What do you eat while out?

sugarpeas
sugarpeas Posts: 56 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Help a girl out

I'm out often for a full day running errands, bopping around town. I have breakfast before I leave the house... Few hours go by and I'm hungry.

What do you eat when you are out & about? And how would your track if it isn't a chain restaurant?

This is what always stumps me. I'm not driving, so I'm walking lots, but don't have a fitbit currently so I can really gauge how much I've walked // burnt.

Replies

  • sugarpeas
    sugarpeas Posts: 56 Member
    Sorry - how would you track if it isn't a chain? * using phone.... Haha
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Tex-Mex, almost always. Otherwise, I'd rather eat at home.

    You can usually find comparable food and nutrition info online.
  • sugarpeas
    sugarpeas Posts: 56 Member
    I'd prefer eating at home as well. But Sometimes that's not doable
  • dmt4641
    dmt4641 Posts: 409 Member
    edited August 2015
    Starbucks has a lot of grab and go options that have nutritional info. If it is not a chain, you will just have a find an entry that is similar and try to make healthier choices (hopefully includes some fruit/veg).

    Edited to add: Also if you know you will out running errands during lunch and want to be more accurate, you can always pack a homemade wrap or something in your bag with a cold pack.
  • yweight2020
    yweight2020 Posts: 591 Member
    I stop and pick up a yogurt, I carry a sandwich like pb and j that doesn't require refrigeration, pick up a bagel and coffee at a Starbucks or one of their wraps or fruit salad if not from Starbucks a comparable place. Lots of places to eat that sell healthy choices where you don't have to break the calorie bank even if you don't know the calorie content, I use comparable calorie counts as the other poster noted. Try your best though to pack healthy snacks and a lunch when out, it will save you the headache of wondering or trying to figure this out, I carry almonds a piece of fruit and a bagel as I noted before if I'm going to be out longer than snack time and even my bottle of water or I'll purchase a cold drink while on the go if I don't want room temperature drink. Hope this helps, keep up the good work :o)
  • yweight2020
    yweight2020 Posts: 591 Member
    :) Suppose to be a happy face I don't know what that other face is sorry. :)
  • lindaloo1213
    lindaloo1213 Posts: 283 Member
    I take fruit or granola bars with me. I have small cooler I can pack yogurt and string cheese in. I dont like fast food much these days.
  • 04hoopsgal73
    04hoopsgal73 Posts: 892 Member
    If you know you'll be out all day plan ahead.. Pack some snacks & some lunch...plus you'll save on costs.
  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
    You know, my boyfriend brought me home a sweet chili grilled chicken wrap from McDonald's the other night. I'm not much for fast food, I've never really liked it much, and it makes me mad that my laziness in cooking led me to eat food I didn't even LIKE and that was a huge part of why I got fat. Any way... it wasn't bad. And at 360 calories, it fit right into where I keep my meals, in the 3-400 cal range. I won't do it all the time, but its nice to know its an option.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i eat what i want? i have most of the items i get from my usual restaurants constructed (as much as possible) in the database. not exact, but probably pretty close. chain stuff is easy. i eat out ALLLLL the time.

    find something comparable in the database or break it down as best you can.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    That sounds really fun honestly... lol. I miss going away all day to run errands and not having to take the car...I usually go back home for lunch, but otherwise, it really depends on what's available. .. I like Panera, personally, or I'd stop at a grocery store and check what they have available there (I know that some of them give calorie counts on their prepared foods, or they have salad bars too). You can check delis too, you can pretty much always pick up some chicken breast and veggies there.

    I sometimes have lunch with my husband and what I pick really depends on my appetite that day and how many calories I have left, but I've got anything from pizza to sandwiches, crepes, tacos... I just estimate in this case (but I'm getting pretty good at estimating).
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I typically have a day or two each week when I am on the road all day traveling to barns, and need to grab lunch along the way. I try to go for well known chains and get a sandwich at one of the following three in no particular order:

    Get Go
    Sheetz
    Subway

    Very occasionally and only when I know my burn for the day will accommodate it:
    McDonalds
    Arbys
    Wendys
    Burger King

    Knowing what my trip plan is for the day and what places are along the way at the point I will need food I choose ahead where I will stop and use the internet to look up menus and plan my meal. If I do go to a place that does not have on line information I again still try to play ahead. If that isn't possible I use the things I have learned on MFP to make a reasonable choice and log it as best I can by choosing similar items that are in the database.

    I try to always carry chilled water and Gatorade (I sweat a lot when I trim horses) with me so I don't have to buy drinks.
  • ChristineDoesKeto
    ChristineDoesKeto Posts: 8 Member
    My family owns a cafe that is mom and pop ish and doesnt have a "nutrition info" so when i eat there i estimate as close as possible with similar items. I figure as long as it isnt daily.. Guestimating is better than not logging at all
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    I like to eat at diners, two eggs, toast and butter is relatively easy to guess (I always add a few extra tablespoons of butter to account for extra oils they might be using). But chains are preferred since I can find their menus on line
  • sugarpeas
    sugarpeas Posts: 56 Member
    Definitely poor planning on my part today.
    I often will have sushi.
    Had a greek wrap today that was in the data base... so that's a score.
    Sometimes the brain just isn't working... was by a couple grocery stores today.

