How to add foods to diary?

Brandi92809
Brandi92809 Posts: 78 Member
edited November 12 in Getting Started
Hello! I am trying to figure out how to add foods that I am not sure of. For example, if I had a small serving of butter beans and collards that I got at a restaurant. These were very small portions (they were sides) but I am having trouble figuring out how to count them for my food diary. Thanks!

Replies

  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    Try looking them up with the restaurants name and then the food name after it, it might not be in the system which in that case you can look on their website for nutritional data and create it yourself for future use and for others.

    If they have no data the just guess but I would aviod doing that often because restaurant food can really suprise you sometimes and throw you wayyyy off
  • stepkylebeau
    stepkylebeau Posts: 4
    I agree. Cooking at home is way healthier. You never have any idea how much salt they use or what type of meat fat they use to cook those veggies. Butter beans and greens are beyond my favorite, but,,,, cook them at home then add them in easily with the brand you bought. And, they probably throw some butter and oils in their too! That jumps up the calories real fast!
  • Brandi92809
    Brandi92809 Posts: 78 Member
    Thanks guys! Yes I totally understand about not being able to control how they cook! These places were "Home Cooking" places, mom and pop places so its almost impossible to know the nutrition. I will just try to limit the times I go there and be sure to do things like drink water and eat smaller portions (than my usual portions lol). Thanks guys!! ^_^
  • Tropicalfirestorm
    Tropicalfirestorm Posts: 61 Member
    My recommendation (keep in mind this is flawed. Some places cook their beans in bacon grease or do other things that up the calorie count).

    When you eat, try and guestimate how big a portion is. Is it one fourth cup, a half of a cup? Look at your cup measurer when you get home to decide.

    look up what you ate.

    butter beans. look up the average calorie for butter beans- make sure you are looking at cooked butter bean calories. make sure you looked at the cooked beans, not just bean's calories.

    Use google to figure out the calories per cup. type in "how many grams per" ect. ect. do a bit of math (or if you are bad at math, ask on yahoo answers in the math homework help section.) and figure out how many calories you ate.

    go to "my food,". Hit add item. type in your mom and pop stores name, and put in the calories. That way, whenever you eat their again, you can add the calories to your food diary real quick.


    Good luck.

    But first do what that other girl said and check online to make sure they don't have the nutritional info already on there.
  • nscs15
    nscs15 Posts: 1 Member
    I have to look up the calories myself?
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    nscs15 wrote: »
    I have to look up the calories myself?

    For instructions on how to add food to your Diary and use the app, ​please see these articles, and search for answers to Frequently Asked Questions and other helpful articles, on the MFP Help/FAQ pages...

    https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/en/portal/topics/455840-food-diary-and-food-database/articles

    https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/en/portal/topics/455841-general-questions-getting-started/articles
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