Do you guys take your food scale to restaurants?

kjo9692
kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Where I live basically not a single restaurant has nutritional information on their meals. Unless they are a U.S. food chain or something. I'm planning on doing this but I guess I'll look like a freak LOL.

Has anyone done this? Do people look at you like you are crazy? I don't mind the looks but just wanted to know anyone else's experience on this. Thanks! :bigsmile:
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Replies

  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    I don't know how well that will work, given that most meals from restaurants aren't singular items.
    For example, you don't know how much butter is in mashed potatoes, or how many calories are in a certain sauce per gram.

    Edited for shameful grammar.
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    I don't know how well that will work, given that most meals from restaurants aren't singular items.
    For example, you don't know how much butter is in mashed potatoes, or how many calories are in a certain sauce per gram.

    Edited for shameful grammar.

    I know that all ingredients vary depending on the restaurant, but I want to be as accurate as possible though. For example I'm eating enchiladas today, and that's something that everyone does differently, but if I can get at least how much they weigh I won't be too far off I guess. LOL I guess I'm starting to sound a bit obssessive. With knowing how much the food weighs at least I might be 30% off instead of like 60%-80% off.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    God no. Live a little. Sheesh lol
  • lolosensan
    lolosensan Posts: 251
    I agree with Iknowsaur. I don't see how this would be beneficial. Maybe to weigh steak or chicken or something, but if it's meat just aim for eating the size of a deck of cards. Leave the kitchen scale in the kitchen and save yourself the crazy making.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    Ummmm......no :huh:
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    The only things I take to dinner are my dates or people who are going with me.

    oh and money.. but only cause restaurants get upset if you forget to pay them.. they have some nerve I tell ya...:grumble:
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    :laugh:

    okay okay I'll leave it at the house :sad:

    :flowerforyou:
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    The only things I take to dinner are my dates or people who are going with me.

    oh and money.. but only cause restaurants get upset if you forget to pay them.. they have some nerve I tell ya...:grumble:

    Wait. Are you telling me you don't take your camera to take pictures of everyone's meals and upload it to Instagram???!!! :huh:
  • lolosensan
    lolosensan Posts: 251
    If you want to lose weight while eating enchiladas, eat one and take the other one home. Get a side of black beans. If there are any side salads or veggie swapping options, take them! The body does not adjust to what you enter on MFP, the mind might, but the body doesn't give a care!
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    God no. Live a little. Sheesh lol
    Yep this. Even with a scale, most calorie estimates are way off anyway. Just be reasonable.
  • lindzalexis
    lindzalexis Posts: 44 Member
    I literally just posted a thread about this same topic

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1225694-eating-out-a-lot-help

    I am in situations a lot where I eat out and I don't feel great about how I'm tracking. I'd love any advice.
  • eddiesmith1
    eddiesmith1 Posts: 1,550 Member
    Nope, but I don't eat out often, and when I do I will guestimate on the high side with the knowledge that I am likely not going to hit my goal of 1000 calorie deficit for the day- in fact i pretty much eat whatever i want on the menu if I'm out for dinner i don't worry I went to have fun not fret about the diet (last meal out I had Appetiser,Main,Desert - but no booze since I quit drinking in december (I will put in extra exercise over a few days to try and cover it and drink a lot of water to try and cover the excess sodium that comes with most restaurant meals)
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    I literally just posted a thread about this same topic

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1225694-eating-out-a-lot-help

    I am in situations a lot where I eat out and I don't feel great about how I'm tracking. I'd love any advice.

    Right I guess this is what I meant. Sometimes I am forced to eat out about three times a week (due to my job and since I study some days I don't have much time to prepare meals for myself for the next day) and I guess this is what I mean with wanting to take a food scale with me. I'm not too worried about today as today is my cheat meal but would like to have an estimate of how much I'm eating.
  • laurie04427
    laurie04427 Posts: 421 Member
    I typically look up the item, like let's say guacamole, and compare a few and pick one of the entries in the database on the higher end of the calories and/or sodium but similar to the others. Naw I think bringing a scale would make a specticle a bit, would be hard to enjoy the night.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    No. :huh: :noway:
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I'm way too self conscious for that, lol. So I just eyeball it.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    No...that's a bit over the top. Using a food scale is great...it's a great tool...but you also need to be mindful of what those servings look like because yeah...walking around with a food scale everywhere you go is over the top.

    There are also a number of websites that illustrate serving sizes using every day objects including your own fists and palms...these are good tools as well. This should be about learning, not being beholden to a food scale or measuring cups or whatever.

    Eating out is a great way to practice portion control, moderation, and intuitive eating.

