Don't trust MFP food values

elmarko123
elmarko123 Posts: 89
in Health and Weight Loss
Just some friendly advice,

I decided to manually check everything on my usual days food diary (as I record everything - going by the most popular items on the food list) - by taking the values directly off the package & creating a private food recipes list (so it can't be changed) - it turns out that the total sugar, carb's & calories were around 20% higher than MFP's food list stated.

As I'm aiming for around 1800 on off days & 2200 on exercise days - the 200 variance was enough to wipe off most of my deficit.

Check the values against what's on back of the packaging, each time you do create a new private food & use that - you should notice an improvement.
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Replies

  • samra2012
    samra2012 Posts: 715
    thanks for the tip... :wink: anyway my food is different here so I have to create a new food almost everyday!
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    most of the values for food when I input in my diary have verifications from other mfp users...if you find an item that isn't accurate, then you should feed that back.
  • Natty0506
    Natty0506 Posts: 103 Member
    I always check off the package of anything I eat unless it's not processed and there is no package.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member


    Check the values against what's on back of the packaging, each time you do create a new private food & use that - you should notice an improvement.


    Why create a new one... why not just edit the one that's there to contain the proper values? That's what I usually do...
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    this is very true. a lot of the times the data is inaccurate, which is why I usually take it as a grain of salt and check food labels (which are said to be somewhat inaccurate as well).
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    this is very true. a lot of the times the data is inaccurate, which is why I usually take it as a grain of salt and check food labels (which are said to be somewhat inaccurate as well).

    I hope you're logging that grain of salt.... :wink:
  • phil4v7
    phil4v7 Posts: 68 Member
    Food companies do change their recipes from time to time as well, some of them more often than others. I've also seen the serving size change, possibly to make the product appear healthier by having fewer calories? I'm not sure. So yes, I do a spot check on the foods I eat from time to time, but don't see the benefit of everyone creating their own private food entries.
  • elmarko123
    elmarko123 Posts: 89
    Well, one point being that I'd wager that in different country's, the same foods have different nutritional values (due to the different EU/US food regulation).

    If you change it, you may be changing it from EU to US - with different foods getting switched back & forth - I'd also assume that in the rest of the world they have a different set of food regulations (which could result in even more differences).

    The logic behind creating your own, is so that nobody can change it (to a different regions values)
  • sabermax
    sabermax Posts: 64 Member
    I really have not had a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the calories burned from exercise. I find MFP say I burned more than the machines that I worked out at, Some times by a couple hundred or more. So I go to www.fitclick.com/calories_burned . It gives me a much more accurate reading of calories burned.
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    this is very true. a lot of the times the data is inaccurate, which is why I usually take it as a grain of salt and check food labels (which are said to be somewhat inaccurate as well).

    I hope you're logging that grain of salt.... :wink:

    of course! ;)
  • sandrajune72
    sandrajune72 Posts: 492 Member
    I really have not had a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the calories burned from exercise. I find MFP say I burned more than the machines that I worked out at, Some times by a couple hundred or more. So I go to www.fitclick.com/calories_burned . It gives me a much more accurate reading of calories burned.

    I know what you mean, which is why I got myself a decent HRM! Much more accurate! :happy:
  • elmarko123
    elmarko123 Posts: 89
    most of the values for food when I input in my diary have verifications from other mfp users...if you find an item that isn't accurate, then you should feed that back.
    Well, the verification isn't the problem - it may be right (to the person who created it) - just not correct for people in other parts of the world.
  • munchie34668
    munchie34668 Posts: 5 Member
    I really have not had a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the calories burned from exercise. I find MFP say I burned more than the machines that I worked out at, Some times by a couple hundred or more. So I go to www.fitclick.com/calories_burned . It gives me a much more accurate reading of calories burned.

    Thanks for the info!
  • samra2012
    samra2012 Posts: 715
    Well, one point being that I'd wager that in different country's, the same foods have different nutritional values (due to the different EU/US food regulation).

    If you change it, you may be changing it from EU to US - with different foods getting switched back & forth - I'd also assume that in the rest of the world they have a different set of food regulations (which could result in even more differences).

    The logic behind creating your own, is so that nobody can change it (to a different regions values)
    Thats what I do... anyway its in spanish!!!!! :bigsmile: (forever alone????)
  • Krazy_Kat
    Krazy_Kat Posts: 212
    I do all my own food because I am anal and obsessive. But it's private so it's not cluttering up the database
  • PrinnyBomb
    PrinnyBomb Posts: 196 Member
    I always use the packaging. Never just what people have put in the database.

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure? I hate cups. So glad we don't use them in UK recipes.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
  • LeellenMack
    LeellenMack Posts: 141 Member
    I really have not had a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the calories burned from exercise. I find MFP say I burned more than the machines that I worked out at, Some times by a couple hundred or more. So I go to www.fitclick.com/calories_burned . It gives me a much more accurate reading of calories burned.

    Thanks FitClick actually says I'm burning more calories than MFP :)
  • elmarko123
    elmarko123 Posts: 89
    I always use the packaging. Never just what people have put in the database.

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure? I hate cups. So glad we don't use them in UK recipes.
    Yup, another good reason.

