Dinner time!

julianpoutram

I always have a problem counting calories at dinner! I usualy have a home cooked meal and my mum cooks it! So i have noooo idea how many calories it contains! it could be anything! I doubt above 800 calories for any dinner meal but i dont know how to be sure! and its really bugging me! I cant just take all the individual ingredients off one by one and weigh them can i? She always makes really unusual things or customised recipes so i just dont know what to do! any ideas on what i should do?

xlacijeanx

Ask her to jot down the ingredients she uses and roughly how much. You don't need to be exact, but somewhere in the ballpark would be nice. I can't imagine having to eat someone else's cooking while trying to make healthier choices. Maybe you should volunteer to start making dinners sometimes?

julianpoutram

Yes thats a good idea but my mum doesnt believe in this calorie counting buissness so i find it difficult to ask her to do any of the things you just listed. Good job that i can watch everything else apart from dinner. I will try and do some meals from this site If she lets me ¬_¬

BrandNewMia

My mother is Korean - she is naturally a very tiny woman and has NEVER had to lose weight her entire life. She is like your mom - she doesn't believe in calorie counting. Years ago she actually told me Weight Watchers was brain washing me! She thinks every meal should be accompanied with 3 heaping cups of steamed white rice per person - then you get seconds. And I agree with Laci - I feel for you, I couldn't imagine not preparing my own meals while trying to lose weight!

I suggest you take an active part in meal making, or sit in the kitchen while she cooks so you can see what she's putting in the dishes. If you see a lot of butter, cheeses, oils, or other fattening ingredients, maybe you could make something yourself OR control the portion size that you eat.

It's difficult, but it can be done and this will not impeed your progress!

julianpoutram

Yes i will deffinitely do that! I dont think i can get her to change ingredients or anything coz she thinks that will ruin the flvour and shes probably right but i will deffinitel limit my portion sizes. No seconds for sure and i will tell her if she gives me too much! But i think until i cook for myself its going to have to be a rough estimate of about 600 - 700 calories for dinner. Its probably less most days but i like to be over generous rather than the opposite!

ForTheFam

I'm also told one of the reasons we track calories is to take ownership of our journey. Raising awareness of what we are eating and provide us with enough info to make choices. Helping her with the prep is a wonderful idea. If you can't then a best estimate and portion control is good enough. Your scale and measurements will reveal how good your estimates are. My mother puts butter in and on everything...love real butter!

julianpoutram

Hahaha I'd have butter over margarines any day but the key is moderation! But I will try my best to make my portions a good size and make accurate estimates hopefully I can look up what recipe she is making and it wil be in the database, then I jUst have to get the weight of it right.

downtome

Just remember that portin size is key to losing weight. It's hard to alway get an exact count of calories all the time. If you keep your portion sizes within reason then your best guess should be fine. Enjoy your dinners, at least someone cooks for you, I wish someone cooked for me. Next man I hook up with will definately have to know how and be willing to cook for me and my kids....LOL Looking forward to that!

matina29

The first few times I weighed and measured my portions, my family flipped out! They get used to it. The results over time will speak for themselves. I am tired of worrying about others that's what got me obese. I use a digital scale because it's more accurate and a measuring cup. They are so used to it now. If it's prepared you can usually find something similar nutritionally either on here or allrecipes.com or a site similar in the UK? Just fraction the portion and overestimate so you don't inadvertantly eat more. Best of luck!

Trafty024

What kind of dinners does she make? You could try finding something similar online and using the recipe builder to calc cals. Or some sites already have them calculated for you. You could at least get an estimate.