Estimating Calories?

lilylight

Hello all, so, this is my 10th day on MFP... and the first time I've gone out to eat (I've been avoiding it). Italian wouldn't have been my first choice, but that's where people were meeting, so... I had 1/2 spinach & mushroom calzone. So, when I search for that at MFP, I get 320 calories for 1/2 a "homemade" spinach/mushroom/cheese calzone. This seems like a low estimate to me (these things are BIG). When I search for just "calzone," the range of calories is huge! I looked at Mellow Mushroom (a chain), because I figure they were probably big like the one I had (I went to a local restaurant, not a chain). One entry says 1219 for a whole calzone, and one says 820! So, for 1/2, the range is 410-609 calories -- that's a pretty big range! The 1219 entry just says "cheese" (i.e., suggesting that many calories even without meat? Could that be possible?) and the other entry doesn't say anything about type.

So, how do people handle estimating calories in such situations? This is a big problem for me because I'm about to be teaching in a study abroad program in Europe and almost all my meals are going to be eaten out. Yikes!

jzaz903

For the calzone, If you think it was similar in size to the one at mellow mushroom, then check their website so you know what it really is. It's possible that the spinach and mushroom has less cheese and therefore fewer calories... But if their website doesnt give you a clear answer, go with the higher one. I'd rather overestimate food a little bit than underestimate it.

Pebble321

All you can do in that situation is take a guess - in that case I would probably add 600.

In general, when eating out, I'll try for something like grilled fish or steak or chicken, that is often a good choice - because it's more possible to see what you are eating. Pasta dishes, casseroles, pies etc are harder to estimate.
My other restaurant hints - ask for dressing or sauce on the side, skip the bread, order an entree (starter) instead of a main size portion if you can.

lilylight

For the calzone, If you think it was similar in size to the one at mellow mushroom, then check their website so you know what it really is. It's possible that the spinach and mushroom has less cheese and therefore fewer calories... But if their website doesnt give you a clear answer, go with the higher one. I'd rather overestimate food a little bit than underestimate it.

Check the web site! Duh! Thanks, Jzaz903. The mellow mushroom calzone is indeed 1219 calories. Next, I guess I'll need to go there some time and order one to compare it to the other place! ...I guess this would be an advantage to going to a chain restaurant -- readily available nutrition info.