Restaurant Nutrition - too good to be true?

kingofcrunk
kingofcrunk Posts: 372 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Before I go to a restaurant I'll research whether they release nutritional information so I can work it into my day.

Sometimes it just seems too good to be true. Do you think they may make it up sometimes? How much of a cushion do you factor into your day when you're eating out?

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    If it is on their site I usually trust it. If I don't have the exact info but am using something similar in the database that seems low I'll add in 50-100 quick add calories or log it as a serving and a half or something along those lines.
  • Keiras_Mom
    Keiras_Mom Posts: 844 Member
    I trust it, even though I know there's a margin for error. I just use the counts, and have had no problems losing that way.
  • Rockmyskinnyjeans
    Rockmyskinnyjeans Posts: 431 Member
    I tend to trust restaurant nutrition stats because, in the day & age we're in, most, if not all, restaurants have been forced to release true & accurate stats to the public by now. It's public knowledge. The ones that still haven't complied are being heavily fined, from what I've been told. Some states, I've heard, are even putting the nutrition facts in their menus now. I find it helpful to know when I'm deciding what to eat and I'm glad they made them quit hiding what the calories/carbs, etc was in the different entrees.
  • foodiedz
    foodiedz Posts: 4
    In the next month or so, the FDA is finalizing the menu labeling regulations that were put into the Affordable Healthcare Act. It roughly says that any restaurant chain with 20 or more locations must display the calories on every menu in the store and (here's the best part that most people don't know yet) they have to provide a full nutrition breakdown upon customer request. So the menu boards at fast food and menus at sit down should all be showing it soon! Hope that helps!
  • djshari
    djshari Posts: 513 Member
    I don't think I've ever seen anything that seems to good to be true... can you link an example? Most of the time my reaction is HOLY CRAP I HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY (calories, carbs, etc) were in that. Maybe they are being sneaky and posting "per serving" and the actual meal may have 2 or more servings, something like that.
  • melr01
    melr01 Posts: 70 Member
    I'm careful to read the description below the menu item. Sometimes they will have comments like without cheese or dressing or whole wheat option, etc. Be sure to read the fine print. I find it great when some restuarants have a section on their website for healthier options.
  • mizzie1980
    mizzie1980 Posts: 379 Member
    Most of the time my reaction is HOLY CRAP I HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY (calories, carbs, etc) were in that.

    I hear you. I used to order a wrap at Buffalo Wild Wings that I thought wasn't too bad. 1020 calories and 2120 grams of sodium!!! That's very near my daily limit on both.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I don't think I've ever seen anything that seems to good to be true... can you link an example? Most of the time my reaction is HOLY CRAP I HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY (calories, carbs, etc) were in that. Maybe they are being sneaky and posting "per serving" and the actual meal may have 2 or more servings, something like that.

    I've seen MANY too good to be true things in the MFP database. I trust the restaurant websites, for the most part.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Before I go to a restaurant I'll research whether they release nutritional information so I can work it into my day.

    Sometimes it just seems too good to be true. Do you think they may make it up sometimes? How much of a cushion do you factor into your day when you're eating out?

    I don't think they make it up, but it is important to remember that the meals that are tested are prepared specifically for testing. There is no guarantee that the cook of the day won't add more fat or salt or cheese or <whatever> than the meal that was tested.

    Also, when it comes to things like meats the amount of fat can vary because not every chicken or cow has the exact same fat content in their various muscles. Same with sugar in in produce. And this is true whether home cooked or restaurant prepared. It's all just averages.
  • Weezoh
    Weezoh Posts: 171 Member
    I seem to remember either consumer reports or maybe it was something I heard on NPR had restaurant meals tested independently and they were surprised to find that they were very close to the reported numbers, in some cases within 1% I think. I'll have to see if I can dig that out somewhere.

    Of course it's all an estimate depending on ingredients, how close the cooks are following policy that day, etc. . .
  • nejaustin
    nejaustin Posts: 76 Member
    You need to pay attention to all the details. One site had it listed that there were 2 servings per dish!!!
  • nixirain
    nixirain Posts: 448 Member
    I trust it...to a point. I believe that they are giving you accurate info on each food item as it is intended to be prepare. I don't always trust the amount of food that ends up on my plate!

    A study showed that there was around a 20% margin of error in most restaurant served and packaged food.
  • xxvogue
    xxvogue Posts: 172 Member
    Most restaurants however will either say "as given" or "x servings."

    I'll tell you what though, I had the jalapeno lime shrimp at applebees last night. I didn't bother to look at the calories until I got home and was SHOCKED. Not because there were so much, but so little! 300 according to the website.
  • j75j75
    j75j75 Posts: 854 Member
    Many restaurants now have a "healthy" list of menu items. Probably best to go for that. Or order a regular menu item that you know is healthy, but ask them to go easy on the butter and salt, most restaurant slather their food in that stuff making seemingly healthy items terrible for you. And of course, dressing on the side please :)
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I seem to remember either consumer reports or maybe it was something I heard on NPR had restaurant meals tested independently and they were surprised to find that they were very close to the reported numbers, in some cases within 1% I think. I'll have to see if I can dig that out somewhere.

    Of course it's all an estimate depending on ingredients, how close the cooks are following policy that day, etc. . .

    Well they would be. Commercial kitchens have procedure, portion and plate comp standards. Everything from their nutrition data to thier costing and pricing depends on it being fairly accurate. FTR, I am a recently retired chef and restaurant/ catering company owner.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    Well they would be. Commercial kitchens have procedure, portion and plate comp standards. Everything from their nutrition data to thier costing and pricing depends on it being fairly accurate. FTR, I am a recently retired chef and restaurant/ catering company owner.

    They're likely no less accurate than the nutritional labels you see in stores. Those can be off by as much as 20% legally.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Until I find a way to figure out exactly how many calories I burned in a particular day, i won't worry about it.
  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
    The illuminati puts MSG into your fewds to make you want to go out to eat.
  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    The illuminati puts MSG into your fewds to make you want to go out to eat.

    I knew it. :explode:

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