Who else looks up Calories when eating out?

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Replies

  • MD1978
    MD1978 Posts: 477 Member
    I definately look up calories before I go.....I went to IHOP yesterday....almost all of their normal meals are over 1000 calories! Luckily they have a couple "simple & fit" options under 600 calories.
  • CRenaeB
    CRenaeB Posts: 66
    Me,ME,Me. I have an app for that LOL.



    Whats the app? I look up everything. I made the mistake of ordering a burger not knowing the calories. When I got home I was able to find it and it was 1060 calories! I said to myself " NEVER again"!
  • JoeSzup
    JoeSzup Posts: 51 Member
    I do it. I need to look up what I'm eating, and need to know where it fits in my goals. As a result of this, I eat out much less often than I used to.

    If you have an Android phone, download the Fast Food Nutrition app. It gives the data on almost every fast food place you can think of.

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastfood.nutrition&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5mYXN0Zm9vZC5udXRyaXRpb24iXQ..
  • Vince_1964
    Vince_1964 Posts: 359 Member
    I check their on-line nutrition information before we go (but don't share with the server). This week went to Olive Garden with my daughter - by checking their info, I made better choices like soup instead of salad (saved 190 calories), chose healthier entree and ony ate about half. being aware of the calorie count just helps to make better choices!
  • lauraj023
    lauraj023 Posts: 1
    I try to look up calories before I go so I know what I'm going to get. Thinking ahead helps keep me on track. I usually just tell those that I'm out with (which makes them second guess their order haha). It's not the server's fault the food is loaded with calories and other crap, they don't make the food! :)
  • jmy1975
    jmy1975 Posts: 56 Member
    I do look them up if I can and know ahead of time. At chain restuarants I ask for the nutritional facts since they are required to provide them (like Cheesecake factory or Outback). Never shared it with the wait staff though. I have at times also asked for substitutions liek steamed veggies over sides of potatos and most places are ok with it and do a great job cooking the veggies.

    My fiancee hates it though so you are lucky that your husband is ok with it. I usually enter my food on my phone while we are sitting there and that bothers him since he doesn't like to think about how much he is eating. He just keeps skipping meals (which I have told him is not helping, but its what he wants to do).
  • amuhlou
    amuhlou Posts: 693 Member
    I always try to find the info online if I can so I have a plan going in.
  • scribe313
    scribe313 Posts: 103 Member
    I do the same thing. I can't go out and eat and not look the place up online and figure out what I can have. :noway: Most of the times I will cut back a little in the day, so I am sure not to go over my calorie goals for the day.
  • maggiepz
    maggiepz Posts: 141 Member
    I try to look it up a head of time. I've been burned too many times with what my expectations were and what was reality.

    I was really upset with Cracker Barrel a couple months ago and ended up calling Corporate because they don't have nutritional info listed on their web site. Even fast food isn't afraid to post their nutritional info for crying out loud! I ate from their low carb meal (don't even have it on their on-line menu) and what I got just didn't seem to ring true when using the calorie counters for net carbs when I got home. They just gave me the run around when I called and obviously if they are making specific carb claims they must have the info available.
  • love22step
    love22step Posts: 1,103 Member
    I don't have a smartphone, so I don't look up the calories until afterwards. Sometimes, I'm not pleased with what I find!
  • EchoOfYourPast
    EchoOfYourPast Posts: 459 Member
    Only since i started on MFP ....and i look the menu up before we go inside....
  • jaxbeck
    jaxbeck Posts: 537 Member
    Yes! Every time!!!!!
  • acstansell
    acstansell Posts: 567 Member
    I do it before I get there and before I choose just in case i change my mind.
  • rachaela06
    rachaela06 Posts: 167
    I look up the calories before we go, if I know ahead of time where we are eating. If not I do it at the restaurant. My husband is always shocked at how many calories, fat, sugars, etc. are in some of the foods. We were out recently and I looked at some of the deserts, no way was I eating something that was 50 grams of fat, not to mention the 220 grams of sugar, I don't have that much time to workout!!!
  • JessieArt
    JessieArt Posts: 275 Member
    If a restaurant has a menu and nutrition info online, I will look it up before I go so I get a rough idea of what is way out there and what is reasonable. I've never shared it with the server, though :)

