This is not 540 calories is it?

[Notwithittoday]

I’ve started a diet and as I’m busy this week have used a local food prep place. They’ve sent me this frittata for lunch and labelled it 540 calories. Photo taken is on on a side plate. Ingredients are eggs, green peppers, milk, Parmesan and cheddar. I’ve calorie counted for years so I have a pretty good idea about calories and this looks 250- 300 at the most to me

Frittata is more solid than a quiche, to get that solidness it will need lots of eggs and cheese and of course usually potato. The quiche could have skimmed milk instead of semi or whole, it will have less eggs and possibly less cheese. So all the really calorific things can be reduced.

Wouldn't that only take very few minutes to make yourself though? Then you'd know the quantities and oil etc

@Notwithittoday I don’t think it’s 540 calories at all. I think the person who cut it accidentally gave you a smaller piece.

Just been in Aldi and spotted their individual frittatas which don’t look dissimilar but come in at 193calories each.

groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-crestwood-mediterranean-inspired-vegetable-frittata-130g/4088600375724

It includes lactation, that's literally a babyfood with the purpose of rapid growth. Of course it adds calories.

[quote Notwithittoday]@Chasingsquirrels it’s a low carb place so no potato.[/quote]
In that case it could have cream in, which will up the calories.

Although if you've ordered a low carb meal plan, would you even need to know what calories are in it? But is it designed for the keto phase, where you're not supposed to be hungry, so you're perfectly happy with a quarter of an omelette?

But I'd expect more complex meals for that price. Omelette is something you make in 5 minutes when you CBA cooking properly.

Well I counted it as 540 with some roasted veg and a couple of cubes of feta. Looked better. Lost 1lb since yesterday!

If its low carb it is often more calorie dense (ie skim milk is carb ) but yes chuck some salad with it

Yy to cream and a fair amount of flour bumping the calories up.

I know your OP said you were busy this week @Notwithittoday but when you get less busy, a proper veg omelette like @HalfShrunkMoreToGo posted above is my go-to meal for any time of day when I’m watching my weight. Packed with veg and flavour, and add a salad if you want for a lunch/dinner option. With two eggs there’s usually enough calories spare to add a bit of grated cheese in as well. This has inspired me to have this for lunch!

@Traumdeuter

I know your OP said you were busy this week *@Notwithittoday but when you get less busy, a proper veg omelette like @HalfShrunkMoreToGo* posted above is my go-to meal for any time of day when I’m watching my weight. Packed with veg and flavour, and add a salad if you want for a lunch/dinner option. With two eggs there’s usually enough calories spare to add a bit of grated cheese in as well. This has inspired me to have this for lunch!

Yes totally. I don’t think I’ll be doing this again. I just wanted to get myself in better habits as I’m struggling to beat a sugar addiction that’s come from a 14 month old with a sleep aversion.

I’ve no idea about the calories but £95 for a week’s meals for one person is daylight robbery!!

I know it’s not popular but I’m on a diet and when I’m struggling with time for cooking I buy ‘Sainsbury’s be good to yourself’ ready meals, roasted veg pasta is under 350cal and it’s super tasty. I wouldn’t waste money on whatever company has made than it looks unappetising and not very filling.

I would make an roast veg frittata at home. You can then have a slice for lunch over a few days, with salad. And your 14 month can have some also. That way feeding both of you for 3 lunch’s for maybe £5. Roast peppers, spinach and goat cheese is a favourite.

Ocado also sell lots of similar items and ready made bean/ salad bowls if you want convenience. You could just do weekly shop there and add several easy lunch and dinner options. They will list all the calories online. I think they even have a low calorie section

www.ocado.com/browse/fresh-chilled-food-20002/lunch-on-the-go-323580?showOOS=true

Agree with posters saying making your own is better. We often make a big spinach frittata - just eggs, a big bag of spinach, Parmesan (doesn’t need to be loads, just to add some flavour) and some salt - and eat a few slices with sides. Will give a couple of portions at least. Fried courgette is nice too. Not much oil is needed. Both healthy and cheap. Potato isn’t an essential ingredient of frittata either.

low carb restaurant sounds joyless...

Based on fork for scale, it looks about 3" long & 0.75-1" thick.

But I think I need a weight to guess at the calories, really

It does sound a lot
However, the upside of the plan you have ordered is that it will perhaps give you lots of fresh ideas for healthy meals so perhaps see it as an investment.
I spent a lot on gousto and it really kickstarted us eating better plus I now have the recipe cards

(Plus, again on the subject of the cost, it is much better than ordering big takeaway that may be tempting when you are tired/hungry/juggling baby)
When stressed and pushed for time I go home via Tesco express or similar and buy whatever I want within reason especially ‘healthier’ type ready meals and things like pre-prepped fruit.
Saves me a longer diversion to the chippy! And although of course I could have bought the same pineapple and bag of pasta or whatever for half the price at Aldi, some nights I don’t have the will!