It's just not worth it to eat out

I have been eating at home since we got back into our house (after a month of living in a hotel!)
Went to Jersey Mike's today and got a turkey sub, no mayo, no oil, no cheese.
I thought that was a good choice.
Came home to log it only to find out that it was STILL 500 calories!

It's really irritating.

I agree!

Though it was a good choice compared with the rest of the menu...

I eat out about once a month guilt free, scratches that itch and then i go back to eating in house and healthy for a month which i also enjoy.

are you guys getting white break or wheat? you have to understand, if its fulfilling and a little high in calories then that dont mean its bad for you.....it depends on the bread though.....anywho.....i dont mind the calories on something fulfilling....but there are ways to cut it down to a good 300 cal....

I know what you mean. I was invited out to the theatre, and beforehand we went for dinner. Even though I had worked out, I didn't want to eat because of the calorie value of the menu. I had a side salad as my main meal and got lots of dirty looks from my family. They made quite a scene at the fact I didn't want anything from the menu, preferring to eat later at home. It made me feel bad and I didn't enjoy feeling bad for being healthy!!

I know what you mean. I was invited out to the theatre, and beforehand we went for dinner. Even though I had worked out, I didn't want to eat because of the calorie value of the menu. I had a side salad as my main meal and got lots of dirty looks from my family. They made quite a scene at the fact I didn't want anything from the menu, preferring to eat later at home. It made me feel bad and I didn't enjoy feeling bad for being healthy!!

thats a bit of a **** move on their it's not like you didn't eat anything at all (which would have been a **** move on your part haha).

did you explain to them you just want to be healthy and happy

I eat out often. Sometimes out of necessity, and sometimes with family and friends. My tricks for staying on budget when I eat out are to: get salad whenever possible; always order vegetables on the side as plain as possible (steamed, raw) - combine what you really want to eat with the vegetables, and take the rest of the food home or give it to somebody else; never get bread; assume the food has an additional 100 calories. (They always put more salt, fat, and butter in your food than you would ever do at home).

I lost about 50 lbs a few years ago eating three meals a day out of the house (I had a hectic work schedule 9 -1030 with an hr long commute each way). Sadly, I gained it all back, but that was because I stopped following my own rules. I know food from home is better, it can just be so hard sometimes.

It was a posh place but just looking at the menu, everything was swimming in butter and cream and oil. I was adament I would eat later (and I did) but the side salad as a main meal was fine for the time being. But they even made a fuss to the waiter "Oh she's only having this tiny.. ... oh she's on a diet... blah"
I ate later in the evening, but a healthy meal which I prepared myself. The response was "treat yourself, don't be pathetic" etc, but a treat is what it is, A TREAT. If I "treated" myself as much as they do, I'd be the same size as them (they're overweight :P )

Gosh I sound like a bit of a b**ch. I am a bit :P I just want to be healthy! And eating a load of creamy, buttery meals out, is what got me into my mess in the first place!!!

Hmm i found that the biggest impact on my diet was cutting 90 % of my usual daily intake of bread.... nowdays, and that's not every day... i eventually eat 1-2 slices of 7-grain bread, and i do with scrambled eggs or something of that sort. And of course cutting out the sweets, well 99 % of it, and to be honest, i don't really miss any of it.

When we eat out, my husband and I each get a salad (dressing on the side. . .I dip into the bowl and eat very little dressing) We split an entre. . .usually fish or chicken. I've stopped eating baked potatoes out even though they are one of my favorites. I have found most restaurant chains have menu and nutritional info. The food look up on MFP also has quite a few restaurant items. I try to plan what I'm going to eat before hand and I never go out when I'm "starving" if I can help it. That way, I can pass up the bread. I've even found relatively low cal/carb items at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We Texans can't live without Mexican food once or twice a month, so if anyone has any low cal recipes for "Mexican" food. . .please share!

I think a lot of the problem with eating out is the portions. A 6" sub is HUGE but we've been conditioned to think it's a small portion because they also sell the 12" (which is beyond huge).

Nahh, I think it's about right....but I'm bigger than the average American.

We eat out so rarely, that I pretty much don't worry about it. Now, if I find myself in a position where I have to hit some FF for a meal, I just chalk that up to poor planning and promise myself to plan better next time.

Definitely agree that the main problem with subs is the bread! You can make yourself a much healthier sub at home and have control over the calories and what else you put in it...cheaper and tastes better

I have been eating at home since we got back into our house (after a month of living in a hotel!)
Went to Jersey Mike's today and got a turkey sub, no mayo, no oil, no cheese.
I thought that was a good choice.
Came home to log it only to find out that it was STILL 500 calories!

It's really irritating.

It all depends on how you look at it. What other things have you eaten and drank during the day and did the final tally add up to taking you over your quota? If it is within your calorie allotment by the end of the day, I can't see the problem. It is not as if you would be eating those turkey subs everyday anyway is it.

Dump the 6" sub toppings on a pile of lettuce or spinach, add a little bit of EVOO, vinegar, oregano, and black pepper and you've got a pretty darn good meal with a good, healthy protein/carb/fat balance.

+1 also to the suggestion for using lettuce leaf wraps if the restaurant offers them. Those are also very tasty.