SHOCKED by calorie content in foods?

linalovekitty
linalovekitty Posts: 187
in Food and Nutrition
What food/dish were you shocked to learn the calorie content of (either good or bad)? Id like to know if you have ever had an OMG!!!?? moment bc I know I have!

For me I was shocked to learn

1. how many calories are in restaurant food. No wonder they dont all publish their numbers. For example, Max & Erma's, a local chain, has nachos that are upwards of 2500 calories per plate! And most other entree items are around 1400cals! Almost an entire day for me

2. on the ither hand, I was pleasently suprised to learn that shrimp has very little calories. Like around 10 for a medium size shrimp!

Replies

  • pucenavel
    pucenavel Posts: 972 Member
    I looked at sugar free gummy bears today - 6 bears = 50 calories.

    That's about the same as the regular ones. ??
  • shutterbug282
    shutterbug282 Posts: 588 Member
    How many calories are actually in Super Noodles. It's only noodles with spices and water!
  • linalovekitty
    linalovekitty Posts: 187
    I looked at sugar free gummy bears today - 6 bears = 50 calories.

    That's about the same as the regular ones. ??

    i have noticed similar things with dessert food! I have found it makes more sense to just go for the real deal dessert item (godiva is a fave of mine) and just eat a tiny amount. It satisfies the sweet tooth and it seems like "diet" versions of desserts really dont save many cals.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Finding out ONE Pop Tart was considered a serving made me sad. You can't eat ONE. They come in packs of two. The leftover tart would get lonely and have separation anxiety.

    And if I'm going to have a 400 calorie breakfast, it's going to be a LOT more satisfying than two tarts. Heck, two bowls of Lucky Charms plus milk is only 300 calories. And it's magically delicious!
  • reneeopruitt
    reneeopruitt Posts: 36 Member
    I was shocked that Vegetable Lo Mein had 1260 calories per plate but shrimp lo mein has 681. I would have never guessed!!

    Then the other was Olive Garden's Tour of Italy. I used to get this sometimes and found out it has 1400 calories !!!! (I never ate it all because I ate a lot of salad, but even 2/3 is 930 calories. WOW .... never again ...

    On the other end of the spectrum I used to get this yummy teriyaki filet minion dish with rice and vegetables at a Japanese restaurant and recently saw that it was only 500 calories if I eat 2/3 of the plate which is all I can eat. Pleasant surprise!!

    AND .. If I get grilled tilapia at our favorite greek restaurant and really pig out it's still only 500 calories for what I like. yay !!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Pretty much all restaurant food. Pasta.
  • wiseeliz
    wiseeliz Posts: 50 Member
    I was pretty shocked when I started tracking and realized how many calories I was adding to my sandwich by putting cheese on it. The store-brand Swiss I bought had 140 calories per slice! I know that's hardly the end of the world, but I'd never really stopped to consider how many more calories I was eating when I added cheese to my sandwich.
  • mandytriv
    mandytriv Posts: 13
    I used to have a piece of pizza when I went to Costco. 680 calories! Now I know it's easy to pass up.

    It was nice to learn that a protein style cheeseburger at In-n-out only has 330 calories. Yummy!
  • Fit147
    Fit147 Posts: 209 Member
    I used to eat a Costco hotdog (570) and a churro (410) for lunch when I went shopping there. 950 calories! Just for lunch....no wonder I am on MFP now. And Costco cupcakes are 760 calories!
  • Hertford86
    Hertford86 Posts: 55 Member
    Anything baked - cookies, cake. Just can' t do it. And pasta - good heavens. It looks so innocent.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,347 Member
    I'm with people on the pasta thing, now when we have pasta I half and half it with cauliflower or zucchini strips.

    2 minute noodles, the Trident Hot & Spicy ones are my heartbreak calorie surprise. 500 cal for a pack and I'd usually eat 2!!

    On the good side - popcorn with some spray oil and seasoning was a nice surprise

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