Please calculate the total calories for these three groups of foods:


Group 1
-------
2         Taco Bell soft chicken tacos
1         Taco Bell double decker taco
2    tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
1    tbsp margarine
1.5  cups pasta sauce (note: any generic, store sauce is fine)
5    oz.  vermicelli (uncooked weight)
3    oz.  lean ground turkey (uncooked weight, 7% fat)
6    oz.  Yoplait 99% fat free strawberry-banana yogurt

Group 2
-------
3    cups lettuce
1/8  cups cucumbers
1/2  cups tomatoes
1/4  cups carrots
3    tbsp chives
4    tsp  ranch dressing (again, generic ranch dressing is fine)
1         slice of french bread
1/2  tbsp butter
2    tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
1    tbsp margarine
1.5  cups pasta sauce (note: any generic, store sauce is fine)
5    oz.  vermicelli (uncooked weight)
3    oz.  lean ground turkey (uncooked weight, 7% fat)
1          banana
1/2        apple
2    oz    Dorito's Baked Tortilla Chips
              (note: about 240 calories, unless you find different)

Group 3
-------
1    cup   2% (reduced fat) milk
1          Subway (restaurant) 12" turkey sub with no cheese or
condiments
3    tsp   mayonnaise
3/4  cup   green beans
1/4  cup   shredded cheddar cheese
2    tbsp  sour cream
1    tbsp  butter
1          large baked potato (no toppings)
11   oz.   filet mignon steak (pre-cooked weight)


If any ingredients have variable calories (e.g., pasta sauce comes in
a lot of varieties), just try to pick something reasonably generic.  A
bridge won't collapse if you're off by 10%

Thanks in advance!

Hi tamkins,

Thanks for the question. It definitely made me think about what I was
having for supper tonight -- you'll understand when you see how I
calculated some of the calorie counts. A nice salad is now on my menu.

Here are the summaries for your groups. The details and sources follow
them.

GROUP 1     2258   calories
GROUP 2     1717.8 calories
GROUP 3     2349   calories

If you need anything further, please use the Clarification of Answer
button before making your rating.

Bon appetit!
revbrenda1st

GROUP 1:

2         Taco Bell soft chicken tacos        370 cal X 2 =  740

1         Taco Bell double decker taco                    =  380
Calories in Tacos: Mexican Fast Foods
http://www.annecollins.com/calories/calories-tacos.htm

2    tbsp shredded parmesan cheese                        =   55
(from the package I have in my fridge)

1    tbsp margarine                                       =  120
"Each tablespoon of vegetable oil contains 120 calories"
Calorie Chart and Table For Calorie Content of Oils
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/oils.htm

1.5  cups pasta sauce                                     =  228
(Catelli Gqarden Select jar in my pantry)

5    oz.  vermicelli uncooked                             =  442.5
Conversions For Weight Measurements
http://www.sciencemadesimple.net/EASYweight.html

Calculation:
22 Grams equals 0.776027 Ounces (avoirdupois) 
22 grams raw = 4 oz cooked
from Diabetic Diet
http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientInfo/DiabeticDiet.asp

1 oz = 22/4 =  5.5 grams X 5 oz. = 27.5 grams
4 oz. cooked vermicelli = 338 = 84.5 per oz.              
5 X 84.5 = 442.5 cal.
Calorie Chart and Table for Calorie Content of Grains!
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/grains.htm

3    oz.  lean ground turkey (uncooked weight, 7% fat)    =  127.5 
Ground Turkey or Chicken
http://www.shadybrookfarms.com/products/ground_turkey.htm

Calculation:
4 oz. = 170 cal  /4  = 42.5 cal per oz. = 3 X 42.5

6    oz.  Yoplait 99% fat free strawberry-banana yogurt   =  165

Calculation:
4 oz. = 110 cal 
110/4 =  27.5 per oz. X 6 oz. = 165 cal.
Six Packs - Nutrition
http://www.yoplaitusa.com/foryourhealth/sixpacknutrition.asp

GROUP 2

3    cups lettuce                                         =   45

1/8  cups cucumbers                                       =    1
This got tricky. An 8 inch cuke has 15 calories. I chopped
up a 1/2 of one to measure 1/8 cup to see how much I used.
I'd say you're looking at maybe 1 calorie. 

