Track food from small local restaurants?

tirawi
tirawi Posts: 8 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey guys, I have an issue I've been going through for a while where some of my favorite places to eat are small places that don't necessarily have their nutrition facts available. For example, a favorite place of mine has been a local Chinese restaurant, but their nutrition facts aren't anywhere to be found. What I've been doing is just plugging in nutrition facts for the same food from maybe places like Panda Express or other similar restaurants, but I want to find a better way to deal with it. Anyone have any ideas? One option was to simply just ask for their information if they have it, but what can I do if they don't?

Replies

  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Small chains don't have that info. Do what you have been doing and just pick something close. Even if you actually ate at Panda Express, it isn't like that calorie count issued by corporate is 100% accurate either.
  • Bumdrahp
    Bumdrahp Posts: 1,314 Member
    Yeah usually for places like that I OVERestimate my calories with another place similar.
  • tirawi
    tirawi Posts: 8 Member
    Just to clarify, I've been looking for the food item I ate and choosing a food that is most in line with the calories from the others. For example, if the most common is 500 calories, I'll usually go for that one. I stay away from an abnormal high or low. I just hate guessing haha.

    I figure placebo has gotta play a role in this to an extent, right?
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    I just MFP the highest calorie option someone logs and go with that. You can be honest with them, but they may not be honest with you. "I love this restaurant and I plan on coming here regardless, but I'm trying to count my calories: is there any way I could find out the calories in my favorite meal _______ or ______?" If you are really trying to figure it out you could zero a scale and see what the portions are like as well. Eyeballing a cup of white rice may net you + or - a 100 calories. Honestly, if you work out hard and once a week have a cheat meal with eat light the rest of the day... don't see why not. These last 2 weeks I had a cheat meal/day on Sunday and been more than happy with my numbers.
  • PDXContessa
    PDXContessa Posts: 49 Member
    This is a common problem for us calories counters. The best you can do is estimate. If you've been measuring your portions you may already have already have a good idea of what 3 oz of chicken is supposed to look like on your plate. If not, here's a guide that you might find helpful: http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/media/pdf/diet/portion-control-guide.pdf

    You can do as you have been doing an try to find something similar, or you can guesstimate each ingredient and then see if your guesstimate matches up to someplace like Panda Express.

    It's good that you're thinking about it. These are some of the hidden calories that can increase your challenge.

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