    Me too. This is what I do. And, I try to find places that offer a 550 calorie and under selection (Applebees, Cheesecake Factory).
  • Mell00546
    Mell00546 Posts: 158 Member
    I always look up the nutrituonal value for restaurants before I go out and eat (BJ's Brewhouse, Sushi, Ruby Tuesdays). You name it. Just because something sounds healthy doesnt mean it isnt loaded with butter and fat.
  • ster81
    ster81 Posts: 249
    If it's planned then ill fast all day and eat whatever i want on the menu. If eating out was last minute, then ill look up the calories.
  • Saruman_w
    Saruman_w Posts: 1,531 Member
    I lookup calories pretty much everywhere. I get concerned about what to pick if I can't find calorie information at that particular place.
  • madyncaden
    madyncaden Posts: 290 Member
    I plan my meal before i even go out and do not look at the menu once i am there!! it has saved many weigh ins let me tell ya:)
  • ScottyNoHotty
    ScottyNoHotty Posts: 1,957 Member
    The S.O. doesn't like it when i'm on the computer during sexy time......
  • mississippi_queen
    mississippi_queen Posts: 474 Member
    What??? Everyone doesn't do this..... I was pretty sure they did lol
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I look it up if I know I'm going there ahead of time. I'm not going to sit in the restaurant googling nutrition info. I usually have about 1,000 calories left for dinner. Even the most calorific entrees would not generally be over 2,000 calories, and I'm only going to eat half of it.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I log everything, so even if there's no nutritional info (which is a rarity these days, and getting better all the time, thankfully), I will find something similar and err on the side of over-logging calories to be safe.
  • MariaAlbina
    MariaAlbina Posts: 130 Member
    I only go to chain restaurants so I know exactly how many calories are in the meal.
  • quixoteQ
    quixoteQ Posts: 484
    I'm surprised that so many people do this--I mean, I would love to be able to do it, but I don't understand how you do it. I guess if you go out to chain restaurants, then sure, you can get the info. But if you go to a local restaurant, the odds that there is nutritional info available anywhere are pretty slim.

    Not only that, but you can't really plug ingredient info just by reading a menu, since it is almost certain that they are adding cooking fat and huge amounts of sugar to everything and there seems to be no way to measure. Sure, you can ask a server, or the manager, but my guess is that the info you receive is either inaccurate or a simple lie.

    I went out for Mexican food the other night and thought I was doing myself a favor ordering some grilled shrimp and brown rice, since the menu seemed to indicate that neither was cooked with oily marinades. Well, the rice had obviously seen a sauteing, and the shrimp was so sweet that I knew the critters and been steeping in sugar of some sort.

    Eating out is a risk and/or a luxury, diet-wise.
  • Newmammaluv
    Newmammaluv Posts: 379 Member
    Always Always ALWAYS! I will look it up ahead of time if I can and if not I will try to find a guide there and if that doesnt work then I will look it up with my droid while we wait for our drinks.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I'm surprised that so many people do this--I mean, I would love to be able to do it, but I don't understand how you do it. I guess if you go out to chain restaurants, then sure, you can get the info. But if you go to a local restaurant, the odds that there is nutritional info available anywhere are pretty slim.
    I always wonder about this. People so often say "almost all restaurants list their nutritional info online", so I assume the people who say that mainly go to chain restaurants. Maybe they don't have a lot of local places in their area?
    Eating out is a risk and/or a luxury, diet-wise.
    I guess so... But it never stopped me from losing, and I go out at least twice a week, and mostly at local restaurants where I have no idea what the calorie count is.
  • TundraTed
    TundraTed Posts: 254 Member
    I do! I do!


    Funny Story, We went to Texas Roadhouse a month or so ago. I asked the server if she had nutrition info (so I wouldn't have to use my phone to look it up).

    Server comes back "We don't, but stay away from these rolls, they are about 400 calories a serving. The sirloin kabobs are a good low cal option".

    My Mother-In-Law responds "Great we haven't even ordered and I have already ate 800 cals. Thanks Ted, I would rather not know!!!"

    Now I get in trouble for asking. Ignorance is bliss.
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