eating out

linnipooh
linnipooh Posts: 4
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I have just started this tracking programme (i'm on day 4). I have a family event tomorrow evening where I will be eating out at a pub. I will relax my rules a little and enjoy myself as this is about finding something that works for life, not a fad diet. However, I would still like to track what I eat so that I can have an idea of my calorie/nutrient intake tomorrow. I'm wanting advice on how to track a meal when eating out please?

Replies

  • mamichula1173
    mamichula1173 Posts: 25 Member
    I look up the restaurant online to see if there is nutritional info. If not, I stick to chicken or fish, and do my best to guess. You can also get whatever you like, and ask the waiter for a to go box as soon as you get it. Take half home, and enjoy your dinner out.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    edited March 2015
    mamichula1173 wrote: »
    I look up the restaurant online to see if there is nutritional info. If not, I stick to chicken or fish, and do my best to guess. You can also get whatever you like, and ask the waiter for a to go box as soon as you get it. Take half home, and enjoy your dinner out.

    +1 to the bolded.

    Also, OP, try to take a food pic (so stupid, I know). It will help you remember what you ate and give you an idea of portion size. Something about enjoying a pub with friends makes my memory a little hazy. Not sure why...
  • beamer0821
    beamer0821 Posts: 488 Member
    ditto others
    i also don't just try and stick to "diet friendly food" like you said enjoy. so what i do is i order what i really want and if it happens to be something that is more than likely high calorie i eat 1/2 and pair with steamed veggies. and i break down the food in MFP. like if i had a cobb salad. ill estimate each ingredient and log individually in MFP.
    all you can do is estimate and thats good enough.
  • linnipooh
    linnipooh Posts: 4
    thank you all, I just don't see the point in ordering a salad. Don't get me wrong, I like salad but if I'm paying good money for a meal I want to enjoy it and get something I really like. I will be sensible though as I'm feeling very motivated and looking at the bigger picture - or should I say hopefully soon to be smaller picture...
  • beamer0821
    beamer0821 Posts: 488 Member
    and as you log and eat more you'll get a feel for whats an 1oz of meat, cheese, bread etc
  • missmegonline
    missmegonline Posts: 15 Member
    Sometimes you would even be horrified by the calorie content of salads! You have some great advice going so far. Hope you enjoy!
  • beamer0821
    beamer0821 Posts: 488 Member
    you have a great healthy approach i think. and in my opinion thats 1/2 the battle.
    linnipooh wrote: »
    thank you all, I just don't see the point in ordering a salad. Don't get me wrong, I like salad but if I'm paying good money for a meal I want to enjoy it and get something I really like. I will be sensible though as I'm feeling very motivated and looking at the bigger picture - or should I say hopefully soon to be smaller picture...

  • EmmaFitzwilliam
    EmmaFitzwilliam Posts: 482 Member
    I eat what I want to, record it, and move on. By chance, I had the opportunity to have dinner at an unexpectedly nice fine dining restaurant, and enjoyed every calorie in the entire serving of Chicken Genovese, and 1/2 of the chocolate mousse for dessert. I looked up the Chicken Genovese in the database, and selected a count that met my rough ideas of the calories. (The database is notoriously full of W.A.G. numbers on some things; I look for the data that best fits my experience and what I know about what I ate.)

    I was 500 calories over the goal for the day. Life goes on. It's about trends, not days.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    EmmaFitzwilliam wrote: »
    I eat what I want to, record it, and move on. By chance, I had the opportunity to have dinner at an unexpectedly nice fine dining restaurant, and enjoyed every calorie in the entire serving of Chicken Genovese, and 1/2 of the chocolate mousse for dessert. I looked up the Chicken Genovese in the database, and selected a count that met my rough ideas of the calories. (The database is notoriously full of W.A.G. numbers on some things; I look for the data that best fits my experience and what I know about what I ate.)

    I was 500 calories over the goal for the day. Life goes on. It's about trends, not days.

    Had to think about WAG for a second. You're so right.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I know other people track a night out but I don't. Once a week my SO and I go out and I eat whatever I want, including dessert. As long as your calories for the week are still under you'll still lose weight.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited March 2015
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    EmmaFitzwilliam wrote: »
    I eat what I want to, record it, and move on. By chance, I had the opportunity to have dinner at an unexpectedly nice fine dining restaurant, and enjoyed every calorie in the entire serving of Chicken Genovese, and 1/2 of the chocolate mousse for dessert. I looked up the Chicken Genovese in the database, and selected a count that met my rough ideas of the calories. (The database is notoriously full of W.A.G. numbers on some things; I look for the data that best fits my experience and what I know about what I ate.)

    I was 500 calories over the goal for the day. Life goes on. It's about trends, not days.

    Had to think about WAG for a second. You're so right.

    Not getting it. Fill me in. Edit: Nevermind: Wild *kitten* Guess, right?
  • linnipooh
    linnipooh Posts: 4
    thank you all for your great advice. I have just had a look at the menu where I am going and there are some great choices that I will enjoy but wont break the bank too much. Just depends on the portion sizes I guess, but like you say, I can always leave some!
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    EmmaFitzwilliam wrote: »
    I eat what I want to, record it, and move on. By chance, I had the opportunity to have dinner at an unexpectedly nice fine dining restaurant, and enjoyed every calorie in the entire serving of Chicken Genovese, and 1/2 of the chocolate mousse for dessert. I looked up the Chicken Genovese in the database, and selected a count that met my rough ideas of the calories. (The database is notoriously full of W.A.G. numbers on some things; I look for the data that best fits my experience and what I know about what I ate.)

    I was 500 calories over the goal for the day. Life goes on. It's about trends, not days.

    Had to think about WAG for a second. You're so right.

    Not getting it. Fill me in. Edit: Nevermind: Wild *kitten* Guess, right?

    That was my assumption.
  • linnipooh
    linnipooh Posts: 4
    MeganMoroz89 wrote: »
    Completely off the topic OP, but I love your iron throne profile pic
    Thanks! Was one of the lucky ones to get tickets to the exhibition a couple of weeks back x
This discussion has been closed.

Categories