Food numbers correct in MFP?

stan9280

I'm finding different calorie/protein etc numbers for food. Take Chicken breast for example. Sometimes off by 100 calories per meal, 8 oz of chicken breast shows 144 on one but 242 on another.
What is correct? Should I just log the higher one?

Asher_Ethan

I've been using 220 calories for 8oz chicken breast for a year and that's been working for me. What does the package say?

9 times out of every 10 ill use the higher calorie count.

stan9280

...this is about the only food I haven't checked the package on. Wow, thanks for waking me up a bit. I was just using the #'s in MPF and didn't think to check on the package. DOH!

senecarr

Most of the MFP food database is based on user entry. Some are accurate, some are wildly inaccurate.
For an item like chicken, it will vary based on what kind of entry you're using. The typical method is to used the raw frozen weight it comes as. Personally, for chicken, I'd then use the USDA based entry and double check it against the USDA website. The USDA database is actually how a lot of foods get their numbers anyway - manufacturers use known ingredients in known quantities and use the USDA database for each of the quantities.

CassidyScaglione

Try using verified entries when possible, and check things that seem wonky. For raw foods, find one reliable website and check against it until you get to the point where you are just reusing the same entries. I don't worry about spices or vegetables much unless they seem really off though.

Meganthedogmom

I always try to scan the barcode when possible. If not I use the usda entry

peleroja

For raw foods I always check against the USDA values (on Google) the first time I enter it and use the same entry thereafter (and usually search MFP for, for example "chicken breast boneless USDA" if possible.)

Packaged stuff, I use the barcode scanner and then double-check to make sure it's entered correctly.

seska422

CassidyScaglione wrote: »

Try using verified entries when possible, and check things that seem wonky. For raw foods, find one reliable website and check against it until you get to the point where you are just reusing the same entries. I don't worry about spices or vegetables much unless they seem really off though.

meganridenour wrote: »

I always try to scan the barcode when possible. If not I use the usda entry

Verified and barcode entries give a false sense of security.

Some of the verified entries are incorrect and, since they are verified, cannot easily be corrected.

The barcode just looks up the item in the database and the info was entered by another user. It's not any more or less likely to be accurate than it would be if you used the search box rather than the barcode to look up the item.

stan9280

Thanks everyone. I'm moving the scale but not quick enough..this may be part of it. I'll google the USDA stuff and compare/correct.

CassidyScaglione

@seska422 I know that. But the odds they are right is better, same with barcodes, since generally someone sat there and typed it in off the package. Like I said, I check most entries the first time I use them.

Meganthedogmom

seska422 wrote: »

CassidyScaglione wrote: »

Try using verified entries when possible, and check things that seem wonky. For raw foods, find one reliable website and check against it until you get to the point where you are just reusing the same entries. I don't worry about spices or vegetables much unless they seem really off though.

meganridenour wrote: »

I always try to scan the barcode when possible. If not I use the usda entry

Verified and barcode entries give a false sense of security.

Some of the verified entries are incorrect and, since they are verified, cannot easily be corrected.

The barcode just looks up the item in the database and the info was entered by another user. It's not any more or less likely to be accurate than it would be if you used the search box rather than the barcode to look up the item.

Well I guess we are all just doomed then and we should leave it at that.

seska422

meganridenour wrote: »

seska422 wrote: »

CassidyScaglione wrote: »

Try using verified entries when possible, and check things that seem wonky. For raw foods, find one reliable website and check against it until you get to the point where you are just reusing the same entries. I don't worry about spices or vegetables much unless they seem really off though.

meganridenour wrote: »

I always try to scan the barcode when possible. If not I use the usda entry

Verified and barcode entries give a false sense of security.

Some of the verified entries are incorrect and, since they are verified, cannot easily be corrected.

The barcode just looks up the item in the database and the info was entered by another user. It's not any more or less likely to be accurate than it would be if you used the search box rather than the barcode to look up the item.

Well I guess we are all just doomed then and we should leave it at that.

Not doomed. However, everything must be double-checked and re-checked occasionally to see if it's still accurate since it might have been edited or the info updated elsewhere but not in MFP yet.

Personally, I don't use the shared database unless I'm using the recipe builder. I enter everything in My Foods and don't share with the database.