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Why I hate Nutritional Information at Fast Food places

SomeMomOutside

There were three kids in my car, two were sleeping. I wanted to eat lunch, but i'm trying to make better choices.. Taco Bell fast food, no, is not the best choice, but they advertise some healthier options, so i went ahead and got a Cantina Bell Bowl - Chicken. I figured I'd leave off the white rice, and I don't like guacamole, so that had to go too, which left chicken, lettuce, corn salsa, black beans, and 2 oz of creamy dressing on the side.

I get home to try to figure out how many calories I can shave off of the 560 calories TB lists as the full menu caloric intake, when I discover that there's only 20 calories difference between the veg and the chicken bowls. 20 calories? for the chicken? that was it? the 'gram' breakdown gives only 23g for chicken, so less than an ounce of that 560 calories is 'grilled chicken'.. however the dressing, the 2 oz of creamy cillantro dressing is almost 200 calories *sigh*

Also, everything they have is listed in GRAMS. i realize that that system is better logically, but i don't know many americans that realize that 28 grams is 2 oz.. and even if someone knew that, Taco Bell doesn't actually list the calorie contents based on what they give out. I was given a 2oz container of dressing, but they list the calorie count (by grams) for only an ounce of dressing.. so if I were getting that meal, but saying 'hold the dressing' then came home to see how many calories i'd saved, i would only think i saved 90, not 180.

And by listing the 'grams' first, they kind of look like the calorie count, instead of just a weight of measure... and they're usually lower by just enough to make one think it's the calorie count.

Examples: Fresco Bean Burrito 213g 350cal
Volcano Nachos 354g 970cal

**banging head**

The take away is that I should just eat from home.

Replies

SteelySunshine

It disgusts me how many people on this site are SO rude. :noway: If you don't have anything remotely positive to contribute to a message board topic, then do the rest of us a favor and just DON'T!!!

LOL

The main takeaway from this thread is that Americans should focus more on learning the metric system instead of blaming fast food restaurants.

I never order any condiments. Avoiding dressing, mayo, etc will go a long way in reducing your calorie counts.

That was my take away as well. And I hate math. Guess that isn't really relevant though.

DavPul

It disgusts me how many people on this site are SO rude. :noway: If you don't have anything remotely positive to contribute to a message board topic, then do the rest of us a favor and just DON'T!!!

thanks for your immeasurable contribution to this message board topic

popsicklestar

I totally wing it when I'm logging when I need to. I just try to err on the higher side. It doesn't have to be precisely perfect. When I don't know at all, I just look at calorie amounts for different entries and pick the one that seems about like the amount I ate. After counting calories for a while, you'll have a decent grasp on estimating calorie amounts. You don't need to stress so much over every tiny detail. I definitely don't, and it hasn't hindered my weightloss at all.

geekette411

I totally wing it when I'm logging when I need to. I just try to err on the higher side. It doesn't have to be precisely perfect. When I don't know at all, I just look at calorie amounts for different entries and pick the one that seems about like the amount I ate. After counting calories for a while, you'll have a decent grasp on estimating calorie amounts. You don't need to stress so much over every tiny detail. I definitely don't, and it hasn't hindered my weightloss at all.

^^^This.

princesspea234

There were three kids in my car, two were sleeping. I wanted to eat lunch, but i'm trying to make better choices.. Taco Bell fast food, no, is not the best choice, but they advertise some healthier options, so i went ahead and got a Cantina Bell Bowl - Chicken. I figured I'd leave off the white rice, and I don't like guacamole, so that had to go too, which left chicken, lettuce, corn salsa, black beans, and 2 oz of creamy dressing on the side.

I get home to try to figure out how many calories I can shave off of the 560 calories TB lists as the full menu caloric intake, when I discover that there's only 20 calories difference between the veg and the chicken bowls. 20 calories? for the chicken? that was it? the 'gram' breakdown gives only 23g for chicken, so less than an ounce of that 560 calories is 'grilled chicken'.. however the dressing, the 2 oz of creamy cillantro dressing is almost 200 calories *sigh*

Also, everything they have is listed in GRAMS. i realize that that system is better logically, but i don't know many americans that realize that 28 grams is 2 oz.. and even if someone knew that, Taco Bell doesn't actually list the calorie contents based on what they give out. I was given a 2oz container of dressing, but they list the calorie count (by grams) for only an ounce of dressing.. so if I were getting that meal, but saying 'hold the dressing' then came home to see how many calories i'd saved, i would only think i saved 90, not 180.

And by listing the 'grams' first, they kind of look like the calorie count, instead of just a weight of measure... and they're usually lower by just enough to make one think it's the calorie count.

