How to accurately count calories when eating specific foods?

nolqn
nolqn Posts: 3 Member
in Food and Nutrition
This morning, I had a salad from a restaurant that changes it's menu enough that there wasn't a calorie count listed. I scoured MyFitnessPal for this particular salad but couldn't find anything like it. Since I'm fairly new to this whole "counting calories" thing, I don't really know what to input for custom amounts. Making a number up makes me feel guilty though. What would you all recommend?

Replies

  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    If you couldn't find a similar salad in the database, then your best bet is to estimate the components of the salad individually and log each ingredient as best you can. It won't be totally accurate, but it's better than not logging it at all.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,222 Member
    That ^^^.

    The occasional rough estimate is fine. I've been logging for 6+ years, through loss and maintenance, estimating quite roughly now and then. Weight has pretty much done as expected, over the long haul. After all, the majority of our days determines the majority of our progress.

    No need to stress about it . . . stress burns no extra calories, y'know? 😉
  • westrich20940
    westrich20940 Posts: 920 Member
    Find something in the database that is similar to what you had.

    Also - never feel guilty for estimating - and just try to never feel guilty about something you ate period.

    Weighing/measuring is important in the beginning to get an idea of what you're actually eating - this helps give you some information to help figure out what your calorie needs are for weight loss, maintenance, gain....
    You do not have to be calorie for calorie correct every day. You have to be generally correct over time. Please do not start on the slippery slope of becoming obsessive about calories. It's not a good route.

    Try to figure out your daily calorie goal as best as you can - try to be as accurate as you can (within reason) with your calorie intake and burn per day and then use the data you get over time (your weight) as a guide to make adjustments. It's a slow process.

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