    I want it per 100g, so I can do it manually (weigh the food).

    I also have an inkling that some people are deliberately putting them lower (thinking off, it's 17 so ill put 15 (always rounding down) - as every single item I changed ended up being higher than the MFP data-base stated.
  • Peppah7
    Peppah7 Posts: 64 Member
    thank you!
  • elmarko123
    elmarko123 Posts: 89

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.

    A US measuring cup... it will measure 8 fl oz. of liquid... the weights will vary for solids, milk, etc. on a scale, but it's the same standard, uniform unit when measured by volume. Not really any different than anyone else's forms of measurements... I don't see what the confusion or disdain is?
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    My main problem is that I eat mostly ethnic foods & here where I am the restaurants don't disclose their nutritional info to the customers so I just go by the generic. However if I cook my own food, I input everything manually. And as for the packaged foods, I go by the package content especially the serving size and the amount of serving per package which the majority misses out.
  • sexforjaffacakes
    sexforjaffacakes Posts: 1,001 Member
    Also, remember that food have different values in different countries.

    I often have to search for big brand names with "UK" added at the end, as American options are often first to come up and twice the calories!
  • kendrafallon
    kendrafallon Posts: 1,030 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.

    A US measuring cup... it will measure 8 fl oz. of liquid... the weights will vary for solids, milk, etc. on a scale, but it's the same standard, uniform unit when measured by volume. Not really any different than anyone else's forms of measurements... I don't see what the confusion or disdain is?

    But again a US fl oz is different to a British fl oz. Scales are far more accurate in my opinion. While it is rare that I'll use cup measurements when i do, I know exactly how much weight or volume I'm using.
  • LottieLou13
    LottieLou13 Posts: 574 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.


    A US measuring cup... it will measure 8 fl oz. of liquid... the weights will vary for solids, milk, etc. on a scale, but it's the same standard, uniform unit when measured by volume. Not really any different than anyone else's forms of measurements... I don't see what the confusion or disdain is?

    Its an issue for us here in the UK, we don't use the measurement 'cup' and it can be a right pain in the rear end trying to figure out how much a cup of something is in grams. Like you say a cup of flour will weigh different to a cup of pasta to a cup of milk...etc. When on the database it just says 1 cup of... we then have to attempt to decipher what that works out to in grams or ounces
  • Crowhorse
    Crowhorse Posts: 394 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.
    A US measuring cup... it will measure 8 fl oz. of liquid... the weights will vary for solids, milk, etc. on a scale, but it's the same standard, uniform unit when measured by volume. Not really any different than anyone else's forms of measurements... I don't see what the confusion or disdain is?

    Because they aren't very familiar with it and apparently the thought of something not being completely exact bothers them?

    About the only time it is truly desirable to use weight is large scale baking.

    I never had a problem making cakes or cookies with volume measurement in my home kitchen.

    The idea of having to tediously weigh everything when I can just easily reach for a cup or a tsp doesn't appeal to me any more than the idea of using a cup appeals to them.

    For everyday uses, volume measurement works well enough, and even if you have a bit more one day, another day you might have a bit less, so I think it evens out in the long run.

    Personally, I don't even use volume measurements unless I'm baking. I just eyeball stuff. While it might not be as accurate as some people prefer, it's served me well.
  • sexforjaffacakes
    sexforjaffacakes Posts: 1,001 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.

    A US measuring cup... it will measure 8 fl oz. of liquid... the weights will vary for solids, milk, etc. on a scale, but it's the same standard, uniform unit when measured by volume. Not really any different than anyone else's forms of measurements... I don't see what the confusion or disdain is?

    It makes sense to use a cup for liquid, we use ml and floz for liquid, but a cup of food makes no sense. You don't know how loose or how packed the cup is. And measuring cups aren't exactly standard in other countries, you don't have them lying about the house, a lot of shops don't even sell them.
    But yeah, for food, weight makes a lot more sense for accuracy, and is more convenient.
  • TaylorsGranddad
    TaylorsGranddad Posts: 453 Member
    most of the values for food when I input in my diary have verifications from other mfp users...if you find an item that isn't accurate, then you should feed that back.

    Thats what I do too.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member

    1 cup of something? How is that an accurate measure?

    Because it's a standard sized, uniform unit of measurement, perhaps?
    You mean the metric cup, imperial cup or U.S. customary cup?.

    A US measuring cup... it will measure 8 fl oz. of liquid... the weights will vary for solids, milk, etc. on a scale, but it's the same standard, uniform unit when measured by volume. Not really any different than anyone else's forms of measurements... I don't see what the confusion or disdain is?

    It makes sense to use a cup for liquid, we use ml and floz for liquid, but a cup of food makes no sense. You don't know how loose or how packed the cup is. And measuring cups aren't exactly standard in other countries, you don't have them lying about the house, a lot of shops don't even sell them.
    But yeah, for food, weight makes a lot more sense for accuracy, and is more convenient.

    It isn't for me. :laugh: I prefer the cup... I have three sets of measuring cups. Some stay in things like the flour, sugar, etc. It isn't hard at all to measure in a cup (for me). Set of measuring cups=1.00. Good food scale=25.00.

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