Hidden carbs in keto food while eating out?

[beccs]

Everything is cooked in sugar there - or so it appears.

Yeah tell me about it this is actually the first time I’ve encountered a restaurant this challenging since Keto. Typically I have no problem making a meal at any restaurant Keto-friendly, but this one’s a doozy

[Sheri_Knauer]

If you ever find yourself at IHOP (or any restaurant for that matter) and want eggs, I would suggest just getting eggs sunny side up. A lot of places will blend in canola oil to their olive oil to save money and make it last longer. They also will blend in canola oil into the butter. When I ask for butter at restaurants, I request either clarified butter (and hope for the best) or a slab of butter cut right off the stick. None of the whipped stuff. I also bring my own bottle of olive oil (lol, you never know what I’ll pull out of my purse at a restaurant!) Of course anything that is fried (even if not breaded) will be fried in some seed oil most likely. When I am at Costco, I can tell who the restaurant owners are who are buying supplies and they usually have a few boxes of that creamy liquid shortening on their flat beds (which is hydrogenated soybean oil) you know they are using in their restaurants to cook the food. So if you have to eat out (or just want to because you don’t feel like cooking) try and stick to foods without sauces or added ingredients.

[Pete_A]

This:

Because you really can never tell what hidden carbs there will be, I’ve just gotten into the habit of fasting leading up to (or after) eating out to act as a buffer to compensate for any hidden carb surprises.

Do your best choosing and watch your way in… and the morning after! I recently enjoyed a VERY nice “steak salad” out at lunch at Timberwood Grill, which had 4 oz of rare steak, lots of lettuce, tomatoes, and EXTRA blue cheese (may have had additives). I made pretty good due, but knew it was indulgent. I told the server to leave off the onions and croutons, ate all the steak, some of the lettuce, tomatoes, and every drop and chunk of cheese!

I had a small dinner and very late breakfast the next morning and got back in the swing.

Such is life.

[LeCheffre]

Kalua Pork should be sugar free, but they probably add some sugar to it. I’m thinking beef on the Moco Loco with no bun might be the winner, but binders in burgers are not unheard of.

There are some seafood small plates that don’t seem too bad off the top. Shoyu is just say sauce. But shoyu marinade might have all sorts of sugar.

[David_Stilley]

I would go with the Kalua Pork. It shouldn’t have any sugar. You might be able to sub sides, kim chee should be safe. The steak looks ok too. Ask about sugar, and check out the gluten free options to eliminate wheat. Roll those dice! And don’t stress out, enjoy yourself

[lfod14]

Smothered, Covered, Diced and Topped! If there was only a way to copy that crap!

[beccs]

@LeCheffre thank you and happy birthday!

@David_Stilley thanks, I’ll ask about sugar and try not to stress

[Screenack]

TL;DR: IHOP puts filler in their omelet.

Does anyone have history with hidden carbs in omelets

Oh my, I sure do.

You honestly never know what you’re going to get from a restaurant kitchen no matter what the waiter tells you as far as carbs go.

If people who insist they’re eating low-carb screw up, like yours truly, I cannot count on people who don’t even try.

They use pancake batter in their eggs unless you specifically tell them not to.

IHOP offers the “Big Steak Omelet.” I was with my family, having a grand time as my oldest no longer lives at home. I let my guard down. So I ordered the big steak omelet and some butter. I went to enter my meal into MFP, when it kept burping “40 grams, carbs” back at me. This cannot be! I had no stinkin’ carbs, right? I asked the waitress for no hash browns, bread, and other standard fair candy junk.

Well, two things: as @anon2571578 indicates they put pancake batter in the omelet AND they put hash browns IN the omelet, as well as on the side. I had unwittingly doubled my carb intake for the day.

I’m still sore about the whole thing.

[David_Stilley]

Filler, filler, filler and crappy oil. Whatever they can do to fill your plate and stretch a buck.

[goohsmom]

It is, at the bottom of the page with the omelets is a small statement that omelets have added pancake batter for extra fluffiness.

[beccs]

Ahh, the fine print lol

[PetaMarie]

LOCO MOCO

Chicken Katsu, Burger or Teri-Beef… topped with sunny side egg, mushrooms and beef gravy, with kimchi 15

I would try this one. I’m thinking get the burger and gravy on the side and some bonus kimchi!

[beccs]

I think that’s what I’m leaning towards now

[CatGirl]

Katsu usually means breaded and fried - maybe just check?

[David_Stilley]

With Loco Moco the gravy may be suspect for hidden carbs. The burger option will be the only choice there. But that’s something that you can easily make at home and it’s usually served over rice. It might not be much of a meal without the rice and gravy. I stick by my previous recommendation. The Kalua Pork or the steak, you’re eating out so better to eat something you won’t cook at home to have a break from your routine eating. I’ll bet you’re eating plenty of hamburger patties and fried eggs at home.

Most likely almost everything is served with rice even if it’s not mentioned on the menu. To get them to take you seriously don’t say you’re eating keto, tell them you’re a diabetic or sugar sensitive so they take your no sugar request seriously.

[beccs]

Those are good points! I do get burgers when eating out all the time. Usually they are the safest option. The pork and steak or something I probably wouldn’t make for myself, at least not often.

And yes, I never say I’m doing Keto. I always say diabetic, even though it isn’t true lol. The steak sounds amazing honestly, and without the pineapple drizzle or sweet potatoes I’m sure it can’t be high carb.

[Kawp]

Thank you. This answer was helpful.

[David_Stilley]

Ask if you can sub the sweet potatoes for the cabbage or kim chee. I would probably go for the steak too!

[OldDoug]

They use pancake batter in their eggs unless you specifically tell them not to.

If I were the man I was five years ago I’d take a FLAME-THROWER to this place!

[anon2571578]

Do they put it on the menu as a disclosure?

Technically yes, but at the bottom (sometimes top). Problem is most people wouldn’t even think to look for it.