    I'll take your advice and grab some protein/granola bars and food for on the go.

    Live & learn...
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    sugarpeas wrote: »
    Sorry - how would you track if it isn't a chain? * using phone.... Haha

    Best guess.
  • coco_bee
    coco_bee Posts: 173 Member
    edited August 2015
    I basically eat what I want, for lunch a sandwich with protein mashed egg or something that doesnt contain too much sugar as sugar just makes me hungry for more and I practice mindful eating which stops me from overeating so by the time I get home, there are still more than enough calories left for my dinner but if I'm out for dinner, Subway or roast dinner w 3 veg, green tea to wash it all down.
  • rosej31
    rosej31 Posts: 189 Member
    McDonald Southwestern Salad Grilled chicken
    Chipotle Salad w grilled chicken
    Wendy's chili w side side
    Outback steak house
    Chinese food
  • Bshmerlie
    Bshmerlie Posts: 1,026 Member
    1. Sizzler 6oz steak lunch with broccoli
    2. Two chicken thighs from Pollo Loco
    3. There area few dishes at Panda Express that are pretty low in calories. Get the mixed vegetables instead of the rice or chow mein for the combo meal.
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    rosej31 wrote: »
    McDonald Southwestern Salad Grilled chicken
    Chipotle Salad w grilled chicken
    Wendy's chili w side side
    Outback steak house
    Chinese food

    American
    Mexican
    American
    Australian
    Chinese

    Except for substituting one of the Americans with something like Nepalese I think you have quite the cultural diversity.
  • shadowconn
    shadowconn Posts: 141 Member
    I have found that bacon salads from subway fit into my diet. Just be careful about sauces. Sweet onion is the lowest calorie other than straight vinegar.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    sugarpeas wrote: »
    Help a girl out

    I'm out often for a full day running errands, bopping around town. I have breakfast before I leave the house... Few hours go by and I'm hungry.

    What do you eat when you are out & about? And how would your track if it isn't a chain restaurant?

    This is what always stumps me. I'm not driving, so I'm walking lots, but don't have a fitbit currently so I can really gauge how much I've walked // burnt.

    Hi! I've been using MFP for 3 and a half months, and I've lost 37 lbs.

    When I'm out, I eat what I feel like, within my calorie limit. When I eat out, it's mostly pasta and/or seafood.

    If the restaurant isn't a chain restaurant, I usually enter individual components I've used before, or I just pick a chain restaurant's version of the dish I'm eating.

    As for the walking, I walk a lot and love it! I highly recommend getting a step counter. (I use the iPhone 6's Health app, but Fitbits seem to be very versatile and reliable too.)
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,841 Member
    sugarpeas wrote: »
    Help a girl out

    I'm out often for a full day running errands, bopping around town. I have breakfast before I leave the house... Few hours go by and I'm hungry.

    What do you eat when you are out & about? And how would your track if it isn't a chain restaurant?

    This is what always stumps me. I'm not driving, so I'm walking lots, but don't have a fitbit currently so I can really gauge how much I've walked // burnt.

    I bring stuff with me. A banana ... a little 100 cal crackers and cheese packet ... a granola bar ...


    If I were to stop to eat somewhere, I'd go to a bakery and have a veggie roll, or maybe a turkey roll.



  • amyepdx
    amyepdx Posts: 750 Member
    Think grocery store instead of fast food -deli, produce, yogurt.
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    amyepdx wrote: »
    Think grocery store instead of fast food -deli, produce, yogurt.

    No thanks!
  • DeterminedFee201426
    DeterminedFee201426 Posts: 859 Member
    I eat from any restaurant or store that has the foods i like while out ..I just log it to the best of my ability even tho i know iam not fully accurate ... I dont eat at chain places.. often while iam out ill just go grab 1 slice of pizza
    from a random pizza spot most the time and log it .I pick entries ranging 150-300 cals_
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    If your out and about , stop off at a store and buy some yogurt, fruit or veggies. most stores sell single serving salads in the deli department and or sub sandwiches like Publix. I try to avoid eating at places that do not provide nutritional information.
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    I take snacks with me - protein balls, banana, ziplock bags of nuts/popcorn etc. If I'm desperate, I'll get some sushi. There are some local cafes which have great salads. I really prefer not to waste eating out on convenience food while I'm running errands. I'd rather go out for a proper meal and have something delicious!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I echo the advice to pack along portable snacks. As for credit for all your walking around, how about turning on MapMyRun? You'll get an idea how many calories you are burning.
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