Foods you thought had fewer calories and discovered they didn't when you paid attention

tomatoey wrote: »

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seltzermint wrote: »

I've never really been that into milkshakes, thankfully. But that's the biggest shocker for me that most of them, even small ones, have at least 600 and sometimes well over 1,000 calories. I guess in my mind, being almost totally ignorant of calories in beverages for so many years...I would have guessed that a medium fountain Coke had like 200-ish cal (pretty close to correct) and a shake, 300? 400? Not 970 or whatever!

Also, cheese. I don't mind "using" calories on mayo for a sandwich oddly enough but I almost never put cheese on anything anymore, such as burgers, salads, etc. And I now use it VERY sparingly on Italian, Mexican and/or Tex Mex recipes I make at home. It used to be such a staple, I barely even considered that it had calories (!!!) and I'd cover almost everything in shredded cheddar or mozzarella. Not anymore!

I think a lot of people eat more cheese than they think they do, and have no idea what it costs them calorically. The first time I saw what it was worth, I blanched.

Nuts, avocado, peanut butter surprised me ("healthy, what!!!").

Of the stuff I used to like that is kind of not great value, which shouldn't have been a surprise but was (just high, high, high numbers, all 1000+)
- Poutine
- Fish and chips
- Jerk chicken
- Indian food
- Burritos (at the place I used to like)

I'm not sure which burritos you liked best, maybe something more authentic...but this reminded me about how I used to hear so many people refer to burritos from places like Chipotle, Moe's, Freebirds, Qdoba as "a healthier option". I am sure in many ways they are. But calorically speaking, whoa. I do go to those places and usually get a naked burrito or other type of bowl. I don't think tortillas are bad or anything...but when I look up the calorie count it's just NOT worth it at all! In years past I really felt like I was eating light & healthy getting a chicken burrito at Chipotle. The calories in that makes me cringe now.

I convinced myself because I added fruit to chocolate ice cream it was healthy (so mortified with myself now). When I purchased my scales it was the first thing I weighed, that was when I realised I was never going to be grown up enough to give it 'houseroom'

Chia seeds. I tossed a handful in a smoothie once and logged it after the fact. ACK. Was not expecting that hit.

I used to enjoy snacking after work with crackers. .. All kinds.. Not picky! But now when I read the nutrition label, I was taking in more than a meals worth of calories mindlessly on crackers !!

I was really surprised at how many calories black olives have in them. I mean in the long run its not that much but for how small they are i didn't expect it.

BodyByButter wrote: »

Snapeas. Delicious, but same calories as chips.

OMG!! Seriously?? That is unbelievable. I never knew that.

- Dates - I am so surprised, I knew they would be calorie dense but was still surprised.
- Honey, same deal as with dates.
- Pre mixed coffee sachets compared to instant coffee + milk powder - I thought they would be similar but the pre mix has way more calories.

I still eat the honey and the dates because, well honey and dates are delicious especially in a smoothie with banana.

mavers1 wrote: »

Today, I went to Wawa and grabbed the salad I normally grab, I looked at the back of dressing packet and saw that the dressing alone was 210 calories! Wow, what you eat when you're not paying attention.

Does anybody have any foods that surprised you once you started paying attention to what you were eating?

*modified the title as language was confusing or uncomfortable for others

I got a salad from Marcos Pizza with ranch dressing--The dressing had 240 calories and 22 grams of Fat! I changed it to light italian dressing.

emilyc525 wrote: »

@tomatoey‌ - haha love how you USED to like the burrito place. Dang health ruining our fun with "mexican" food

haha that burrito is the size of a baby! I do have one now and then anyway

Trish12a wrote: »

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BodyByButter wrote: »

Snapeas. Delicious, but same calories as chips.

OMG!! Seriously?? That is unbelievable. I never knew that.

I think she means those Snappea Crisps. Not actual sugar snap peas.

MysticRealm wrote: »

Naan Bread.
I used to have 2 with my supper. Turns out they are 190 for HALF of ONE!! So I was having nearly 800 calories in JUST Naan Bread for supper.

I agree. Naan is a shocker.

Same with tortillas, actually. I buy and eat them still, especially some of the smaller fajita size ones, there's even a good flour variety called Mama Lupe's with ~77 cal per tortilla and I like those. But I used to throw together quesadillas and easily eat 4 tortillas (small ones)...would never do that now I realize it's so many cals. I'd rather just have 1-2 and fill 'em up with stuff instead.

Pasta and rice though...I was surprised to see those two named here. I guess maybe a lot of my friends really demonize both, so when I started really tracking my food on MFP I was pleasantly surprised at their calories and the macros associated with each of them. Surprisingly, I've always eaten pretty small portions of pasta & rice but the difference for me now (with MFP) is mainly the toppings/sauces I choose.

TheVirgoddess wrote: »

Muffins. The calorie count in them makes me sad.

This whole thread makes me sad... all the deliciousness and all the calories!

For me it was milk. I used to think a "cup" was the large thing I used for beverages.... nope.

I shudder at the number of calories I used to drink, let alone eat.

seltzermint wrote: »

I am a big fan of Steak N Shake when it comes to fast food diner stuff...used to get the Frisco Melt, no fries & water to drink. Then I realized it's 750 cal, and 53g fat (although I don't make a point to eat low fat that is a lot).

I still opt for no fries and water to drink when I go there...but getting a double steakburger no cheese (390 cal, 21g fat) or if I'm hungrier even a triple (510 cal, 30g fat) is just as good and just as greasy-indulgent and satisfying to me. So I can get a double, plus cottage cheese with pineapple and it's still not even remotely close to the Frisco Melt calories.

Totally had a Frisco with bacon, fries, and a cookie dough shake tonight for dinner. My caloric intake for the day is like 2 days worth now.

Spaghetti. Just shy of a cup cooked is a serving. I think that was my biggest downfall in the past. Cereal serving sizes too. Some of the salads at Trader Joe's are obscene, tasty as hell, but total calorie killers.

paulaviki wrote: »

I love the salads from Pret a Manger here in the UK. I am still shocked about this, but they display the calories for them in the shop, only these calories don't include the tub of dressing in the salad. They also don't tell you that's the calories minus the dressing, which I think is another 100-200 on its own. To me they should display the calories including dressing! Grrr!

They do give you the calorie count with and without the dressing online, so you can work out how much it is. Generally it is indeed anywhere between 100 and 200, which is why I never use the dressing, or just dip my fork into it.

Foods I was surprised by were edamame beans, blueberries, mango and pineapple, flaxseed, dried fruit, what a single serving of muesli really is (how does anyone live on that?!), avocado, hummus, falafel and doughnuts (which luckily I don't eat anyway but I loved them when I was younger).

Bread and agreed on sushi... even the regular stuff without sauce... one roll of maki, 350-400 calories. Yikes.