Do you track your spices?

dango5

when cooking, if you add a bit of salt, pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, ect., do you put that into your my fitness pal?

Clarewho

No - I've done it in the past and found even when using several different spices it might add up to around 10 or 20 cals. In my mind, I could be over or under by that amount every day due to errors in logging/weighing etc so I'm not going to worry about this few calories.

I did once see a comment here about a particular spice that was calorie-laden, I can't remember what it was but it wasn't something I use. So now I don't bother

Francl27

I would if I knew how many calories they have, but as they go by the dumb 'less than 5 calories = 0 calorie' rule, it's impossible to know.

I'll log cinnamon because at least it's in the database with a correct value.

PeachyCarol

Sometimes. I always do in the recipe builder. For little dashes here and there, I don't bother. But I always finish my day under my calorie goal, so I figure any little bits like a grind or two of pepper are covered.

psuLemon

I do when I build my recipes. And in some of them, there is a good amount of calories just from spices. But it really comes down to how meticulous you want to me. If you are losing weight while not tracking it, then cool, but at some point if you have very little to lose, it might require you to be more meticulous to hit your goals which is where I am at now.

punkrockgoth

When I first started I did, but I found that the calories were minimal and it made me absolutely miserable. I love grabbing random spices off my shelf and throwing them into whatever I'm making.

Now I don't really. I'm much happier. Sometimes I will put my spices into the recipe builder or if I'm using a seasoning blend with a lot of salt. I make my own taco seasoning and chili blend so it doesn't happen too often.

yeahfatty

i have never given it any thought, always thought they had no calories really, probably pretty naive of me. is there a spice that is super calorie dense? 'cause i usually don't hold back on spices.

richln

No, waste of time. Same for really low calorie condiments/toppings like yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes on a burger.

Emily3907

I always do in recipes. But in general, I do not. I did for a while and found that the logging of the miniscule calories from spices I use throughout the day was just not worth the time or effort.

JMC3Terp

I log just about everything and used to log spices, but as many of the people above stated, its a waste of time. They give almost no value anywhere. I even log vitamins I take that MFP does track their nutrients (gelatin), but atleast there I can keep track of my medications. Spices have no value on MFP.

blondx7

LOL no, my OCD isn't that bad

enterdanger

no. I don't log spices. I do log condiments like mustard and ketchup.

punkrockgoth

Yeah I'm sorry... my broswer kept on telling me it wasn't posting.

worstcaster

I don't add them but if I imported a recipe I don't bother deleting them.

earlnabby

PeachyCarol wrote: »

Sometimes. I always do in the recipe builder. For little dashes here and there, I don't bother. But I always finish my day under my calorie goal, so I figure any little bits like a grind or two of pepper are covered.

This is me too. I put them into the recipe builder, as much to remind me if I make it again. Condiments, even if I use a small amount of something like Worcestershire or mustard, always get logged.

yellowantphil

Some spices have a lot of potassium or other micronutrients in them, so I log them for that.

martyqueen52

I just track stuff like mayo, ketchup, etc. Salt, pepper, garlic salt I don't track.

J72FIT

yellowantphil wrote: »

Some spices have a lot of potassium or other micronutrients in them, so I log them for that.

I do this as well...

LolaKarwowski

Nah. Too much hassle. I'm doing just fine without tracking it.

JoRocka

richln wrote: »

No, waste of time. Same for really low calorie condiments/toppings like yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes on a burger.

same same

urloved33

no

_lyndseybrooke_

Only if I am going to measure them out and I put them into my recipe builder so I know how much to add. If I'm logging separately, I usually don't bother because I'm just seasoning to taste rather than measuring, so who knows how much is on my food when I'm cooking for more than just me? I definitely log marinades, though.

I also don't track gum, which I probably should. Oh well...

earlnabby

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

Only if I am going to measure them out and I put them into my recipe builder so I know how much to add. If I'm logging separately, I usually don't bother because I'm just seasoning to taste rather than measuring, so who knows how much is on my food when I'm cooking for more than just me? I definitely log marinades, though.

I also don't track gum, which I probably should. Oh well...

Which reminds me of a question I have always had: do you actually absorb all of the calories in gum by chewing it? What if you swallow, do you absorb more over the 24 or so hours it takes to move through?

lizzocat

If it's a pinch here and there, no. If it's a significant amount of a spice, I will

kyrannosaurus

If I only add a pinch I don't bother. If I add a teaspoon of something I'll track it.

_lyndseybrooke_

earlnabby wrote: »

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

Only if I am going to measure them out and I put them into my recipe builder so I know how much to add. If I'm logging separately, I usually don't bother because I'm just seasoning to taste rather than measuring, so who knows how much is on my food when I'm cooking for more than just me? I definitely log marinades, though.

I also don't track gum, which I probably should. Oh well...

Which reminds me of a question I have always had: do you actually absorb all of the calories in gum by chewing it? What if you swallow, do you absorb more over the 24 or so hours it takes to move through?

I've wondered the same, but I don't think it really matters in the long run. I dropped all of my weight chewing multiple pieces of gum per day. I don't stress about it.

felblossom

When I'm following a recipe and logging it I already weigh everything and might as well do the spices. Usually they're like 1 gram and barely any calories in the end. If I use a dash here or there when I do my own recipes I won't really bother

earlnabby

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

Only if I am going to measure them out and I put them into my recipe builder so I know how much to add. If I'm logging separately, I usually don't bother because I'm just seasoning to taste rather than measuring, so who knows how much is on my food when I'm cooking for more than just me? I definitely log marinades, though.

I also don't track gum, which I probably should. Oh well...

Which reminds me of a question I have always had: do you actually absorb all of the calories in gum by chewing it? What if you swallow, do you absorb more over the 24 or so hours it takes to move through?

I've wondered the same, but I don't think it really matters in the long run. I dropped all of my weight chewing multiple pieces of gum per day. I don't stress about it.

Me too. It is just one of those silly questions that have gone through my head as I am taking my daily 4 mile walk (chewing all the way).

PeachyCarol

I always figured that you burned at least 5 calories doing all that chewing, so gum had to be a wash. I never log it.

Lil_Lanie

Only when I've included them in my recipes on mfp

Laurend224

If I am using the recipe builder, I always add them in. It's handy for when I make the recipe again. I make a lot of spice heavy dishes though, chilis, and curries.... It does add up.