How do you log complicated recipe calories?

cefleischman

If you, for example, have a slice of "grandma's homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting," how do you figure out the calories? Or is it just a matter of estimating to the best of your ability?

MilesAddie

There's a recipe builder that lets you import your own ingredients - if you know what grandma puts in her cake, you can figure out how much a slice is.

kshama2001

Who made the cake, you or Grandma? If Grandma, estimate to the best of your ability. If you, use the recipe builder. I use the old one as the new one was glitchy last time I tried.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator

zdyb23456

I usually try to find something in the database from a verified restaurant.

Baked goods I estimate high. Ever since I baked brownies and discovered a serving is tiny and almost 200 calories. Let's just say before I started logging accurately my serving of a brownie was at least 2-3 actual servings.

shaunshaikh

There are two extremes:

1. In recipe builder you muster all the ingredients, weighed, and log out your portion

2. You find something that looks sorta similar already in the database and roll the dice.

If you have a one off thing, 2 is probably fine. But, do 2 too often you'll be back here asking why you eat 1200 calories a day and never lose weight.

I've gotten good at times just logging the main ingredients i know and can measure and making good judgements.

kgirlhart

If I have access to the recipe I enter it into the recipe builder. If not, I just find an entry and make my best guess. Most of the time those kinds of foods are not going to be something I am eating regularly so I think guessing is fine. If it is something I eat regularly I will ask a family member or friend for the recipe.

Ready2Rock206

If you're making the cake use the recipe builder - same with any other multi-ingredient whatever you make. It is a fabulous tool. Can be a little tricky at first but once you use it a few times you'll realize it really is quite easy and useful.