Just getting started
 

Hi I am new here
I have been calorie counting for four days now but I am struggling with what to cook and how to know how many calories are in a recipe unless I get it from a so called "diet cookbook". Am I going about this wrong and still trying to cook the way I use to or am I going to have to totally change the way I cook. I am use to eating spaghetti, and meatloaf, and things like that. I am pretty good about staying on track but just not sure what to eat. I love popcorn but then somebody told me it was high in fat. Any suggestions getting kind of frustrated. Im not sure I have done as well as I thought these last four days.

Popcorn can actually, from what I've heard, be a great snack as long as it's nothing like what they serve at the movies. You certainly don't have to change what you eat but I think how you make them is more the key and what gets put into them and how they're cooked, if that makes sense? I mean I know that lots of people say that you don't really have to give up anything to count calories, and that is true, but I just think especially with cooking it's better to just try to make recipes more healthy? Am I making sense? lol. I'm sorry I'm not good at explaining my thoughts.
I hope I helped, I'm going to let someone else tackle the calculating calories question, though.

Spaghetti is dangerous. Unless its whole wheat and your only eating a cup, but also not everyday. Try boneless skinless chicken. I like to cook things that are quick and pretty much have the calories on the back. I use mrs. dash's seasoning. Its salt free and i think no calories. I also personally stay away from ground beef because it is high in fat.

Some popcorn is ok for you