1/2  cups tomatoes                                        =   15
Measured my tomato here. One medium tomato = 20 cal. I needed about
3/4 of one.

1/4  cups carrots                                         =   11
Calorie Chart and Table For Calorie Content of Vegetables
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/vegetables.htm

3    tbsp chives                                          =    0
"Herbs are also helpful for weight loss. Fat-free and calorie-free,
they make excellent substitutes for higher fat flavorings like butter
and cream."
Fresh Herbs - Diet & Weight Loss
http://www.annecollins.com/Weight_Loss/fresh-herbs-diet.htm

4    tsp  ranch dressing (generic)                        = 212.8 
Calorie Chart and Table for Calorie Content of Dressings!
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/dressings.htm
Calculation:
4 tsp = 1.33 tbsp
2 tbsp = 160 cal.
160 X 1.33 = 212.8

1         slice of french bread                           =   70
1/2  tbsp butter                                          =   60
2    tbsp shredded parmesan cheese                        =   55 
1    tbsp margarine                                       =  120
1.5  cups pasta sauce                                     =  228
5    oz.  vermicelli (uncooked weight)                    =  442.5
3    oz.  lean ground turkey (uncooked weight, 7% fat)    =  127.5
1          banana                                         =   80
1/2        apple                                          =   30
Calorie Chart and Table For Calorie Content of Fruit!
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/fruit.htm
2    oz    Dorito's Baked Tortilla Chips                  =  220
(You get a break from the 240 here according to the following site.)
funfactarchives
http://www.kidfitness.org/funfactarchives.htm


GROUP 3 
 
1    cup   2% (reduced fat) milk                          =  120
Calorie Chart and Table For Calorie Content of Milk
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/milk.htm

1   Subway 12" turkey sub with no cheese or condiments    =  289
Okay, using two sites, one of which lists the bun size, I get the same
count if you go by the whole wheat bun version.
Fast Food Calorie Chart
http://www.newsandjava.com/fastfoodchart.htm#subway
The above site lists condiments separately for calories, so it appears
the calorie count is for a plain version.
The corroborating site is:
Women Fitness Calorie Counter
http://www.women-fitness.com/caloriechart.htm

3    tsp   mayonnaise                                    =  110
Calculation:
3 tsp = 1 tbsp
2 tbsp = 220 cal. 
1 tbsp = 110 cal.
Calorie Chart and Table for Calorie Content of Dressings!
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/dressings.htm
3/4  cup   green beans                                   =   30
Calculation:
3/4 cups = 6 oz.
4 oz. = 20 cal.
6 oz. = 30 cal.

1/4  cup   shredded cheddar cheese                       =  446 
Calculation:
1/4 cup = 4 oz.
1 oz. = 114 cal.
4 oz. = 446
Calorie Chart and Table for Calorie Content of Cheese!
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/cheese.htm

2    tbsp  sour cream                                    =   50
I went with regular, rather than with low-fat or fat-free which are
both 20 cal. per tbsp.
Calorie Chart and Table for Calorie Content of Sauces
http://www.diet-i.com/calorie_chart/sauces.htm
 
1    tbsp  butter                                        =  120

1          large baked potato (no toppings)              =   84
Another tricky one -- we might view 'large' in different ways. I'll
include the count for a 4 oz. baked with skin, although the same
potato minus the skin comes in higher at 104 cal. My figures
calculates to 21 calories per oz. You can adjust using that figure.

11   oz.   filet mignon steak (pre-cooked weight)        =  1100
Here's a definition of 'filet mignon':

"Filets of beef tenderloin, usually without any fat."
DietClub.com - Cooking Glossary 
http://www.dietclub.com.au/recipes/glossary.php?selected=

This means that unlike 4 oz. of ground beef that, when cooked, reduces
to ~3 oz., there will be little weight loss in the cooked filet. I
have looked and looked to find a site which provides information for
an uncooked filet. I came up empty. If I felt my calculation was
drastically out of line, I'd not use it. I really feel I'm well within
your stated 10% range.

