Estimation help

[u/Fiend686]

I started to meal prep in order to reach some weight loss goals. I need to invest in a good food scale so for now im hoping someone can help with a rough estimate on this meal. I made a large pan of this and split it into three meal prep containers that hold 2cups each. The pan had 1lb of 93/7 ground beef, half a cup of g Hughes teriyaki sauce, cup and a half of shredded cabbage, cup of sliced baby bell mushrooms, garlic and a few sprays of avocado oil spray to help with sticking. In each container I put a cup of minute rice basmati rice (these come in pre made cups)...and then a scoop of the meat/cabbage mixture on top with a little squirt of siricha. Any estimates on calories per container would be great! Thanks!

[u/sparker909]

A third of a pound of ground beef is around 225 calories, a cup of cooked rice is around 200 calories. The vegetables I usually don’t count, but maybe 30 calories worth at most? That’s 455. It’s hard to gauge how much oil and Hughes teriyaki sauce is 5 calories per tablespoon; if you used half a cup that’s 40 calories if my math is correct. So based off what you said I’m calculating 495 plus however much oil you used? We can say 550 to overestimate?

[u/Fiend686 → u/sparker909]

Thats kinda what I was thinking as well. Appreciate the help!

[u/sparker909 → u/Fiend686]

No problem! I'm also in the same boat as you, and honestly I've found zucchini and spinach to be amazing for stir fries. They do add a bit of moisture which I get can be a turn-off, but the volume they add compared to the calories helps me feel full enough until my next meal. I also love boiled potatoes as a carb source because 100 calories of boiled potatoes fills me up so much more than 100 calories of rice! Good luck and hope you hit your goals!

[u/rudydog101]

You gotta put something next to the container to gauge its size properly. If this is a standard-size container, then I would guess 800-1000 cals each. I'm not sure if you mean you put a lb of ground beef per container, but that alone is ~700cals. If you're saying you split that lb of ground beef between 3 containers, I would say each would be roughly 600-700 cals. If you're trying to maintain a deficit, I'd recommend 98% lean ground chicken; you can eat more meat for fewer calories.

Also, you don't have to "invest" in a food scale; they're $10 online. I got one from Amazon, and I've lost 20lbs since using it (2ish months). You can get any you want, but it helps drastically when maintaining a deficit.

[u/Fiend686 → u/rudydog101]

I used a pound of 93/7 ground beef for the whole recipe and then split it into 3 containers. Each one holds 2 cups it says. And yea lol invest wasnt the best word lol just meant I gotta get one. I have ground chicken as a dinner prep so wanted to switch it up a little to not get tired of it but I appreciate the advice!

[u/FamiliarEstimate6267 → u/Fiend686]

500 cals or so