Food Log (when do you fill yours??)

Chrissieneave

I add all my main meals for the day, while i'm logging breakfast. Then i know what i've got left for snacks etc and to just basically keep on track

KimertRuns13_1

If my day is preplanned and all my food is packed I will log everything in the morning. It gives me an idea where I will be at the end of the day, post workout.

MenaMena

I fill in as I am planning and preparing and make adjustments throughout the day. I have MFP on my ipad so I am always connected.

Purpleflipflops

I normally bring my food to school/work, and when I do that, I add everything I bring in, and then subtract as needed. This way I know how many calories total I can consume, then gauge from there.

ChristineS_51

At first I logged as I went, after I had eaten, but then I found I had calories left over in the evening (I am on 1200) and was not happy about eating more in the evening; so now I sometimes put what I plan to eat in the diary, and then juggle things around so I get some protein and more carbs first thing in the morning; then maybe less carbs later in the day. It also helps if you log something and find it is way out of line with what you should be eating, you can delete it and NOT eat it - but once it's eaten you have to count it :laugh:

I usually double check the nutritional value of food items as sometimes it is way out!

hornseagirl

yes I often fill it in in advance....gives me a better picture of caloroe intake that way. It also helps me decide whether i need more carb or fibre or protein in the last meal of the day xx

baxyboy

I log the food as I'm preparing it or about to eat it - either through the website when I'm at work or on my computer at home, or using the Android app the rest of the time.

If I didn't have the mobile app I would have really struggled to keep up with it, but being able to log food easily whenever I need to has just become part of the process for me eating now... I log the food as I prepare it, then eat it.

garnet1483

I usually do my log in the morning, even though I plan my meals anywhere from 1-5 days ahead of time. I find doing it more than a day ahead of time doesn't help me stay on track as much as the daily refresher. And it DOES help greatly, in terms of planning snacks or outings.

nitepagan

I try to fill it out as the day progresses, I am a stay at home kind of fella. Sometimes, I fill it in before I eat, sometimes after I eat. Usually finalize yesterdays food log the next morning.

jaynemaria

I fill mine as I go, never know what Im going to eat depends on what takes my fancy, I'm on 1300 calories a day so usually aim at 200 for breakfast 400 for lunch and 500 for dinner and then use the rest for snacks, tea ,coffee etc. I also try to hild back 50 ish calories a day to compensate if I have used a little more milk in tea/coffee and squash.

tchrnmommy

Hi all,
I'm new to MFP (day 2) and wondered if anyone added what they were GOING to eat (for example for their evening meal) in advance?? It would help knowing how many calories you have left for snacks/treats etc??
Last night I entered what I would have for my meals during today so I wouldn't get left short this evening. Evenings are
my danger time!!
Any tips?? Also any fave low cal snacks??
L xx

That's exactly what I do. I fill it out at the beginning of my day. Use it as a menu planner close it out to see "what I will weigh in 5 weeks" if I stick to the day's plan...and then use that as motivation to stay on track. I have asked MFP to put some kind of a "check mark" device in the food diary. So after I eat something I can "check" it off. I've gotten lots of feedback from other users to "make a list and check it off yourself" UMMM DUH I DID make a list...when I created the diary....on my mobile device....I want convience...not to have to make another paper/pencil list..heheh

Tari_D

It depends what I am doing but yes I often log mine in advance so i can see what I have left of snacks. or in the case of today i can see how much excersize I need to do for the Dominoes Pizza my partner wants to have tonight for Valentines Day!

Diane0479

As I work from home and have full access to my laptop, I fill in my food diary as I go along xx

jesscaponigro

If I know what I am having the next day I'll log it the night before. I then adjust the day of as needed, if I didn't end up or did end up eating something different. This seems to be the most helpful. I am more disciplined this way, helps me not cheat!

sar586

Most times, I fill mine as soon as I have decided what I'm having. I pack my lunch/snacks and take it all to work with me, so I fill all of that in as soon as I know I'm going to eat it. With dinners, I can sometimes plan those earlier and fill them in, but I usually have to adjust portions later in the day. Whatever works for you!

