How do you guys log just a taste?

prettysoul1908

Hey!

So I've been on a 15 day streak with logging and I've run into a little problem... I don't know how to log just a bite or a taste of something.

Like yesterday I had a small taste of my nephews chicken. And then I wanted to try to the taste of a new popcorn chip so I had 1.

I feel like I should log everything I put into my mouth even if very small. Is that going too far?

How do you guys handle this?

janejellyroll

I log bites or tastes as quick add calories -- usually 25 calories, but sometimes as much as 50. I want to have visibility to them in case my weight fluctuates more than I would expect.

absoluttalent

I don't log tastes. But I also don't take 30 tastes a day.
The way I look at it, a tasting bite of anything is going to be under 50 cals. If I have a 500 deficit, it's a very small set back for that day. Or walk around the block a few times to offset it. I don't get that anal with my logging.

enterdanger

I don't log tastes. But I also don't weigh food either. And one of my kids is always taking things off my plate and eating it after I've already logged it. I don't take it out of my diary. For me, this works. I'm still losing so I don't get fanatical about logging. I suspect I'll have to tighten my logging up a bit when I get closer to goal weight.

Therealobi1

i never bothered logging tastes.

BoxerBrawler

Depends upon the food item. If it's something that's heavy on the calories and I take one small taste I quick add 20 or 30 calories or so. If it's a veggie or a light sauce or something like that I don't log it. I consider it a wash... like if I chew a couple of pieces of sugarless gum I don't log it. I figure I burn around 11 calories per hour chewing the gum which will negate the 3 to 5 calories the gum has in the first place. Make sense?

lemurcat12

janejellyroll wrote: »

I log bites or tastes as quick add calories -- usually 25 calories, but sometimes as much as 50. I want to have visibility to them in case my weight fluctuates more than I would expect.

This is what I do too.

DeguelloTex

If tastes are causing your weight to change unexpectedly, they're more than just tastes, so you should be logging them.

janejellyroll

DeguelloTex wrote: »

If tastes are causing your weight to change unexpectedly, they're more than just tastes, so you should be logging them.

In the last stages of my weight loss, my deficit was only a couple of hundred calories. I don't think I ever had a weight change due to tastes, but I wanted something in my logging to reflect them in case I didn't lose weight in a given period. It's what worked for me, but I can understand why people wouldn't want to bother.

prettysoul1908

janejellyroll wrote: »

I log bites or tastes as quick add calories -- usually 25 calories, but sometimes as much as 50. I want to have visibility to them in case my weight fluctuates more than I would expect.

Ahhhh... I like this. I want to log my calories as much as possible so I can notice trends as well. I haven't used the quick add feature as much. I think I'll start doing that.

Didn't know if I was being a little fanatical. Thanks!

Ready2Rock206

Tastes like a walk around Costco for the all the sample tastes I log. One bite of something I probably am not going to log.

Sued0nim

A bite of chicken...find the entry, log 25g

DeguelloTex

janejellyroll wrote: »

DeguelloTex wrote: »

If tastes are causing your weight to change unexpectedly, they're more than just tastes, so you should be logging them.

In the last stages of my weight loss, my deficit was only a couple of hundred calories. I don't think I ever had a weight change due to tastes, but I wanted something in my logging to reflect them in case I didn't lose weight in a given period. It's what worked for me, but I can understand why people wouldn't want to bother.

I didn't mean you, in particular, but a couple hundred calories a day for a week is 1400 calories. That's a lotttt of "tastes" on an ongoing basis. I mean, the resolution of a scale that weighs in 2/10 of a pound like mine does, even in a perfect world, would require 100 calories of tastes, every day, to make the scale show a difference that was attributable to the tastes.

Queenmunchy

If I take a bite of a burger or something, I find a comparable item and just log 1/8 or whatever. It's not accurate, but it works for me.

gothchiq

quick add calories, I estimate based on what it is minimum of 5 calories to max of 50.

prettysoul1908

For those who don't log tastes... Is your weight loss consistent?

azulvioleta6

It's just about impossible to log such things accurately, which is why it's good to get out of the habit of taking "tastes" as much as you can.

I generally log them and just round up to the next whole unit. For example, yesterday my SO made fresh tortillas while I was working from home and I had several bites of one. It was divine! I just logged a whole tortilla instead of trying to figure out precisely how much I had.

DeguelloTex

mhaskins08 wrote: »

For those who don't log tastes... Is your weight loss consistent?

It was as consistent as the issues inherent in logging and calorie content would allow it to be, anyway.

You're talking about 70 50 calorie tastes to make a pound worth of difference. That's rounding error.

prettysoul1908

rabbitjb wrote: »

A bite of chicken...find the entry, log 25g

Got it. I've noticed you on these boards and I like the advice you give.

