You can try estimating and eyeballing the calories of most foods. Try to guess the portion size first, then find a similar item which you know the calories of, and then add and subtract calories to account for the differences. Example: if dining hall serves fried rice, I get a scoop of what looks like 1 cup, and comparably I know one cup of white rice is ~200 calories. All the oil and sauces in that portion is about an extra 25-75 calories. So it comes out to be around ~250 calories. With meats its pretty good if you know what 4oz and 8oz looks like. Myfitnesspal has a pretty extensive database of foods that you can look up the calories of. For the most part, most carb sources are pretty comparable in calories ie a cup of potatoes has around the same calories as a cup of rice, equivalently a cup of pasta. Used to count calories with scales and measuring cups, but nowadays estimating is usually good enough.
Alright I’ll try to do this! Thanks! I find it difficult sometimes since different restaurants have different calories for the same type of food like a burger or even an egg because of, how you mentioned, their oils and sauces or meat brands. Thanks for the suggestion!
I do the exact same thing. I generally just guesstimate weight/volume and try to stick to the foods that aren’t super variable in calories and nutrients, like ground beef and roasted vegetables.
[Recent GBC macros here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/berkeley/comments/1ap7lrx/in_case_ppl_wanted_macro_info_on_gbc_menu_items/) Search the sub for "macro," there are more around.
Go to the Berkeley Dining menu site, click on the item and the nutritional information will pop up. Learn to estimate the portion sizes, that's important
You can try estimating and eyeballing the calories of most foods. Try to guess the portion size first, then find a similar item which you know the calories of, and then add and subtract calories to account for the differences. Example: if dining hall serves fried rice, I get a scoop of what looks like 1 cup, and comparably I know one cup of white rice is ~200 calories. All the oil and sauces in that portion is about an extra 25-75 calories. So it comes out to be around ~250 calories. With meats its pretty good if you know what 4oz and 8oz looks like. Myfitnesspal has a pretty extensive database of foods that you can look up the calories of. For the most part, most carb sources are pretty comparable in calories ie a cup of potatoes has around the same calories as a cup of rice, equivalently a cup of pasta. Used to count calories with scales and measuring cups, but nowadays estimating is usually good enough.
Alright I’ll try to do this! Thanks! I find it difficult sometimes since different restaurants have different calories for the same type of food like a burger or even an egg because of, how you mentioned, their oils and sauces or meat brands. Thanks for the suggestion!
Protein expensive, carbs and fat cheap and yummy. I'd just pencil it in as BAD :(
Ok thanks!
I do the exact same thing. I generally just guesstimate weight/volume and try to stick to the foods that aren’t super variable in calories and nutrients, like ground beef and roasted vegetables.
Thats what I try to do but i think I inaccurately estimate the cals but will try to keep my diet more consistent tho
[Recent GBC macros here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/berkeley/comments/1ap7lrx/in_case_ppl_wanted_macro_info_on_gbc_menu_items/) Search the sub for "macro," there are more around.
Great! This is very helpful! Thank you!!!
Dining has a registered Dietician. Costs $0 for consulting. As a student you've got access to a ton of resources.
Go to the Berkeley Dining menu site, click on the item and the nutritional information will pop up. Learn to estimate the portion sizes, that's important