How to count calories at mexican restaurant?

bugzlooney
bugzlooney Posts: 12
in Health and Weight Loss
I am going to eat Mexican food at a good Mexican restaurant that I like. Hey how should I estimate the meal I eat there. I plan on eating well and then eating some fruit for the rest of the day.

Replies

  • momo9128706
    momo9128706 Posts: 45
    Have you googled to check and see if they have nutrition info online? Or even just search mexican restaruant whatever you eat into MFP and see what you come up with.
  • gracetillman
    gracetillman Posts: 190 Member
    If the restaurant does not provide nutritional information then go online and search for reasonable equivalents. Not all tacos are made the same but if you have been to a chain restaurant like Frontera or On the Border you might know if theirs were similar enough to use.

    It is just a guess for today and you should guess high.
  • vorgas
    vorgas Posts: 741 Member
    Having worked in several mexican restaurants, I can tell you there is a huge variance in how foods are prepared.

    Some cook their beans in lard. Some cook their rice in chicken stock. Can easily be 300 calorie difference or more, so be sure to ask your server when you get there.
  • klnor88
    klnor88 Posts: 28 Member
    It's next to impossible so get a good workout in and watch your portion sizes. In the grand scheme of things 1 meal isn't going to make or break you but I wouldn't eat at a Mexican restaurant too often.
  • gboybama
    gboybama Posts: 53 Member
    Man, I give myself like 600 calories just for the chips and salsa I know I'm going to eat. Estimate high, but enjoy!
  • xinit0
    xinit0 Posts: 310 Member
    Weigh whatever you're eating, and log that weight as "Butter, salted"

    That should get you close.
  • ripemango
    ripemango Posts: 534 Member
    it's in the MFP database...any kind of mexican restaurant meal i can think of has been in there (for better or worse)
  • Symphony2010
    Symphony2010 Posts: 50 Member
    I enter each ingredient separately. So an enchilada will be....
    1 oz cheddar cheese
    Tortilla
    Red chilli sauce
    1 oz chicken
    1 tablespoon oil
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Just go an enjoy...one meal isn't going to sabotage you or anything, even a meal at a Mexican restaurant. I live in New Mexico and we have our fair share of NM restaurants as well as Mexican restaurants...they are all pretty high calorie, but there are way too many variables to accurately estimate IMHO.

    Some re-fry beans in lard...others in vegetable oils...others use whole pinto beans or charro beans. Some make house tortillas from lard...others from veg oil...others use commercially available tortilas...homemade chips vs commercially available...do they use broth in sauces vs water, etc. Just way too many variables.

    Go have a marg and some good food and don't sweat it...unless it's really spicy like I like it, then you should be sweating.
  • Shelby1582
    Shelby1582 Posts: 191 Member
    lets go with 2000 calories, make it 3500 if you have a margarita. Screw it, just work out later. It won't derail everything you've done so far as long as it's not an every day thing.

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