Thanks!

janejellyroll

DeguelloTex wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

DeguelloTex wrote: »

If tastes are causing your weight to change unexpectedly, they're more than just tastes, so you should be logging them.

In the last stages of my weight loss, my deficit was only a couple of hundred calories. I don't think I ever had a weight change due to tastes, but I wanted something in my logging to reflect them in case I didn't lose weight in a given period. It's what worked for me, but I can understand why people wouldn't want to bother.

I didn't mean you, in particular, but a couple hundred calories a day for a week is 1400 calories. That's a lotttt of "tastes" on an ongoing basis. I mean, the resolution of a scale that weighs in 2/10 of a pound like mine does, even in a perfect world, would require 100 calories of tastes, every day, to make the scale show a difference that was attributable to the tastes.

Oh, yeah. People should certainly use common sense. I know that personally I tend to minimize what I eat (if my husband offers me a "taste" of his food, sometimes I eat a bit more), so it's more of an accountability tool for me than anything. Knowing that I have to log it will make me really think about whether or I want that grocery store sample or a drink of someone's cocktail.

DeguelloTex

janejellyroll wrote: »

DeguelloTex wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

DeguelloTex wrote: »

If tastes are causing your weight to change unexpectedly, they're more than just tastes, so you should be logging them.

In the last stages of my weight loss, my deficit was only a couple of hundred calories. I don't think I ever had a weight change due to tastes, but I wanted something in my logging to reflect them in case I didn't lose weight in a given period. It's what worked for me, but I can understand why people wouldn't want to bother.

I didn't mean you, in particular, but a couple hundred calories a day for a week is 1400 calories. That's a lotttt of "tastes" on an ongoing basis. I mean, the resolution of a scale that weighs in 2/10 of a pound like mine does, even in a perfect world, would require 100 calories of tastes, every day, to make the scale show a difference that was attributable to the tastes.

Oh, yeah. People should certainly use common sense. I know that personally I tend to minimize what I eat (if my husband offers me a "taste" of his food, sometimes I eat a bit more), so it's more of an accountability tool for me than anything. Knowing that I have to log it will make me really think about whether or I want that grocery store sample or a drink of someone's cocktail.

Agree completely. What works, works, and some sense of context and scale is a good thing.

prettysoul1908

I'm not a huge snacker (any more) and I probably take tastes about 3-4 times a week. It's my way of practicing moderation.

This board has helped me get rid of my "bad" foods category (that was a challenge for me) but I realize some things should just be eaten in moderation. My answer so far has been small tastes and then if I like it I look for a day I can fit it into my calories

afatpersonwholikesfood

I don't take bites/samples/tastes as a general rule, but if I make an exception, it's always logged. I can think of two recent examples. I had a sample of hot apple cider at the store. It was a very small paper cup, so I logged it as 1 oz of apple cider. I ate one of my husband's French fries the other night, so I quick added 25 calories. Right now, I have room for error, but that's not the point. Logging, for me, is going to have to be a lifelong, disciplined habit, and if it's got calories, it's getting logged.

Therealobi1

mhaskins08 wrote: »

For those who don't log tastes... Is your weight loss consistent?

I have maintained the weight I have lost, but i was never the one to log spreads of butter, jam, stock cubes etc. Not right yes i know but i can live with what that brings.

dubird

I don't usually take 'tastes' of foods, even when I'm cooking. I'm not sure why, either. On the few occasions I have taken a taste (usually at my husband's suggestion), I don't bother logging it. I'm not so strict with my logging that the 25ish calories I just tasted is going to be that big a deal for me anymore. If you're taking a taste of everything you cook, then that does add up, but just a taste or two during the day isn't going to be a calorie sink for you. Unless your tastes end up being several bites.

frankiesgirlie

janejellyroll wrote: »

I log bites or tastes as quick add calories -- usually 25 calories, but sometimes as much as 50. I want to have visibility to them in case my weight fluctuates more than I would expect.

Me too 25-50 quick add depending what it is.
Taste test a tablespoon of a recipe I made (healthy fare) 25 calories. Taste a sample at BJs warehouse? 50 calories.

dbanks80

I never bother logging tastes. I usually burn it off walking somewhere or my exercise calories

Francl27

I log it. Might just be 30 quick calories or something, but I log it.

ValerieMartini2Olives

I don't bother with "just a taste" - like licking the spoon after scooping out yogurt or whatever. Or even a tiny bite of some chicken or something.

MommyL2015

If it's just licking my finger or a dip from a spoon, I don't bother but if it's an actual bite of something or a sample at a store, I'll log it at 1oz (or about 28g--i don't have a scale that weighs in grams).

I_Will_End_You

It depends on what it was, but if I have a lot of "tastes" throughout the day, I'd quick add 100 calories or something.