    I've been in maintenance for 10 months or so and still use my food scale for some things...but overwhelmingly, I've learned roughly what a serving of this and that is and can pretty well judge things visually or by using my fists and palms as guides. This is pretty important skill long term...best to get some practice.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    no, never...that is a little bit obsessive...just enjoy the night out and put a guestimate on it...
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    No...that's a bit over the top. Using a food scale is great...it's a great tool...but you also need to be mindful of what those servings look like because yeah...walking around with a food scale everywhere you go is over the top.

    There are also a number of websites that illustrate serving sizes using every day objects including your own fists and palms...these are good tools as well. This should be about learning, not being beholden to a food scale or measuring cups or whatever.

    Eating out is a great way to practice portion control, moderation, and intuitive eating.

    I've been in maintenance for 10 months or so and still use my food scale for some things...but overwhelmingly, I've learned roughly what a serving of this and that is and can pretty well judge things visually or by using my fists and palms as guides. This is pretty important skill long term...best to get some practice.

    Thanks! I'll google the serving sizes thingy! :drinker: Yeah I can't picture myself living from the food scale even after I reach my goal weight. Eventually I would be using it as my key chain if I kept it up LOL.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    No. Just estimate, and will purposefully overestimate the macros/calories to make up for it. If you're not making a habit of going out to eat all the time, then once in a while won't make that much of an impact. Just be sensible...
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Eating out is a great way to practice portion control, moderation, and intuitive eating.

    Giggity, why yes it is. :laugh: :drinker: :smokin:
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Just curious how you were planning to weigh your enchiladas anyway...
  • Shuuma
    Shuuma Posts: 465 Member
    I DO take a picture of my plate, then when I get home, I log estimates of each thing to the best of my ability. It's not going to be right, I know that, but I try to make sure I put everything in my log.

    Everyone takes picture of their plates these days, so I don't look strange doing it..lol
  • Pirate_chick
    Pirate_chick Posts: 1,216 Member
    No, never have, never will. By law all restaurants need to have nutritional information available upon request. You can just ask for the book. Or look up a comparable dish on MFP.
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    Just curious how you were planning to weigh your enchiladas anyway...

    They serve them in a small plate, so I was going to put the full plate and then after I ate them I was going to weigh the plate and subtract that from the initial amount.
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    No, never have, never will. By law all restaurants need to have nutritional information available upon request. You can just ask for the book. Or look up a comparable dish on MFP.

    Well, that's in first world countries I guess. But in Panama (Central America) we have too many issues for people to be worried about calories :laugh: Like I said, only major (foreign) food chains have nutritional info where I live :frown:
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    I don't know how well that will work, given that most meals from restaurants aren't singular items.
    For example, you don't know how much butter is in mashed potatoes, or how many calories are in a certain sauce per gram.

    Edited for shameful grammar.

    I know that all ingredients vary depending on the restaurant, but I want to be as accurate as possible though. For example I'm eating enchiladas today, and that's something that everyone does differently, but if I can get at least how much they weigh I won't be too far off I guess. LOL I guess I'm starting to sound a bit obssessive. With knowing how much the food weighs at least I might be 30% off instead of like 60%-80% off.

    how would you know how much each component weights tho? if you count 7 ounces of chicken and 2 of cheese when its really 4 onces of chicken and 5 of cheese, its going to make a big difference on macros and overall calories.

    or perhaps you look up enchiladas and hope they are in the database by weight?

    I guess number two is better but still basically a shot in the dark, and probably only marginally more accurate then picking enchilada and guessing the weight.

    in short, yes its way to obsessive. if its that important to you, might as well skip it
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    no, never...that is a little bit obsessive...just enjoy the night out and put a guestimate on it...

    not really.

    I have taken mine to all you can eat Brazillian- where it's meat all night!! (giggity). I don't think i'ts obsessive- I don't NOT eat because it's there- I just want to know how MUCH I'm eating. There is a difference I think in being attentive and wanting to know- because science- vs taking it so you can obsessive over every little bit- I just like knowing what I'm eating. I have a friend who weighs his rice at sushi (not the rolls- the bowl that comes on the side- they don't do rice rolls)

    I don't take it often- but I have. I have no shame.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    its going to be a lot more accurate at that kind of resturant.

    although, at this point, i'm sure your pretty good at guessing the weight without needing the scale.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    indeed. I agree with you though for the most part- go out and guestimate- I always put stuff in- I just grab the closest thing- even food I make- I can't be assed to put in my own reciepies LOL

    I still like to know- because well science.

    and yes- all you can eat brazillian- easiest way to use a scale going out- it's not so good at other places. <3 all you can eat meat. So amazing Picania is the best thing to ever happen to cow.

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