Italian Restaurants and counting calories...

trudijoy
trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
edited January 12 in Health and Weight Loss
... HI all

So it's my birthday on Sat and I'm off with friends to an Italian place, but I'm a calorie geek atm and thinking about MFP-approved choices :P I know about the tomato and marsala based sauces being better calorifically and was eyeing up the amitriciana on their menu - but any other tips for getting through an Italian place unscathed? Clearly garlic bread is a no thanks :laugh:

Cheers :)

Replies

  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    Or do a mega workout that morning to offset some tasty treats. :) Otherwise, avoid pasta if you can and go for the meat dishes, chicken if possible with as little if no cheese as possible. Make sure the veggies aren't cooked in butter before you order any.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Or do a mega workout that morning to offset some tasty treats. :) Otherwise, avoid pasta if you can and go for the meat dishes, chicken if possible with as little if no cheese as possible. Make sure the veggies aren't cooked in butter before you order any.

    thanks - won't be avoiding the pasta because it's my fave and it's my birthday :) but i'm thinking side salad too, eat that first, then I won't want as much pasta
  • ladyrider55
    ladyrider55 Posts: 316 Member
    Check sites online for total calorie count before you go eat. Also, under your Food on MFP when adding something new, some chain restaurants are already listed, that's what I did prior to taking my son to Texas Roadhouse for his Birthday last week. It gave me the info I needed to pre-plan my meal & staying within my daily calorie intake.......how AWESOME is that?!! :heart: :love: :happy:
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Check sites online for total calorie count before you go eat. Also, under your Food on MFP when adding something new, some chain restaurants are already listed, that's what I did prior to taking my son to Texas Roadhouse for his Birthday last week. It gave me the info I needed to pre-plan my meal & staying within my daily calorie intake.......how AWESOME is that?!! :heart: :love: :happy:

    ooh good idea. it's not a chain but they def do have menus online :)
  • karensdream
    karensdream Posts: 135 Member
    Most italian places offer a variety of soups, such as minestrone or pasta fagioli. Both are very filling and reasonable in calories. hae that before your entree and you will feel fuller. Then enjoy as much as you can handle. It's OK to take some home with you!
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Most italian places offer a variety of soups, such as minestrone or pasta fagioli. Both are very filling and reasonable in calories. hae that before your entree and you will feel fuller. Then enjoy as much as you can handle. It's OK to take some home with you!

    thanks for the tip :) I forgot about soup as it's midsummer here! I'm also thinking I might have a snack before i go and therefore not be that hungry
  • ladyrider55
    ladyrider55 Posts: 316 Member
    Check sites online for total calorie count before you go eat. Also, under your Food on MFP when adding something new, some chain restaurants are already listed, that's what I did prior to taking my son to Texas Roadhouse for his Birthday last week. It gave me the info I needed to pre-plan my meal & staying within my daily calorie intake.......how AWESOME is that?!! :heart: :love: :happy:

    ooh good idea. it's not a chain but they def do have menus online :)


    Your welcome :smile: btw ~~Happy Birthday Trudijoy~~ Have Fun, take care & stay safe. :flowerforyou: :happy:
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Check sites online for total calorie count before you go eat. Also, under your Food on MFP when adding something new, some chain restaurants are already listed, that's what I did prior to taking my son to Texas Roadhouse for his Birthday last week. It gave me the info I needed to pre-plan my meal & staying within my daily calorie intake.......how AWESOME is that?!! :heart: :love: :happy:

    ooh good idea. it's not a chain but they def do have menus online :)


    thanks! i wanted to be at my first 'loss'' goal by my bday which was 5 kg and i'm just about to kick over to 8kg lost so pretty stoked :)

    Your welcome :smile: btw ~~Happy Birthday Trudijoy~~ Have Fun, take care & stay safe. :flowerforyou: :happy:
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Don't forget also you can have pelligrino instead of wine or other calorie heavy beverage. Also that some italian places now have whole wheat pasta (ex. macaroni grill plus they sing happy bday in opera you know). In addition to the soup and salad ideas I'd like to suggest a non pasta appetizer by the time you get your pasta you'll be halfway full already. Finally the trick of ordering your favorite pasta knowing it's double or whatever the calories and then when ordering asking them to bring you only half the serving and boxing the rest to take home right from the start, so you're plate gets to you with half the portion right from the get-go. Takes nerve but someone suggested to me and apparently they will do it. Haven't tried it yet but plan to with next fettucine alfredo craving because it's loaded with a whole day's calories for me, so half would be something I'd still have to give up a snack for but more doable than a diet wrecking whole plate.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Don't forget also you can have pelligrino instead of wine or other calorie heavy beverage. Also that some italian places now have whole wheat pasta (ex. macaroni grill plus they sing happy bday in opera you know). In addition to the soup and salad ideas I'd like to suggest a non pasta appetizer by the time you get your pasta you'll be halfway full already. Finally the trick of ordering your favorite pasta knowing it's double or whatever the calories and then when ordering asking them to bring you only half the serving and boxing the rest to take home right from the start, so you're plate gets to you with half the portion right from the get-go. Takes nerve but someone suggested to me and apparently they will do it. Haven't tried it yet but plan to with next fettucine alfredo craving because it's loaded with a whole day's calories for me, so half would be something I'd still have to give up a snack for but more doable than a diet wrecking whole plate.

    cheers for that - the half plate idea is great. a friend who is also on the MFP plan is coming with me so i'm thinking of suggesting to her that we split a main. going out dancing etc after so no chance to takeaway any extra :)
  • kazzsjourney
    kazzsjourney Posts: 674 Member
    When i go out for italian (a few times a year)...i always share a entree of bruschetta and track it as 250 calories. If i have pasta i usually have either lasagne or pasta carbonara. Lasagne i track as 450 cals and carbonara as 1000...as for dessert...I always just get a hot chocolate :)
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    i found one on the menu thats penne, basil, Olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes and parmesan. I think that's my go. I'm going to weigh out penne so I know how many pieces ish are in a normal serving, and then I can work out based on the oil and parmesan mostly what it should be ish calorie wise. Think we might be safe here :)
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