Restuarants, arghhh

RudivanDisarzio
RudivanDisarzio Posts: 2 Member
edited December 3 in Health and Weight Loss
So I'm sorry if this has already been posted before or something similar but one of my biggest problems with My Fitness Pal is eating out, travelling and weddings/events.
I try to limit these but sometimes you really have no choice.
I end up ruining my streaks whenever I go out to eat because I can't properly track the calories and then I get really demotivated.
Is there any advise from this forum about the best way to eat in restuarants/at parties/events?
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Replies

  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    Just enter in your best guess. Don't blame MFP, that's just silly.


    Is there more than just the log in streak that I'm not aware of?
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I'm confused. How would eating in restaurants, and not being able to find accurate calorie listings in the database (which frankly has never been an issue for me and I eat out fairly regularly) impact your log in streak? Or are you talking about a streak of being under calories or something?

    There is good advice in this thread:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10213155/a-guide-to-going-out-to-eat/p1

    But overall the most important thing to remember is that these are likely the exception, rather than the rule. It is the sum of all your efforts to monitor your calorie intake that matter, not just the handful of times each month that you go to a restaurant, have a wedding to attend, etc. These are all part of every day life, but they do not happen every day... finding a strategy to continue to enjoy these events while still achieving your goals is critical for long term success.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    We eat out a lot. I aim for protein and veg, without a lot of extra stuff.
    steak and veg
    chicken and veg
    fish and veg
    salmon caesar salad with the dressing on the side.

    It works for me virtually everywhere. Even Chinese (American) restaurants.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Why would it ruin your streak? You can still log, it's just that it will be more of an estimate than it is when you're eating at home.

    I eat out 1-2 times per week and never found that it impacted my progress too much. Just use common sense when ordering, use the internet to find calorie counts for the restaurant (or places that have similar sounding items), and log to the best of your ability.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I eat out moderately, once a week, normally Sundays, and it's not impacted my weight loss. I just log the closest thing and aim high with the calories. Plus, since I know I'm going to do this, I make sure my logging is really tight during the week and I also make sure that I'm giving my all in my workouts.

    Also it's very rare that you don't know when something is coming up. If you go out to dinner with friends, you made those plans in advance, so check the menu online and have a game plan before walking into the restaurant. I did that even when I wasn't logging b/c I'm a picky eater.

    Since you know it's going to be a high calorie meal, stick with 0 calorie beverages, unless you can fit a beverage with calories into your day without going over your calorie goal too much.

    Throw in an extra workout so that you can have a few more calories to work with. Shave off some calories during the week so you can have a few more calories to work with.

    If you weigh daily or your weigh-in falls the next day after eating out, realize that that spike is water weight. It will fall off in a few days.
  • Trish1c
    Trish1c Posts: 549 Member
    Make the best choices you can. Just because you are eating out doesn't mean you should have the appetizer with all the sauce or two desserts. Opt for protein & vegetables.

    Because we eat with our eyes, learn to recognize a portion size visually even when you don't have a scale. If you can't be trusted not to eat the double / triple portion that was placed in front of you, once you are served, cut your food in half. Eat one half & wrap up the other half to eat the next day.

    Whatever you do, don't stop logging. Just make the most educated guess you can & move forward.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    RudivanDisarzio wrote: »
    So I'm sorry if this has already been posted before or something similar but one of my biggest problems with My Fitness Pal is eating out, travelling and weddings/events.
    I try to limit these but sometimes you really have no choice.
    I end up ruining my streaks whenever I go out to eat because I can't properly track the calories and then I get really demotivated.
    Is there any advise from this forum about the best way to eat in restuarants/at parties/events?

    A lot of chains are in the database, otherwise, guestimate.
  • jdb3388
    jdb3388 Posts: 239 Member
    edited September 2016
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.

    Assuming you only eat at chain restaurants. I eat out about 3 times a week for a given meal. I'd say I eat at a chain restaurant (bigger than local) about three times a month.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.

    Assuming you only eat at chain restaurants. I eat out about 3 times a week for a given meal. I'd say I eat at a chain restaurant (bigger than local) about three times a month.

    Yeah, I would say that about 75% of my dining out is at non-chain restaurants where I'm having to estimate the calories and portions. This doesn't make it impossible, but it's more challenging than when I cook at home and know all my ingredients, portion sizes, etc.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    RudivanDisarzio wrote: »
    So I'm sorry if this has already been posted before or something similar but one of my biggest problems with My Fitness Pal is eating out, travelling and weddings/events.
    I try to limit these but sometimes you really have no choice.
    I end up ruining my streaks whenever I go out to eat because I can't properly track the calories and then I get really demotivated.
    Is there any advise from this forum about the best way to eat in restuarants/at parties/events?

