Not Being Able to Count Calories!

I go out to eat a couple of times a week and I usually just estimate. A lot of chain restaurants have pretty extensive menus online that you can use as a guideline. If I worry that I won't remember what I ate to estimate later, I sometimes take a picture "for Facebook." Or I just quick-add 800 calories in there and call it a meal. That last one is rare, but so freeing. I'm going on a cabin trip later this month and planning on doing all my tracking that way.

Estimate to the best of your ability and enjoy spending time with your family.

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Your overthinking things. Which is good because your new Sometimes you just have to relax and do your best. Cant be "perfect" all the time, But you can learn to estimate and make beter choices with the sometimes worse options placed in front of you.

I usually know what my family will be serving so I plan ahead "Okay, they'll be serving turkey, broccoli, brussels sprouts, rolls..." And I plan to load up on veggies and some meat, knowing that'll likely keep me in a comfortable calorie range.

I'd practice good portion control. Estimate and have a good time.

After adding foods for a while, you'll get pretty good at estimating. When you have extra time at home, take note of what different portion sizes of things looks like. For example, take an actual tablespoon of peanut butter and see what it "looks like," scoop out an exact 1/2 cup of yogurt into a bowl, weigh 4 oz. of cooked chicken breast onto a plate and note the size, etc.

One thing I always do when there's big mix of things, say, at a family function: snap a photo with your phone of whatever you've put on your plate. Then you can go back and reference it while adding to MFP so you don't have to do it in the moment (and you'll not have to worry about forgetting what you had).

In the end, one meal or day of estimating won't throw off your progress. Control what you can, but don't stress too much.

All of they above...but also, if able, choose what food you are eating. Have a plate full of salad, fruit, veggies whatever first before having a main dish, or have the veggeis take up most of the plate so the other food, which will be higher in calories than the veggies/fruits, won't have as much room.

Try to eat the plainer foods. Estimate servings and food type and do your best with recording. Try not to use the inability to accurately count calories at a family dinner or buffet as a reason to go wild with your eating!

I estimate as best I can. I also ask people for recipes and enter them into the recipe builder. I do this a lot with my mom and my mother in law. They often make the same foods for family gatherings so I have a better idea when I make my estimate even though I am just guessing on the exact portion size. I don't tell them I'm asking for the recipe to count the calories. Most people take it as a compliment when you ask for a recipe.

I just try and estimate, also google the charts that show you how much a serving of something is in relation to something you can eyeball so that you don't just get crazy. Like a serving of protein (meat) should be the size of your palm, etc. I also try to stick with protein and veggies in those situations. My boyfriend's family is Greek, so there are a lot of family dinners, thankfully they eat a lot of traditional Greek/Cypriot food which is in general pretty healthy so I feel confidant using those methods in those situations.