how do you use meal option on mfp

Leka1000

Currently im using old recipe function for stuff like naan pizza (personal size), beef macaroni (family size) chili and soup (family size). For family size stuff i weigh complete product and put the total gram weight for total servings. When i dish out my plate i weigh it and log it in for as many grams it weighs. Looks like i eat 300 servings for instance but really its 300 grams as 1 serving.
Anyway is the meal function easier in my case? Does meal function keep frequently used foods in the list as does your food diary? What's this meal function best to use for? Tips?
Thanks

lynn_glenmont

I use the meal function mostly for meals from restaurants, fast-food places, food trucks, etc, that I eat at repeatedly, especially ones where you have lots of options (e.g., Chipotle) and I might not always eat the same thing every time. I also use it for meals at home like smoothies and oatmeal that I make different ways.

So the meals include all the various options, and after I log the meal, I add anything new that might not already be in the saved meal, re-save the meal so the new options will be there next time, then I start deleting things from the logged meal that I didn't eat this time. So, for example, I log my saved smoothie meal. Let's say this is the first time I used frozen cooked beets in a smoothie. I add that, and resave the meal. Then I delete anything from the logged meal that I didn't use this time (e.g., I used a banana but not avocado, delete the avocado, I used frozen cranberries but not frozen mixed berries, delete the mixed berries, I used kefir but not yogurt, delete the yogurt -- you get the idea). Then all I do is adjust any amounts that are different from the amounts in the saved meal. I know it might sound complicated, but believe me, it's a lot quicker than looking up all those individual items, checking to make sure I have a "good" database entry, and logging it.

I also use it for my favorite meals from non-chain places that I eat at frequently that don't have online nutrition info, so I've had to deconstruct the meal (mentally) and guesstimate, because I don't want to have to go through that process every time. So , for example, there's a place near where I work that has a tofu and veggie stir-fry over brown rice meal. I did the breakdown once, and saved the meal, and now I just log it and double check whether anything in the prep seems to have changed, or whether more experience logging makes me realize my original estimate of the amount of rice or tofu is off.

Leka1000

Hmmm it sounds like exactly what i do with the old recipe builder. I create a recipe for the first time then when i make that dish again i edit the recipe because i for example substituted the beef for chicken this time...i also adjust the total weight of dish and save...
Im not seeing how the meal function differs? ???

Leka1000

Any info people?

lynn_glenmont

Leka1000 wrote: »

Hmmm it sounds like exactly what i do with the old recipe builder. I create a recipe for the first time then when i make that dish again i edit the recipe because i for example substituted the beef for chicken this time...i also adjust the total weight of dish and save...
Im not seeing how the meal function differs? ???

I guess I'm more likely to use the recipe builder for multi-serving dishes -- e.g., a stew, or casserole, or a loaf of bread. Something where I eat it over multiple meals, and so I build the recipe and then I only need to weigh the amount I'm eating to determine the serving size.

I use the meal function more for things that I eat the entire amount at one meal (the smoothies; my morning oatmeal -- I think that meal even includes my coffee and milk; burrito from the cart near work -- that meal includes the diet coke that I typically have with it).

I find the recipe builder and editor a lot fussier to deal with than the meal function, so it's not worth it for something that doesn't make multiple servings.

But that's how I use it. You're free to do as you like. I'm not trying to convince you to do it my way. You asked how people use the meal function.

Alatariel75

I use it for things like my homemade burrito bowls, my 'standard' work salad and home made burgers, I can add the meal then delete/tweak the ingredients to reflect what I actually had. It's pretty interchangable with the recipe builder, I guess but it means you don't have to go edit the recipe and save then log it.

So I don't use it for anything with servings, per se, more for meals that have different components (as opposed to ingredients) which I can then fiddle with.

MelodyandBarbells

I like the meal function for when I eat the same things everyday. So breakfast might be bacon and egg sandwich. The bacon egg, bread and any condiments for me would be the same quantity every time. On the app, under the meals tab there's an option for "Yesterday's [corresponding meal]". So if you're adding breakfast there's a very quick way to add yesterday's breakfast. Same with lunch dinner any other meal really

I do tweak the ingredient quantities in meals sometimes, but not always.

The recipe function has also been fairly buggy of recent, so in some cases where I might have previously used the recipe function, I am indeed using meals. But really as stated by a previous poster, it's just whatever's most convenient for you. And yes I also tend to use recipes where there's multiple servings in the batch as against just one serving

kristydi

I use it for this where its useful to be able to adjust amounts. Like I have my basic tacos as a meal. Shell, meat, cheese, lettuce etc. As a recipe I couldn't easily change the amount of the meat or toppings, but as a meal I can adjust as needed.

Leka1000

JaneiR36 wrote: »

I like the meal function for when I eat the same things everyday. So breakfast might be bacon and egg sandwich. The bacon egg, bread and any condiments for me would be the same quantity every time. On the app, under the meals tab there's an option for "Yesterday's [corresponding meal]". So if you're adding breakfast there's a very quick way to add yesterday's breakfast. Same with lunch dinner any other meal really

I do tweak the ingredient quantities in meals sometimes, but not always.

The recipe function has also been fairly buggy of recent, so in some cases where I might have previously used the recipe function, I am indeed using meals. But really as stated by a previous poster, it's just whatever's most convenient for you. And yes I also tend to use recipes where there's multiple servings in the batch as against just one serving

I do eat the same breakfast and lunch sandwich pretty much everyday but i just use the copy meal to today function

Leka1000

kristydi wrote: »

I use it for this where its useful to be able to adjust amounts. Like I have my basic tacos as a meal. Shell, meat, cheese, lettuce etc. As a recipe I couldn't easily change the amount of the meat or toppings, but as a meal I can adjust as needed.[/quote
right. You cant adjust ingredient quantities in the recipe. You would have to delete the entry and reenter it and put the new quantity in. So dumb lol

Alatariel75

kristydi wrote: »

I use it for this where its useful to be able to adjust amounts. Like I have my basic tacos as a meal. Shell, meat, cheese, lettuce etc. As a recipe I couldn't easily change the amount of the meat or toppings, but as a meal I can adjust as needed.

Yup that's what i was trying to say, you just said it better :-) is very handy for when i have my tacos then go back later for a bowl of meat, lettuce and cheese with salsa

MelodyandBarbells

Leka1000 wrote: »

kristydi wrote: »

I use it for this where its useful to be able to adjust amounts. Like I have my basic tacos as a meal. Shell, meat, cheese, lettuce etc. As a recipe I couldn't easily change the amount of the meat or toppings, but as a meal I can adjust as needed.

right. You cant adjust ingredient quantities in the recipe. You would have to delete the entry and reenter it and put the new quantity in. So dumb lol

I can edit recipe ingredient quantities from the iOS app. I do it all the time. I'm not sure about web - there have been some bugs recently...