Accurate database entries

Jujubees813
Jujubees813 Posts: 24 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I rarely use the numbers that are saved on MFP, I always check the labels myself or their websites. If it's not on there I don't eat it. Some of these numbers are SO far off! I wish restaurants would just hire an intern to enter all their correct numbers sometimes so I didn't have to do the changes haha. I sure we're all watching calories but the big thing for me is sodium and sugar (I check those before I check the calories most days) and I think people are just adding any old numbers after they put the calories in. I realize recipes change and what no but I just checked one that someone on MFP had at least doubled the numbers that the restaurant had. And I checked the serving sizes to make sure I was reading it right.

Anyone else struggling with getting ridiculous numbers just off the website?

Replies

  • Madelinec117
    Madelinec117 Posts: 210 Member
    I recently discovered that as well. I went back to correct a few days prior so I could get a good reflection of carbs, proteins, etc. Since my blood pressure runs on the low side, I don't worry about sodium unless I have enough to cause fluid retention. Before I add a food to my diary, I check the nutrition since some of the foods in the database don't have the breakdown or have incorrect information. For some foods I will compare it to the nutrition information in the USDA database. I'm more concerned with the accuracy of the higher calorie foods than the low calorie foods such as raw green vegetables.
  • Jujubees813
    Jujubees813 Posts: 24 Member
    My BP is high and my doctor won't start fertility stuff until i get it under control. I especially want to check the occasional treats that I'm getting and had it not been for the restaurant's page I would have thought everything was out of reach based on MFP. But luckily I found something I can work with and looks good :)
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Anyone else struggling with getting ridiculous numbers just off the website?
    No but I am usually logging foods that don't have a * (meaning they're from an actual food database, not user entered) or foods with a * but with many confirmations. I don't do a lot of restaurant stuff but if I did, I'd check for how many confirmations an entry has and if not many, I'd double-check it, if the restaurant has a web site.

    I find this database much more reliable than others I've used. Even WW is bad, and you'd think being a site you pay for, they could clean it up. Fitbit's is pretty iffy, too.
  • Jujubees813
    Jujubees813 Posts: 24 Member
    I didn't know about the asterisk. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Anyone else struggling with getting ridiculous numbers just off the website?
    No but I am usually logging foods that don't have a * (meaning they're from an actual food database, not user entered) or foods with a * but with many confirmations. I don't do a lot of restaurant stuff but if I did, I'd check for how many confirmations an entry has and if not many, I'd double-check it, if the restaurant has a web site.

    I find this database much more reliable than others I've used. Even WW is bad, and you'd think being a site you pay for, they could clean it up. Fitbit's is pretty iffy, too.

    This. Also, apart from user error, restaurants and products may change it up or have similar products too. I was trying to log some ice cream not long ago, and there clearly was a similar product with a different calorie count, as there were many entries for that one. And even some chain restaurants which have counts change it up often--I get Pret a Manger at lunch not infrequently, and I've noticed just from looking at the posted calorie counts in the restaurant that they must vary the specifics (or just change their mind on the counts) since the same basic sandwich can have different counts from week to week. At a certain level it's imperfect, but some of the database entries really are wildly off, so the OP is of course smart to be skeptical and learning to recognize the good entries as you indicated makes it tons easier as you get used to the system.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Oh, good! Also, see under the name of the food where it says "member submitted, 2 confirmations"? Or however many? Pick ones that have many confirmations and you'll be better off. Or confirm the ones with low confirmation #s yourself. That is the best feature of this database, I think-- that you can see how many people have checked the entries before you.

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