Does this work for you...It does for me.

My co-workers and I go out to lunch a few times a year for special events, birthdays, etc...So we are going to Chilis and I ALWAYS get the kids meal with the chicken breast and a veggie but had a taste for something different...

If I had not viewed the menu I would have did some harm...The nutritional content disgusted me so bad that I could not even think about eating some of the things that were on the menu... So after viewing it I am definitely sticking to the basics and am now looking forward to eating my kids meal later...

Example:

Pepper Pals Grilled Chicken and Mash

Pepper Pals Chicken Platter (Chili's Grill & Bar)

Serving Size: 1 grilled chicken breast; Calories: 150, Total Fat: 1g, Carbs: 4g, Protein: 27g

Pepper Pal S Side Mashed Potatoes (Chili's)

Serving Size: one serving; Calories: 120, Total Fat: 7g, Carbs: 14g, Protein: 2g

Compared to what I wanted to eat:

Quesadilla Explosion Salad (Chili's Grill and Bar)

Calories: 1260, Total Fat: 76g, Carbs: 84g, Protein: 59g

Cajun Chicken Pasta (Chili's Grill and Bar)

Calories: 1260, Total Fat: 67g, Carbs: 93g, Protein: 62g

MORAL TO DA STORY: Reading the nutritional menu helped me make a healthy decision andmaybe it will help you as well.

Heck to the yea!

you really want to trip out?  check out some fast food stuff - a reg Whopper vs. a Whopper Jr 

use www.mydailyplate.com to look up some stuff - you'll REALLY be like   LOL! 

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY...I am always late with EVERYTHING. OMG...Your birthday was the day of my surgery...how could I forget.

MS #1MM!
A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE VETS!   

Gurl I try not to look because it really does make you  sick. I always for some reason just habit I look around and see what everybody else is eating and I'm thinking to myself I sure they don't eat all that. Guess what THEY DO. No wonder we are one of the fattest countries.

Looking at the nutritional content will make me change my mind some time but not all the time.  I wi**** were all the time. Good for you for sticking with the plan.

Jumping Jehosephat, a nearly 1300 calorie salad!  I just told Faith in the accountabiity thread that a salad could not be that bad.  I had no clue I was that clueless. 

I do check menus and I avoid eating out without planning ahead first.  There is such a big calorie difference for everything.  Even simple stuff like two plain scrambled eggs:

At home 160 cal 2 extra large Egglands Best in a no stick pan with a little Pam

vs

240 cal for two eggs at Denny's 

I look for the 'lite' or 'low carb' menus with nutritional values when available.   

Quesadilla Explosion Salad (Chili's Grill and Bar)

Calories: 1260, Total Fat: 76g, Carbs: 84g, Protein: 59g

Cajun Chicken Pasta (Chili's Grill and Bar)

Calories: 1260, Total Fat: 67g, Carbs: 93g, Protein: 62g

thanks for the "reality check" !!!

Wow!  A salad that is almost my daily calorie allowance....crazy!

I guess different strategies work for different people.  I don't count calories.  It's too much work and it makes me feel like I'm on a diet. 

I do prioritize the order and amount of different categories of foods that I eat.  First meat, then vegetables and then a little bit of whatever else I want.  If it's a combo kind of dish, I pick over it and eat what I want.  That works for me and I don't feel deprived.