    Eating out gets easier as you stick with this longer. I like to try and look up nutritional information if available and pre-log so I ensure I stay within my range for the day. If you can't find the restaurant information, stick with a grilled protein (chicken, salmon, even steak!) and steamed veggies or a house salad with dressing on the side. Those are your safest bets. Stay away from pastas, heavy cream sauces, etc.
  • ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken Posts: 1,530 Member
    I hate logging food from any restaurant. First of all I find that I have to either correct or search for longer than I have time for in order to get accurate info from the data base here. Rarely do I find something that is correct and easily found in the massive list. Also you have to just hope the employees at the restaurant are following specs with complete accuracy. I can't tell you how many times I have ordered and then had more sauce than usual, or a larger cut of meat or what ever. Having worked in quite a number of restaurants I know that they are not always on point. Any way, I don't go out to eat very much anymore. I would rather cook at home. It is far easier for me to measure out my own portions and log it, and I know my food is clean and what is in it for the most part.
  • jdb3388
    jdb3388 Posts: 239 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.

    Assuming you only eat at chain restaurants. I eat out about 3 times a week for a given meal. I'd say I eat at a chain restaurant (bigger than local) about three times a month.

    Yeah, I would say that about 75% of my dining out is at non-chain restaurants where I'm having to estimate the calories and portions. This doesn't make it impossible, but it's more challenging than when I cook at home and know all my ingredients, portion sizes, etc.

    Well, stop doing that and eat at chain restaurants if you want to have an easier time logging.
  • SueSueDio
    SueSueDio Posts: 4,796 Member
    Even at chains the info can vary because it's unlikely two chefs are going to make the same things in the exact same way or serve the exact same amount, even if they follow recipes. (Even the same person may do something slightly different day to day.) It's all best estimates.
  • jdb3388
    jdb3388 Posts: 239 Member
    SueSueDio wrote: »
    Even at chains the info can vary because it's unlikely two chefs are going to make the same things in the exact same way or serve the exact same amount, even if they follow recipes. (Even the same person may do something slightly different day to day.) It's all best estimates.

    Yea but you'll stress your self to death if you worry about every single calorie that goes into your mouth. If you just get as close as you can, maintain your self control, and be patient, you will come out just fine in the end.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I've eaten out one meal a week for almost 2 year plus events, holidays, overnight trip. Still logged food every day. Was I perfect and absolutely accurate every day? No. Still lost weight because most days I was accurate enough.
    If the restaurant food isn't in the database I find something similar to log from a different restaurant. It is a guess but better than nothing.

    The log in streak number is what you get for logging in to MFP not logging food or exercise.
  • SueSueDio
    SueSueDio Posts: 4,796 Member
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    SueSueDio wrote: »
    Even at chains the info can vary because it's unlikely two chefs are going to make the same things in the exact same way or serve the exact same amount, even if they follow recipes. (Even the same person may do something slightly different day to day.) It's all best estimates.

    Yea but you'll stress your self to death if you worry about every single calorie that goes into your mouth. If you just get as close as you can, maintain your self control, and be patient, you will come out just fine in the end.

    Yep, that was my point - it's all an estimate anyway, so don't worry too much! (And that eating at chain restaurants won't necessarily give you a better estimate.) Like others have said, if it's a local place with no info available, you can just choose something similar from the database and log that instead. Unless they're eating out like that every day, it's not going to hurt someone's long-term progress. :)
  • PennWalker
    PennWalker Posts: 554 Member
    RudivanDisarzio wrote: »
    So I'm sorry if this has already been posted before or something similar but one of my biggest problems with My Fitness Pal is eating out, travelling and weddings/events.
    I try to limit these but sometimes you really have no choice.
    I end up ruining my streaks whenever I go out to eat because I can't properly track the calories and then I get really demotivated.
    Is there any advise from this forum about the best way to eat in restuarants/at parties/events?

    My suggestions:
    -- Eat something before you go so you aren't starving and then eat light at the event.
    -- Save calories for the event.
    -- Walk around with a plate with stuff you leave on it so people are less inclined to push food on you.
    -- Or don't worry about it. I can't track the calories either. The logging in the end is just a help. Your body is the real world.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.

    Assuming you only eat at chain restaurants. I eat out about 3 times a week for a given meal. I'd say I eat at a chain restaurant (bigger than local) about three times a month.

    Yeah, I would say that about 75% of my dining out is at non-chain restaurants where I'm having to estimate the calories and portions. This doesn't make it impossible, but it's more challenging than when I cook at home and know all my ingredients, portion sizes, etc.

    Well, stop doing that and eat at chain restaurants if you want to have an easier time logging.

    To me, that's backwards as young domesticated cats. There's some great, nutritious, delicious foods non-chain restaurants
  • RhapsodyWinters
    RhapsodyWinters Posts: 128 Member
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.

    As someone who worked at Subway for a time before finding a full time job, this..is...not accurate. They 'guestimate' their portions. For the first batch of pre-portioning the chicken, they measure on a scale. Then they just use a scoop or handful (using gloves) and toss them in the little carton. The boss tells you 1 oz extra is acceptable, 0.5 oz less is acceptable as well.

