NourmioWhat does a calorie range on a restaurant menu mean?
Read the low and high ends of a menu calorie range, identify what changes the number, and log the combination you ordered.
A calorie range on a covered US menu shows the lowest and highest calories among the listed options for an item. Find what changes the number, such as a choice of side, and use the restaurant's figures for your combination. If the menu gives only the range, keep it with the order details.
Find what varies on the menu
A sandwich combo might come with a choice of side. A drink might have several flavors or sizes. Read the words beside the calorie numbers to see which choice the range covers.
Under the US rule for standard items in covered establishments, a combination meal with two listed choices generally displays two calorie amounts separated by a slash. Three or more listed choices generally appear as a range. Its ends correspond to the lowest and highest listed combinations.
Some menus let you build a combo for a special price and list the calories for each item separately. In that case, look up the items and sizes you chose, then add them together.
Check whether the number describes the meal or an addition. If the menu says a topping adds 80 calories, start with the matching base order and count that topping once. A total for the full combo already covers the components specified for it.
Work out the combination you ordered
In this example, a 360-calorie sandwich comes with one of three sides. The figures are hypothetical.
| Side included | Side calories | Total calories |
|---|---|---|
| Salad | 90 | 450 |
| Cup of soup | 180 | 540 |
| Chips | 300 | 660 |
The menu range is 450–660 calories. With soup, the total is 540. Averaging the endpoints gives 555, which does not match any of these choices.
Use the restaurant’s figure for your exact order if it publishes one. When the restaurant lists individual components, add the ones you ordered. If a configurator gives a total after you choose the side and drink, check which extras it already counted before adding more.
Record the range if the exact option is unknown
Sometimes the menu gives the range without a breakdown. A note such as “sandwich and soup, menu lists 450–660 calories” keeps the useful information. If you enter a single estimate, keep the range with it so you can update the entry later. Your serving can also differ from the standard menu portion.
Once you have a figure you can use, save the meal and its portion in Nourmio. See the custom Chipotle bowl example for a restaurant that publishes component figures.