unhip as I am.

snickerscharlie

It's only one night, only one meal. If you are mindful not to go nuts, it is likely the worse outcome would be that today is a maintenance day.

You can also scale back a bit on what you eat before dinner today to give yourself a bit of wiggle room.

Bottom line? Don't sweat the small stuff. Life happens. Enjoy it.

snickerscharlie

Also, don't be surprised if your weight bounces up overnight. Likely water retention due to increased sodium intake, which should dissipate in a few days.

Lounmoun

I just find a similar database entry for restaurants without nutritional info and go on the higher side.

ellie7187

Thanks for all the advice! For me I know it’s important to log as if I don’t I risk the slippery slope of not logging entirely. So I’ll look for something generic in the database to make sure I’m still accountable, even if I’m not entirely accurate.

Also, I WISH I could suggest a salad or veggie dish to share but this place legit doesn’t have any. I don’t know how that’s possible in this day and age haha. Side note: their nachos really are the best ever so I will be enjoying myself!

BusyRaeNOTBusty

cmriverside wrote: »

Things like restaurant wings or nachos - there are plenty of chain restaurants with calorie info...just use one of those. Like TGI Fridays, Applebees, Chipotle, etc. It's all going to be a guess anyway. Part of weight maintenance is allowing for special occasions where you can't get accuracy. Do the best-guess and move on.

Have fun!

Yup, this. I find a similar food from another restaurant and just guess. Sometimes if I'm really not feeling it I'll enter 3000 quick add calories for days that I eat poorly.

lmew91

I do pretty much everything that's already been mentioned, trying to find a reasonable entry to use. Like, one chicken wing most likely isn't 25 cal, but it's most likely not 500 cal either. I find something in between that seems reasonable, and sometimes try to log a little extra than the amount I *think* I ate, because I'm not always the best at eyeballing portions.

Orrrr sometimes I just don't log and enjoy myself.

LivingtheLeanDream

I would quick add around 1000 calories. If you have a dessert as well add another 500.

MelanieCN77

You can still choose and plan ahead, just log something in the database that seems similar.

Poisonedpawn78

LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »

I would quick add around 1000 calories. If you have a dessert as well add another 500.

Depends where she goes and the size of the portions.. most restaurant places are far more than 1000 calories for an entree.

rsclause

I would either find something comparable and add another two or three hundred to it or say " yeah that looks like 1300 calories and move on. After the sodium wears off the scale will tell you how well you are estimating. I actually got pretty good at guessing and using the scale to confirm my guessing accuracy. When guessing always aim high.

LivingtheLeanDream

Poisonedpawn78 wrote: »

LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »

I would quick add around 1000 calories. If you have a dessert as well add another 500.

Depends where she goes and the size of the portions.. most restaurant places are far more than 1000 calories for an entree.

I was thinking of just the entree... and I'm also in UK where portions are usually smaller.

Crafty_camper123

I pick the highest or 2nd highest calorie item that is similar in the database. Or, alternatively I eyeball it and quick add 1200-1800 calories depending on how huge the portions are and what all they have appeared to add to it. If it's a cheeseburger or something like that you could also dissect it and add each ingredient separately. +120 cals. for butter or oil.

BattyKnitter

I have a few different strategies for nights out.

If it's planned ahead of time I will save an extra 100-200 calories each day the week before.
If it's last minute I will either eat light that day and the next day or just the next day if it's very last minute.
Sometimes I will only have half my meal and save the other half for dinner or for my husband.
I will often order salad, some restaurants have amazingly tasty salads, though they can be pretty calorific too.
I will sometimes find a similar food in the database and log that.
Other times I will just quick add 1000-1500 calories.
Other times I will just eat light that day and not log that meal and just enjoy myself (in moderation) and jump back on the horse the next day.

Francl27

Find a similar entry in the database and log that.

MeanderingMammal

ellie7187 wrote: »

I know, bottom line when losing weight is calories should never be guesstimated. But how would you go about doing it if you HAD TO?

Meh, personally I lost 3st estimating calories.

psychod787

After a while, most of is who have been rigid/ weighing and measuring food get to a point we know what servings of things look like. I agree with the people that state to use something in the database that is close, but nothing can take the place of several years of experience. Many body builders do this. Most have been tracking macros/calories for years. Just my 2 cents....

ljashley1952

I find that a lot of restaurants have items listed in the MFP database. I had to guesstimate last week after attending a taco bar birthday bash for someone. I did the best I could and then forgot about it. Next day I was back on track.

Dee_D33

I guesstimate when I go out to eat. Just find something similar and know one night won’t ruin progress if you’re a little off. Truth be told, after working years in the restaurant industry I’ve learned that even the nutritional info on the menu and online is often inaccurate. Nothing, food or drinks, are made the same exact way every time with the proper amounts of ingredients and sizes of food can differ greatly, etc. So really every time you go out to eat it’s all guesstimation.