What do I do?

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MusicKeepsMeSane
MusicKeepsMeSane Posts: 309
edited October 2024 in Motivation and Support
I'm supposed to go out with a friend to dinner tonight. The only problem with that is I can't measure my food or see the nutritional information of what I'm eating in a restaurant. Is there anything wrong with not counting calories for one meal or would it be better to just not go out? Opinions, suggestions? What would you do if you were me?

Replies

  • digitalsteel
    digitalsteel Posts: 374 Member
    I go out all the time, but then again I don't count calories, I just avoid sugar and grains.
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    have you checked to see if MFP has any items from the restaurant in its data bank?

    if not, have you checked out www.dietfacts.com to see if its there?

    if those 2 places don't work, have you looked for the restaurant on-line...sometimes they post a menu with calories.
  • kimclaws
    kimclaws Posts: 101 Member
    if it is a chain restaurant then you should be able to search and find the calories, if you are too worried, just watch your breakfast and lunch calories, and then you can afford more calories for dinner.
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Just try to guess as best as you can

    Enjoy life, don't avoid it because of calories :]
  • RollinDawg
    RollinDawg Posts: 235 Member
    Try to find it in the database, or another website. If you can't find it, don't worry too much....it's one meal. Enjoy yourself.
  • rakia2
    rakia2 Posts: 4
    Almost every web site has their nutrition info. Try the site and plan what your going to get ahead of time. Make sure you check the portion size.
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    you should go and enjoy yourself. check out the resturants website and see what they have, and try and generalize the calories in the database. also, guesstimate that something the size of a tennis ball is a cup. you've been doing this a little while, so you know what you should be eating. try and leave a little on the plate, but definetly enjoy yourself.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Just try to guess as best as you can

    Enjoy life, don't avoid it because of calories :]

    Ditto! Never let food control you - go, enjoy and make the best choices you can.
  • stritte14
    stritte14 Posts: 52 Member
    What works for me is looking online ahead of time at the menu and inputting the information into the food diary. Then I don't feel tempted to make really bad choices at the time of ordering and I can plan the rest of the day around that meal to stay as close to my caloric goal as possible. That being said, I definetly choose something I WANT to eat and I don't think there is any harm in enjoying a guilt free meal out once in a while.

    Have a good time!
  • KatyE213
    KatyE213 Posts: 447 Member
    You can't feel is if you are depriving yourself!! I eat out often but I make sure I eat a very light breakfast and lunch and exercise more that day. Common sense and experience tell you what are the best choices from the menu. Enjoy yourself! :smile:
  • drog2323
    drog2323 Posts: 1,343 Member
    it's life...you gotta live!

    try to ask the server for the healthiest thing on the menu - or try a stry fry with no sauce. I have found what makes a LOT of meals at restaurants higher in cals (sometimes) is just the sauce. you might save 200-300 cals right there.

    worst case - go for a big salad. and get oil and vinegar (or whatever dressing) on the side.

    have fun
  • mangorabbit
    mangorabbit Posts: 219 Member
    Pretty much same same as everyone before me has said.
    If you are willing to guesstimate, do it - there are also a TON of websites that will help you eyeball serving sizes, or how much a cup or X ounces of something is, often relating it to common objects (deck of cards, softball, etc).

    If you don't like the guessing of ingredients and whatnot - do some exercise and simply don't count that either. It is not a perfect system, but it can help you feel like you have sort of balanced things out!

    ...also, a fair number of restaurants can tell you what the estimated caloric value of dishes are if you ask.

    Most importantly, enjoy your evening with friends and don't let one meal out totally derail you, but don't let it control you either. The balance is something I think I am still working to find, but we can do it!

    ^_^
  • iuangina
    iuangina Posts: 691 Member
    Just go and eat. It won't hurt your progress to eat one meal where you don't know exactly how many calories you consume. I 'cheat' one day every week. You could always go workout extra hard before you go.
  • docHelen
    docHelen Posts: 198
    do your best to guess. simple foods are easiest to guess at. avoid sauces (usually have cream and butter and stuff) something like grilled fish or steak and ask for potatoes or rice instead of chips. you don't have to clear you plate either, if it's a bid portion eat the veg but just some of the meat . enjoy your night out, enjoy what you do eat and don't worry about what you don't
  • geraldm55
    geraldm55 Posts: 130
    yes go out, you can't stop living. the way I figure it, its a learning experiance. go out and keep track of what you eat and how much (best guess) enter in the information when you get home and see what it looks like. as you learn what's good to eat calorie wise and whats not it will get easier. the other thing is portion control and again that comes with time.

    Have a great time and enjoy yourself.
  • MusicKeepsMeSane
    MusicKeepsMeSane Posts: 309
    Thanks guys! I'm just going to guess about how much of what I eat. People in my family are diabetic so I've gotten used to how much something is just by looking at it! I'm going to try to enjoy myself, I just wish I knew where we were going before hand so I could check out the website. I'll just do the best that I can.
  • RBXChas
    RBXChas Posts: 2,708 Member
    I agree with pretty much everything that's been said - do your research and see if you can't plan a meal ahead of time - if you can't, go easy on your other meals and try to eat sensibly. You know what's good for you and what's not-so-good.

    I live in a city with a lot of great restaurants and few chains. As such, calorie information is hard to come by. I just do what I said above, take it easy on my other meals (the ones I can measure), and I either don't log or I just estimate my restaurant meal, which is sensible.

    It's just one meal; it's not going to derail you. I understand the anxiety involved with eating something you don't know the exact calorie content of, but with practice you will get better at reducing, then not feeling, that anxiety. You'll be fine :)

    Good luck, and enjoy your meal with your friend!!!
  • 1a1a
    1a1a Posts: 761 Member
    Definitely go out, if it seems like a lot of food, eat half and take half home. Get salad dressings on the side, stay away from creamy things and fried things. When you log it, guess as best you can what was in it and how much, that's what I do.
  • MusicKeepsMeSane
    MusicKeepsMeSane Posts: 309
    Well luckily the place we went had a website that had the nutritional information online as well as the portion sizes. so between that and knowing how much of what i ate i managed to get pretty close to the actual amount of calories i did eat. i had an alright time just kept worrying about what i was eating!
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