Calculation:
4 oz = 400 cal.
400/4 = 100 per oz.
11 oz. = 1100 cal.
Phentermine diet pills, Alphabetical Calorie Chart
http://www-diet-pill.com/complete-calorie-chart.html


Search strategy:

taco bell calories
://www.google.ca/search?q=taco+bell+calories&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

package of cheese in refrigerator

calorie chart margarine
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+margarine&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Catelli Gqarden Select jar in my pantry

Metric converter
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=metric+converter&spell=1

vermicelli cooked volume
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=vermicelli+cooked+volume&meta=

calorie chart vermicelli
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+vermicelli&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

ground turkey calories
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=ground+turkey+calories&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Yoplait 99% fat free strawberry-banana yogurt calories
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Yoplait+99%25+fat+free+strawberry-banana+yogurt+calories&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

calorie chart herbs
://www.google.ca/search?q=calorie+chart+herbs&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

calorie chart fruit
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+fruit&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Doritos Baked Tortilla Chips calories
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Doritos+Baked+Tortilla+Chips+calories&spell=1

calorie chart milk
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+milk&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

calorie chart Subway
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+Subway&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

calorie chart Ranch dressing
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+Ranch+dressing&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

calorie chart Cheddar cheese
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+Cheddar+cheese&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

calorie chart sour cream
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+sour+cream&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

calorie chart filet mignon uncooked
://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=calorie+chart+filet+mignon+uncooked&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

---

Clarification of Answer by revbrenda1st-ga on 29 Mar 2003 04:49 PST

Hi tamkins.

Thanks so much for the rating and tip. It makes me feel even guiltier!
Let me explain. I bolted upright from a dead sleep just now with the
realization I'd made a grave error on your Group 3 total. The mistake
is with the 12" Turkey sub. The figure I used was for a 6" sub. I knew
at the time I had to double the count, but got so tangled up
explaining the whole thing that I failed to do so.

The count should read:

1 Subway 12" turkey sub with no cheese or condiments    =  578
289 X 2 =   578

The amended summary should read:

GROUP 3  =  2638  calories

I am so sorry, and hope this doesn't throw a spanner into things for
you.

Regards,
rev

---

Clarification of Answer by revbrenda1st-ga on 01 Apr 2003 12:42 PST

I took note of sallini-ga's comment about the cheese. I did make an
error, but it was a different one from that reported in the comment. I
calculated 1/4 cup as 4 oz., which of course it isn't; it's only 2 oz.
Calorie charts and diets I've been on usually measure cheese by
weight, not volume, so grated or not, the weight remains constant,
even though the volume changes. However, something tells me that in
your case you meant volume, so I will happily defer to sallini-ga,
with thanks.

I always like to offer the best possible information and appreciate
when someone 'kindly' helps me to do that.

I'm amending GROUP 3     2349   calories to
             
             GROUP 3     2013   calories

Regards,
rev

I'm stunned by the thoroughness of your answer.  Chopping up and
measuring vegetables?  Wow!  Incredible!  :-)

tamkins, 
i'd highly recommend this site: www.fitday.com
it's FREE and very useful!

the following is what i copied from the site:

What Is FitDay?
FitDay.com is a free web site designed to help you track and analyze
the important aspects of your diet and fitness.
Your personal FitDay account serves as a food and exercise journal.
You track the foods you eat and the exercises you do on a daily basis.

Based on your journal entries, FitDay analyzes your diet, exercise,
and weight, generating graphical reports on the important aspects of
your fitness, including...

calories 
fat, carbohydrates, and protein intakes 
nutritional analysis 
calorie expenditure 
weight loss 
and much more! 
FitDay remembers your past journal entries, so you can also perform a
long term analysis of your diet and fitness.
FitDay is quick, easy, and completely free! 

to good health---
kathy

I believe there is an error in the calculation for 1/4 cup shredded
cheddar cheese.  The package of Kraft Shredded Sharp Cheddar in my
fridge lists a 1/4 cup serving as 110 calories.  This is significantly
less than the 446 calories listed above.

Rev, thanks for the correction.  Thanks also to the commenters!