Here's a fun challenge for the day.
My wife and I are going to Five Guys for dinner tonight. The question is how to do it and not eat like a
kitten.
A quick consultation of the menu shows that my normal burger order from last year logs in at a whopping 1100 calories - The bacon cheeseburger with two patties, two strips of bacon, two slices of cheese, and ketchup on a sesame seed bun. Splitting a "regular" order of fries with my wife at a 2:1 ratio adds another 635 calories for a meal total of close to 1,750 calories.
Normally, I just wouldn't go and eat something at home, but this is a unique trip.
Five Guys offers a PDF that helps break down the calories:
- Beef patty(ea): 302 cals / 604 total
- Bacon (2 pcs): 80 cals
- Cheese (each): 70 cals / 140 total
- Bun: 240 cals
- Ketchup: 30 cals
- Regular Fries (2/3 order): 635 cals
Ok, that bun is crazy. I'm used to a good slice of Sourdough coming in a 140, so the first option is to ditch the bun and have them put it in a bowl. The cheese is just Kraft processed american cheese, nothing to write home about so I'll ditch that too and save another 140 calories. Then, we switch out the fries to a "little" order at 528 calories but split evenly I come in 265 calories in fries plus any ketchup if any. I'll keep up my hydration before hand so no beverage is needed.
The modified meal, if I still go with two patties for the extra protein, comes in at 1000 calories:
- Beef patty(ea): 302 cals / 604 total
- Bacon (2 pcs): 80 cals
- Ketchup: 30 cals
- Little fries(half): 280 cals
Now, I compare that to MyFitnessPal and see that I've eaten 452 calories out of my allotted 2,000 and will likely not eat again until dinner. Based on my exercise this morning and regular tracking, I expect to end the day having burned 3,500 calories. I don't typically "eat back" my calories which means if I eat the full 1,000 calories I still have 500 calories in the "budget" and be at a 1500 to 2000 calories deficit on the day depending on those last 500 calories. I typically run at a 1000-1500 calorie deficit per day and I know I will burn extra tomorrow with 12"-20" of snow coming in.
Is it "clean eating"? Not really. Can I do it and not feel terrible? Yes. Now, how do I spend those additional 500 calories...