    Trust me, don't just log what the website says. Aim a little higher just in case (or save half of your exercise calories for it)
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    jdb3388 wrote: »
    This is backwards as *kitten*. It's 1000 times easier to track when you go to a restaurant than when you cook at home. You just find the item and log it, you don't have to weigh anything or measure portions or any of that mess. If I could just eat out every single day that would make dieting so much easier.

    Assuming you only eat at chain restaurants. I eat out about 3 times a week for a given meal. I'd say I eat at a chain restaurant (bigger than local) about three times a month.

    Yeah, I would say that about 75% of my dining out is at non-chain restaurants where I'm having to estimate the calories and portions. This doesn't make it impossible, but it's more challenging than when I cook at home and know all my ingredients, portion sizes, etc.

    Well, stop doing that and eat at chain restaurants if you want to have an easier time logging.

    One of my favorite restaurants is a hole in the wall Chinese food place that has some of the most authentic food. Why would I want to deprive myself of that flavorful goodness b/c of logging? That's not sustainable. The point of calorie counting is to make it work for your life. Just log something similar to what you ate, aim high, and move on. It all balances out if you stay consistent.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,188 Member
    I eat out pretty regularly. I also live in a small town. There are about 12 restaurants here. 6 are fast food chain restaurants and the rest are local mom and pop restaurants. I always use the nutrition information from the data base (I compare it to the website the first time so I know it is accurate) and for the mom and pops I use entries from a similar chain restaurant and make my best guess. I didn't have any problems doing this and losing weight and so far it isn't causing me any issues in maintenance. There is no way I could stick to something that would not allow me to eat out to rat or to go to occasional family functions. As long as your logging is as accurate as possible most of the time you will be fine. And as others have said, logging your meals doesn't affect your streak. All you have to do to keep your streak is log into the site. I do recommend logging all your meals though. Your best guess is better than no guess.
  • beanjo020297
    beanjo020297 Posts: 16 Member
    For me, eating out is a treat. I never feel like a have to narrow down what I can eat to just salads. I order what I want. To prevent from over eating the delicious food, I eat slowly and drink A LOT of water. You notice that you feel full a lot sooner. I then just take what's left home and eat it for lunch the next day.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    It can be difficult but it isn't possible!

    If the MFP database doesn't have the restaurant in question listed, enter the food you are eating in the search bar and select the nearest alternative. This is going to be a complete guess and it's likely not dead on calorie-wise but I found it's better to log something 'near to' what you are eating, than not log at all.
  • oolou
    oolou Posts: 765 Member
    Try to eat simply when at a restaurant and then make your best guess. Avoid food with sauces and heavy dressings. It will become easier to guess as you become more proficient at recognising how much food weighs by sight from weighing food at home. I'm getting pretty good at guessing how much my chicken or steak weighs before I put it on the scale.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I had chinese for dinner last night. The restaurant is a family owned place so no nutrition data available. I still managed to log using best guesses from the database. No issues with my streak.

    Give yourself permission to not always be perfect. Getting mad and giving up is going to do a lot more damage than just logging as best you can and getting on with it.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    RudivanDisarzio wrote: »
    Is there any advise from this forum about the best way to eat in restuarants/at parties/events?

    Eat reasonable portions. Pay attention when you weigh and log food. Notice what a portion size looks like that fits your goals. Notice what kind of foods have a lot of calories- fried, breaded, creamy dressings, oils, high fat, high sugar- and limit or avoid those choices. Notice what foods satisfy you more.
    Choose food you really like rather than eating everything because it is there.
    If you know you are eating out, plan what you will eat. You can make a list of foods that fit your typical calories from restaurants you frequent.

    Get grilled or baked meats without sauces
    Fill your plate with salad or vegetables, have a side salad instead of fries
    Eggs, yogurt, oatmeal or fresh fruit can be good choices. Go easy on cheese, bacon, sausage.
    Try a thin crust pizza with less sausage, pepperoni, cheese with a side salad
    Eat less rice and bread with your meal
    Order a smaller amount, share a dish with large portions or take half home for another meal
    Check out the soup options.
    Use a light application of vinaigrette dressing, go light on condiments or butter
    eat veggies with small amount of dip instead of chips
    drink water or an unsweetend drinks
    Skip dessert or get a smaller dessert portion. Stuff that is deep fried, filled with nuts/nut butters, cream or covered in 5" of frosting are going to have more calories even if the portion is small. Be aware of that.
    Eat lighter the rest of the day or the days before or after. Eat at maintenance level that day.
    Bring low calorie food to share to a party.



  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    You know, it's all an estimate. When you cook at home and weigh ingredients to the gram, the estimate is more accurate, but it's still an estimate. (Does this spinach really have as much magnesium as the USDA spinach entry? Who knows, but it is close enough. Do I weigh egg yolks and whites separately? No, whole egg weight is close enough. Does a chardonnay have the same calories as a sav blanc? etc.)

    Just do your best estimate given your situation ATM. It's all any of us can do, really.
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