JoannaKemmerer

I always put in the next day's food (especially during the work week) when I know what I am having for the most part and have prepared it in advance!! It helps to know if something else comes my way - whether or not I have enough calories left!!

Angelabec

I log mine when I get into work in the mornings. I eat the same breakfast most days, and I prepare all of my lunches beforehand, so then I just have to decide what to have for dinner. Sometimes I change my mind and have to go back and change it, but it's not hard to do, and I really do think that planning has been key for me.

Stacyanne324

I add as many meals as I know as far out as I know them. That way I can see what i have left for snacks and can fill in the rest as I go without having to be grabbing my phone for every single thing I eat all day long.

ahealthy4u

I fill it out as I go if I can if not I fill in some of things I know I have daily. But I do fill in dinner and all my snacks before bed time and log it in sorta helps me from eatting more then I should

rainunrefined

Hi all,
I'm new to MFP (day 2) and wondered if anyone added what they were GOING to eat (for example for their evening meal) in advance?? It would help knowing how many calories you have left for snacks/treats etc??
Last night I entered what I would have for my meals during today so I wouldn't get left short this evening. Evenings are
my danger time!!
Any tips?? Also any fave low cal snacks??
L xx

Check out my diary.. it's 8am and I have my entire day logged. It keeps me on track!

DonnaRe2012

I do every morning before breakfast. I plug in the basics of what I'm going to eat B/L/D and then do a litte tweeking and done.

easuess

Like others have mentioned, I often will have my whole day filled in by 9 a.m. so I know where I stand throughout the day. If I decided later to alter what I eat, I can make those adjustments as I go along. I find this works really well for me because it allows me to plan for the sweets and carbs I crave without overdoing it and then finding myself with only a few calories left at the end of the day.

RavensFan20

I do it after the meal, just in case I add or delete something. The only thing I add before hand is water. If I grab a bottle and it's 24 oz. (3 servings) I'll click 3 before I'm finished.

KimAggie04

I fill out my day's meals after I exercise. I usually know what I am eating for the main meals, but then I use the extra exercise calories to plan my snacks. Pre-planning really helps me stay in track and really decide what I want to spend my calories on throughout the day.

My favorite snacks include Fage 0% greek yogurt with honey, light laughing cow cheese with Kashi Tasty crackers, lots of fruit, and spinach with strawberries (my recent favorite). I slice the strawberries and then mash them a little to make the "dressing".

ashreynolds09

I normally do it throughout the day. I keep MFP up so as I eat I add it. I live in a VERY small town so if I'm going to eat out its pretty much McDonalds - or a little bar that serves food very similar to what I'd get at McDonalds. I have learned the cal count on those by now. If I know we're going out to eat in town, I'll look it up before hand and decide then.

ojell

I typically do most of it in the morning...and then go over it again in the evening.

angbak60

Welcome to MFP! I'm fairly new also - seriously logging for about 2 weeks now. I tend to log as I go which may not be the best idea. I like your idea of logging in advance; it may help me stay on target.

One of my favorite night time snacks is the dark chocolate dove candies. I can take 1 and break it up in 2-3 pieces and savor each piece. It makes me feel as though I really had a chocolate treat. If I eat it too quickly, I tend to want more. If you like dark chocolate, try letting it melt in your mouth! Enjoy.

GA_Gyrl

I plan all of my meals so I do mine in the morning (when I log)

jodycoady

I'm a stay-at-home mom so I do it as I go along. If you work, and can't use MFP during work hours, just get a journal and write it all down and record it later. Better to know then sit there guessing.

RobynC_88

I have the iPhone app so I just log my food as I prepare it and just go with the flow- if it gets to dinner and I don't have enough calories, I'll run around with the dog for a bit; if I'm hungry in the evening and I don't have much room left for fat or sodium, I'll have fruit or something low fat/fat free.

I find that if I plan my meals, I get bored. By doing it as I go, I'm more likely to keep on track and continue using the app and website.