What do I do? Going to a restaurant that...
 

Doesn't have any nutritional information? I'm going to Margarita's tonight with my mom for her birthday but when I looked on the website they didn't have any information. I have like 900 something calories left (I save most for the afternoon/evening) I mean this is certainly enough for a meal but I know that some restaurants can top 1,000 calories and I don't want to go over. What do I do?

I looked for Margarita's in Maine and found this chain, is this it?
http://www.margs.com/

I'd avoid things described as cheesy or fried. Avoid things like sour cream, ask for cheese/guacamole on the side if it comes with a dish.

I tend to go for Fajitas in tex mex type places because they seem to be a safer bet and things tend to go on the side but I can also overdo it on the tortillas. It also looks like they have a little heart next to things that can be done low fat but you may have to ask (they list their quesadillas as heart healthy which uhh I somehow doubt).

If you drink, alcohol can also add up quickly, even virgin drinks can have a lot of sugar in them.

Do they have a black bean soup? One of my standard things to get at a Mexican restaurant is a bowl of black bean soup (no cheese) and a side of pico de gallo and 2 soft tortillas (whole wheat if they have them!). Makes a yummy, fairly low calorie, on plan dinner.

Do you like Shrimp? If so, then order the grilled shrimp skewers with a side salad (lime vinaigrette dressing on the side). It also comes with rice, maybe have them hold that or know that you will only eat 1/2 of it.

This is assuming that the menu nelie posted is the correct restaurant.

Yup, nelie, that's the one. I'm only 15 so no chance of any alcohol lol. I'm not a big fan of shrimp but I do like soup. I think I'll either settle on the soup or fajitas, thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I've been worrying about it all day.

I would down load the menu, pdf format, pick out something that looks good, and google in the comfort of my home average calories for said item. If I am not sure of quantity, I would call ahead to verify details. Enter the calories in my apps, and enjoy the evening and meal.

This is my SOP regardless of event. Be glad menu is online.

Keep in mind if you do corn tortillas the calories are significantly less. Depending on size and what not, of course, but a smaller sized corn tortilla is around 50-60 calories. Throw in some chicken, lettuce, onion and salsa and you aren't looking at a very bogged down meal IMO.

If you do a cup of black bean soup, no cheese / sour cream. I'd think you'd be looking at most 300 calories. The home made one I make for our family, ranges at 190 for 1 cup serving. I always over estimate restaurants hehe.

300 soup + go high at 70 per tortilla + whatever amount of chicken and veggies. I think you are under 900 and had a decent dinner.

I'm no expert though lol

I'm hoping this is in time for your dinnner, skip the chips and go with a salad of some sort. Also skip any mocktails and go with water, or if you think you have the calories to spare a soda.

Thanks to everyone again. Sadly I headed out a while before the final few posts but I did get the fajitas and I'm pretty sure it was within limit. I didn't have any chips or anything else like that, just my dinner. It turns out I did actually have 1,000 calories left and I'm pretty confident that I was within limit, but thank you everyone again. I was pretty worried before dinner last night, that's for sure.

SIL is filipino and he recently passed a test at work. Going to celebrate at a Filipino restaurant with no menu posted. I could call and try to negotiate a very different cuisine for me with a different accent.

So my last strategy is to eat very light and do my best with the menu. I have 756 calories left for today and I will need them all. But see how much better this is than just ordering whilly nilly. Attention to detail over the long term gets results.

Hi there!

I think you've done one of the most important parts by coming here and planning for what you're going to do.

Good luck with whatever decisions you make!