Guessing calorie counts

bcs2565
bcs2565 Posts: 1
in Food and Nutrition
Hi, I'm wondering what everyone does when they have a restaurant meal and don't know what the calorie count is. Some of the pieces I might be able to figure out, but I think I would be way off. However, I want to list something for the meal. Does anyone just create a "placeholder" meal and assign a calorie guess? I'm estimating that the meal was probably around 400 calories, but as I've heard that people underestimate, I figured I'd assign 500. Does anyone else do this? TIA.

Replies

  • melodyg
    melodyg Posts: 1,423 Member
    I try to find calorie counts for something similar at another restaurant. If that doesn't work, then I try to list out the ingredients used.
  • Cryssy27
    Cryssy27 Posts: 42 Member
    There are lots of food here that is from the restaurants online menus that has all the info on it. And you will be surprised to see that many foods have been added to MFP already. If I don't know I always put more calories then I think they might be to be on the safe side!
  • VanessaHeartsMasr
    VanessaHeartsMasr Posts: 727
    I write down what I ate at the restaurant, or wherever, and then do "research" later. If I must, I enter in the individual ingredients as closely as I can and add it up that way.
  • ewl6850
    ewl6850 Posts: 158 Member
    This happens. If it's a chain of any sort, it's likely to be in MFP database already or online.

    If it's like a small local restaurant. I will find the "generic" in the database and use that. For example, if you had meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Search "Generic mashed potatoes" and "generic meatloaf" to find a decent guestimate.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    If I know what the ingredients are, I log them individually to make up the meal.
  • georgie_lou
    georgie_lou Posts: 225 Member
    I look for the closest thing and choose the option with the highest calorie count to save me from under estimating
  • Rabbit914
    Rabbit914 Posts: 246 Member
    I hear ya. I currently live in Japan and you can bet there isn't a single local restuarant here listed in the database. So it's always a guessing game. I just find something similiar and go on the high side to be safe. Plus since being here I don't eat out as much for that reason.
  • awilmeri
    awilmeri Posts: 218 Member
    If its a restaraunt that isn't in the database and doesn't have anything posted on the Internet I just guess by posting similiar items from restaraunts. For example if I went to breakfast at a local place I might log bacon from big boy, a muffin from Bob Evans or pancakes from I hop. I just guess where the most similiar item would be from. Calories are all really a guess so just be honest with yourself and do your best.

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