I went out to brunch with my husband. I was debating what to eat because I wanted something filling but lower calorie. I got a “lean machine” power bowl without dressing, assuming it would be less calories than a breakfast item.
I ate about 2/3 of the bowl before I got full and thought it was maybe 400 calories. My husband (who previously lost 100+ lbs and has kept the weight off) thought that was a generous estimate and guessed it was less because I left some over. I decided to try and log it myself. 625 calories. We were off by more than 200. I also got a skim latte because I thought it would be 600ish total. So overall my brunch was 800 more or less, and if I had finished the whole bowl it would’ve been closer to 1000. That’s fine as a treat, but we just recently had a lot of food since my mom came to visit. So I was not expecting this.
Before I was logging actively I would’ve thought I ate pretty healthy and had a bigger dinner instead of smaller. I am SO appreciative of my app and love to rely on it.
I am learning that home cooked food is so much better than eating out for “healthy” food. It can taste better and is definitely more healthy. 1200 is definitely plenty when you are aware of calories and making more filling, less calorically dense choices. I’m definitely gonna try to log everywhere I go now, and of course try to go out less.
by simplyikhanic
28 Comments
Ways to improve: Halve the avocado or skip altogether. Or just don’t finish the bowl.
There is also often hidden oils like to cook the fish and mushrooms.
Where is this from?? Looks good!
I think it’s that whole just because something is healthy, doesn’t mean it’s low calorie. Salmon and avocado both have lots of good, healthy fats though so it’s a good splurge
I would say to log things before you eat too. Because after the fact you can’t make any decisions, you’re just recording the “mistake”
It gives you a lot of power lol
Whenever this happens, all I can think is “I should have just had the freaking burger.”
These aren’t calories to feel bad about. It’s all healthy fats and lots of fiber. The calories may be higher, and you can always adjust calories at dinner, but ultimately you were good to your body today.
You know the “power” in that power bowl? It another word for calories. Surprise!
What app is this?
Looks like a pretty filling meal for 625 calories, I’ll be honest. That plus dinner and I would be satisfied, but everyone is different.
Its brunch right, so its two meals. 800 out of 1200 is LITERALLY 2/3 of your calories. So it lines up perfectly. Plus, everything is extremely high in nutrition, so it is satiating and good for you. If you really just must drop the calories off of it, I guess you could do without the Avacado, but I dont think its necessary.
correction: it would be better to drop the sweet potatoes just cause the macros on Avacados are significantly better. Again, dont think you have to though
This isn’t so bad? I would’ve removed the avocado and the whole meal would be 511 which is about what I enjoy for lunch everyday. I split the rest between breakfast and dinner, usually dinner is light cause lunch is so filling.
Rule of thumb. Salmon is not a low calorie fish. Is it reasonable? Yes. Its about 20% more calories than chicken breast.
625 is pretty good, lots of healthy fats there
That’s a great meal, with a black sweetened coffee. We’re you satisfied after eating this meal? You can have the same amount of -total solid food calories- calories for dinner (no latte, never latte) and lose weight
Honestly not bad for the amount of dense nutrition you’re getting from it. Not to mention how filling they tend to be.
You’re having half an avocado… I’ve stopped eating them as they either go off or I go way over on calories
What tracker are you using?
A few months ago we got our weekly takeout and I got a salad bowl from Cava, filled with delicious, healthy, nutrient dense ingredients, and husband got a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and large fries. Logged it then logged his meal for comparison – 85 calories difference 😑
I’m always amazed when I log after the fact. It’s always a lot more than I think it should be. It’s why when I’m really trying to lose weight (I’m pregnant at the moment so I’m taking a break) I always log/count before I make something, or before I eat something out- just so I can be more mindful and make an educated decision! Because if I log after I’ve eaten and it’s more than I thought then I sort of screw myself for the rest of the day!
48g Protein to 20g of Fat is dang good though.
I wonder if they use extra virgin olive oil to cook, since its a health bowl? In that case you could skip the avocado for healthy fats and it would be a lot less calories
Yep, this is why I roll my eyes in my head whenever someone says they eat healthy and aren’t losing weight.
Yes unfortunately mainstream food is very expensive on calories. Once you make this realization, that knowledge can really help you shed extra weight.
But the downside is that you can never go back to looking at calories in the same way again.
What app is this? I kind of love the formatting. I’ve been using myfitnesspal because it’s all I know but I will confess it’s a little annoying to navigate with all the paid for premiums they have these days.
Raw portobello mushrooms may be carcinogenic
Worse news, it probably wasn’t pink salmon as pink salmon is pretty lean and restaurants tend to use fattier breeds for flavor. A 4 oz serving of Farmed Atlantic salmon is 60 calories more than pink and king salmon is 100 more.