Eating out and calorie tracking

chrisbuk
chrisbuk Posts: 7 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi
I might be off to a steak place this weekend so I checked their website and has stacks of allergen and nutrition info, but no calorie count :(
What’s the best way to estimate the total?
I guess even if they put values it’s an estimate anyway but still
I’m on around 1200-1500 cals a day for last 2 weeks on Huel shakes and bars with chicken/fish salad or veg at night, so will just blow it on this day by a big margin I assume

Any tips or tricks would be welcome
Thanks
Chris

Replies

  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    Assuming you are thinking of getting a steak...Most steak places list the weight of their steaks in ounces. This can be helpful in tracking. Steakhouses tend to be relatively easy to estimate as they tend to have pretty basic ingredients...meat, potatoes, vegetables. You’ll never be exact, but you can get an idea.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    use a similar restaurant. if it's kinda like a texas roadhouse-use that.
    doing this once in awhile is fine. using your best guesstimate
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    Assuming you are thinking of getting a steak...Most steak places list the weight of their steaks in ounces. This can be helpful in tracking. Steakhouses tend to be relatively easy to estimate as they tend to have pretty basic ingredients...meat, potatoes, vegetables. You’ll never be exact, but you can get an idea.

    This...

    Or just use a similar entry from the database and guestimate as best you can. I didn't and don't eat out that often, so I didn't fuss too much about it when I was losing weight. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good or good enough. What is going on most of the time is what is important.
  • imabeevampire
    imabeevampire Posts: 166 Member
    It's a treat, you're not doing it daily so just use MFP and search the foods you're having based on a generic food establishment. I know the feeling as the steak place Im going for valentines has no calories on their website x
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Whenever you eat food you didn't cook yourself, you cannot know exactly how many calories are in it. The best you can do is estimate. Log your best, honest estimate of what you think you ate by using database entries for similar foods. Enjoy your meal and move on.
  • Luke_rabbit
    Luke_rabbit Posts: 1,031 Member
    edited January 2020
    This may not be helpful, but I always start my order by telling the food server that I have a very sensitive stomach (true). Then I ask if a particular food can be grilled or steamed totally plain/naked - no oils, butters, seasonings, sauces, etc. Usually the answer is yes. I always end by thanking them and asking them to thank the chef for helping me out.

    A side benefit (beyond the lower chance of pain after eating) is that It's a lot easier to estimate calories on plain food.
  • gallicinvasion
    gallicinvasion Posts: 1,015 Member
    I second everyone who says just make your best honest estimate. Steaks will usually have an ounce measurement on the menu, so you can pick a reasonable MFP entry for steak (prepared the way it’s described on the menu). Then add a tablespoon or so of butter because restaurants almost always sear steaks in lots of butter. Get a yummy vegetable on the side, and enjoy!

    Also, decide in advance whether you will have a small plate of some appetizer, or alcoholic drinks, or a small dessert, or a piece of bread and butter before the meal comes out. Nothing wrong with going over your calories on one day every so often, but it’s always good to go in with a plan so that you stay mindful (even if your plan is to go over!)
  • chrisbuk
    chrisbuk Posts: 7 Member
    Ok thanks for all the responses :)
    Yeah I’m finding watching the calories can get a bit obsessive but as long as this is only once a month or every 3 months or so it should be good.

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