Examples: Fresco Bean Burrito 213g 350cal
Volcano Nachos 354g 970cal

**banging head**

The take away is that I should just eat from home.

I eat out a lot because of time crunches or because I just want a treat that won't blow my calories. (I usually try to bring lunch, but sometimes it's just not possible.)

It gets easier when you research the food places you like... like at T bell, I almost always get two fresco hard tacos... 300 calories. Hamburger and small fry from McDonalds is 480 calories....530 if I add cheese to the burger.... subway I always get a turkey on wheat with no cheese, mustard and all the veggies except for pickles and olives.... 280 calories. It may not be exact, but it does give me a reference point for counting calories so that I don't completely blow my food budget.

Also, I generally avoid dressing unless I can measure myself at home or something like oil and vinegar at a restaurant where I can eyeball how much oil I put on my salad. I always ask for salsa or hot sauce as dressing otherwise. They have fresh pico de gio at Taco Bell now or you can always use their fire sauce if you are not worried about sodium intake.

princesspea234

Also, I have been known to make my own salad at T Bell. I ask for a side of black beans, a regular hard taco and a side of lettuce(usually they will give this to you unless they are being a-holes) Mix together with a little fire sauce and tadah... A salad. The protein keeps you full and the cheese and crunch of the shell are satisfying. 170 calories for the taco, 80 calories for the beans and 10 or so for the lettuce.

Athena53

These menus always frustrate me too. The worst is the Subway one - I always get a veggie delight and apparently that's a really healthy choice! Until you realise that the sandwich they are giving the calories for is a bit of bread with some lettuce and cucumber - obviously I'm going to have cheese and mayo or it's not really a sandwich!

Subway is one of the places DH and I use on road trips. It's easy to pick something low cal/low fat and add green peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, maybe some salsa, a few jalapenos, etc. I skip the cheese and any sauces and end up with a big, crunchy, spicy sandwich.

DH loves fast food burgers but is pretty careful about his cholesterol intake and, based on the nutritional info, goes to Burger King and gets a cheese burger when he wants to treat himself. I'm thrilled to have nutritional info so I can make my own decisions about whether or not it's worth it to me to eat something.

Francl27

You can find some calculators online for subway food, you just enter everything you put in and get the calorie count. http://www.eddieoneverything.com/calculators/subway-sandwich-calorie-carb-nutrition-calculator.php

Probably outdated though...

Honestly if I order something from anywhere that gives calories and remove something, I just put the whole thing in. Not worth going nuts over it. And I've found the fresco tacos better and more filling than the cantina bowls (although I do like that one occasionally to, but there isn't much left if you remove the guacamole and the rice, lol).

MyChocolateDiet

There are options every where. You just have to plan ahead and not try to make a decision while at the drive thru window. For example the Fresco tacos (crunchy) are only 140 calories each. Fresco chicken soft tacos are 150. I try to research and know what I am eating before I leave my house. However sometimes, with sleeping kids in the car, you gotta do what cha gotta do.

^^ This ^^

My standard "emergency" lunch from Taco Bell is two Fresco crunchy tacos and a pintos and cheese. 460 calories. Plenty of protein and not as much fat as you would think. BAM.

Thank you for this. Downloaded into mom database along with 28 grams is an ounce.

MyChocolateDiet

You can find some calculators online for subway food, you just enter everything you put in and get the calorie count. http://www.eddieoneverything.com/calculators/subway-sandwich-calorie-carb-nutrition-calculator.php

Probably outdated though...

Honestly if I order something from anywhere that gives calories and remove something, I just put the whole thing in. Not worth going nuts over it. And I've found the fresco tacos better and more filling than the cantina bowls (although I do like that one occasionally to, but there isn't much left if you remove the guacamole and the rice, lol).

Carls junior too. You can add and subtract each item and even go light on the mayo, ketchup, and sauces or add extra.

Chipotle has a calculator too to create burrito's and bowls and salads.

SomeMomOutside

Thank you all for the correction.. I meant to say 28 g was one ounce.. if you read the context, it might have implied that.. i have a 6 week old in my lap most times, so i tend to get flustered. at any rate, the menu lists only 28g - 1 ounce in its serving size, yet it serves you 2 ounces.. so twice the portion it lists in grams on its menu...

Athena53

At any rate, the menu lists only 28g - 1 ounce in its serving size, yet it serves you 2 ounces.. so twice the portion it lists in grams on its menu...

Now THAT's deceptive. Do they give you "two" servings because they think you'll want to take home half the dressing and use it on another salad? Thanks for the reminder that we need to be really vigilant about nutritional information. Silly serving sizes is one of my pet peeves.

savithny

Metric weights are awesome. I generally switch my food scale to grams whenever possible because it makes the math easier. Also, it's more specific than ounces - my scale will go to 1/8 of an ounce, or a single gram. Since 1/8 of 28 is more than 1? Grams are more precise.

It's so much easier when you can base your calclulations on grams and look up the calorie count for 100 grams of the item. Hallelujah Metric System!! If only Jimmy Carter had had the cajones to switch us in the 70s.

likearadiowave

Math is not hard people.

Lies!

complete lies.

Well ... basic math is easy. I'd rather not calculate the slope when eating a sandwich though

CristinaL1983

Thank you all for the correction.. I meant to say 28 g was one ounce.. if you read the context, it might have implied that.. i have a 6 week old in my lap most times, so i tend to get flustered. at any rate, the menu lists only 28g - 1 ounce in its serving size, yet it serves you 2 ounces.. so twice the portion it lists in grams on its menu...

They are serving you a 2 ounce volume portion. Did you weigh it? It could have pretty easily been 28g. Ounces can be used for both volume or weight and fluid ounces (such as a 2 ounce container or volume) are not the same as ounces by weight. Just FYI...

Basically, depending on the density, a fluid ounce can weigh more or much less than 28g.

skinnydreams1997

Me 2! i am terrible at math so ya..

cappri

Math is not hard people.

Lies!

complete lies.

Well ... basic math is easy. I'd rather not calculate the slope when eating a sandwich though

If I used rise/run to find the slope of my sandwich could I then subtract the slope from the calorie total? Then it might be worth it.

tammymusic1

well if anything i am glad someone just made it clear to me how many oz are in a gram that will be very helpful for my diary

BigMarc67

Just Eat Real Food! Which fast food is not

red8424

Just Eat Real Food! Which fast food is not

Last I checked, it is in fact food. Everything is fine in moderation, including food prepared in a restaurant. If you ate extremely high calorie meals for every meal, then you would be in trouble. Don't sweat it.

Brandipreg

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Sqeekyjojo

WOW, I feel for you. Just a simple "jeez look at this" and boy you got blasted everywhere. Some of us don't want to learn the metric system, it isn't what we use here in the USA. Fitting this into her diet wasn't the problem. Lighten up people.

You already use a metric system. Money.

It's not hard to convert, most people from the UK aged around their 40s have managed perfectly well to use both metric and imperial measures. I don't think we have a particularly low incidence of stupid over here, but we cope with both. And imperial measures are more complicated when you take in account we also use stones, tons and metric tonnes, plus we convert to us measures when we need to, like on here.

stephaniemejia1671

I only really glance at the Nutritional information should I feel the need to go to a fast food restaurants. I figure if I want to eat it, I'm not really worried what the oz are or the grams, or the calories really, I work out hard most days and I'm mindful of my portions now and aware of what I am putting into my body when I cook at home. That ONE burger or burrito I have ONCE a month won't kill me. Figuring out the actual food/health content will.

benol1

The take away is that I should just eat from home.

Just a thought - perhaps you should eat there!

Fast food is a misnomer if there was one. Usually it takes longer to get than if you were to prepare something for yourself, more expensive and usually far more calorific. You might want to keep a stash of two-minute noodles at home for times like these with a range of vegetables, tofu/meat/chicken which you can add to bulk up your noodles.
kind regards,

Ben

bluelena

Also, I have been known to make my own salad at T Bell. I ask for a side of black beans, a regular hard taco and a side of lettuce(usually they will give this to you unless they are being a-holes) Mix together with a little fire sauce and tadah... A salad. The protein keeps you full and the cheese and crunch of the shell are satisfying. 170 calories for the taco, 80 calories for the beans and 10 or so for the lettuce.

That's a REALLY good idea!

KAS0917

Fast food sucks

Subway sucks

Eat at home.

/thread

I'm so glad it's that simple for YOU. Some of us travel for work so eating at home isn't always possible.

DavPul

The main takeaway from this thread is that Americans should focus more on learning the metric system instead of blaming fast food restaurants.

I never order any condiments. Avoiding dressing, mayo, etc will go a long way in reducing your calorie counts.

Screw you, buddy! Our inches and... miles and pounds or whatever are full of FREEDOM AND BALD EAGLES AND 'MURICA

And GUNS! How do you leave out the GUNS?!?!?

I suspect you're a member of a terrorist sleeper cell.

BrianSharpe

On second thought.....never mind.

magerum

I honestly have no idea what you're complaining about

Yeah, ^ this

magerum

Just Eat Real Food! Which fast food is not

Is it imaginary? What's the kcal count on imagination?