Should I log food that I only take a bite?

mrsheu

To combat binge eating and to satisfy my cravings, I allow myself to take one single bite of different food. This happens no more than once or twice a day, but I'm not sure if I need to log it. Even if I did, I wouldn't know how much I ate, but I'm pretty sure in these instances, it is no more than 100 calories, even 50 calories.

Examples include: single bites of pizza, ice cream, cake, pasta, but mostly processed snacks.

SweetSammie

I do - I just give my best estimate of what portion I ate - so 1/8 of something if I'm using my phone.... if I'm on the computer, maybe .1 - 1/10... you would be surprised at how many calories some bites may be!

mgram2

I log EVERYTHING. Even if it's just a bite. You can always figure out about how much of something you had and change your portion size when you count the calories.
It's crazy how small stuff like that actually adds up.

tlblood

To combat binge eating and to satisfy my cravings, I allow myself to take one single bite of different food. This happens no more than once or twice a day, but I'm not sure if I need to log it. Even if I did, I wouldn't know how much I ate, but I'm pretty sure in these instances, it is no more than 100 calories, even 50 calories.

Examples include: single bites of pizza, ice cream, cake, pasta, but mostly processed snacks.

A phrase I learned at Weight Watchers was BLTs...Bites, Licks, and Tastes, and they do add up. If you do this only every once in awhile, I probably wouldn't worry about it, but if you're doing it once to twice daily, that could be a sizable number a calories in a week that you're not tracking. I would enter the food and just change the portion size; an estimation is better than nothing. For example, 1/4 of the twinkie, 1/8 of a slice of pizza, etc. One of the things I love about this site is that it'll take weird decimals as the serving size, so what ever fraction you think it was, just enter that.

Gyllain

Personally I would log it.
I had a bite of my daughters buttered baguette this morning and I was tempted not to log it but I have.
Otherwise I could be kidding myself about how much I'm eating.
All the little things add up!

mdj1501

I log bites.. like .1 or .2 of a serving.

julieh391

For a bite of something to be 100 calories, you'd have to be biting a stick of butter. A bite of any junk food is probably around 20-40. What I do when I take a bite of my kids' food or something is just round up on what I'm eating. Maybe I'll have salad with cheese on it and just log a little more cheese than I actually ate if i took a bite of pizza or something. That way I avoid going through the database, finding the thing I only ate a bite of, and figuring out how to log it (finding the smallest serving size, figuring a percent of that.) It's just easier to add to something comparable that's already in my log.

bikinibeliever

I do, I estimate. They all add up.

shaycat

I do that a lot too. I try to log it as much as possible.
I will sometimes find the food, like a slice of pizza and would in .25 of a serving.

Gyllain

For a bite of something to be 100 calories, you'd have to be biting a stick of butter. A bite of any junk food is probably around 20-40. What I do when I take a bite of my kids' food or something is just round up on what I'm eating. Maybe I'll have salad with cheese on it and just log a little more cheese than I actually ate if i took a bite of pizza or something. That way I avoid going through the database, finding the thing I only ate a bite of, and figuring out how to log it (finding the smallest serving size, figuring a percent of that.) It's just easier to add to something comparable that's already in my log.

That's a good idea. I'm gonna do that from now on!

crzyone

I would count it. Those bites add up and I am really bad about thinking, "Oh, one bit won't hurt" and then taking a zillion bites. But, it's still just a bite..what harm could it do???

But, everyone's different.

mermx

It just depends if you want to lose weight, then I am sure you do asking the question?

Sorry didn`t mean to sound so harsh caps lock went on lol!

Try to log everything because otherwise how will you know how many cals you are eating.

Well done to you for wanting to make a change in your life x

KickassAugust

To combat binge eating and to satisfy my cravings, I allow myself to take one single bite of different food. This happens no more than once or twice a day, but I'm not sure if I need to log it. Even if I did, I wouldn't know how much I ate, but I'm pretty sure in these instances, it is no more than 100 calories, even 50 calories.

Examples include: single bites of pizza, ice cream, cake, pasta, but mostly processed snacks.

A phrase I learned at Weight Watchers was BLTs...Bites, Licks, and Tastes, and they do add up. If you do this only every once in awhile, I probably wouldn't worry about it, but if you're doing it once to twice daily, that could be a sizable number a calories in a week that you're not tracking. I would enter the food and just change the portion size; an estimation is better than nothing. For example, 1/4 of the twinkie, 1/8 of a slice of pizza, etc. One of the things I love about this site is that it'll take weird decimals as the serving size, so what ever fraction you think it was, just enter that.

Bites, Licks and Tastes - sounds good to me!

jenigeddon

I log everything including 0 calories foods.

LisaBeateith2012

I log everything even a bite or a sip of anything it is logged! Today I went to Mcdonalds with the kids and I had three bites of the Double chocolate muffin, 2 spoonfuls of the crunchie Mcflurry and a sip of the starburst mixed berry milkshake! A whopping 155 calories! So it is amazing how it all adds up! :grumble:

mrsheu

Thank you to everyone for your input. i will be logging those bites now! Thankfully I am satisfied with only one bite!

taxidermist15

remember to log stamps!- 5 calories per stamp (hope you dont work at a PO)
toothpaste- about 10 calories per "serve"

and well... certain bodily fluids.. 5 calories per teaspoon... but hey! its protien filled so its good for you...


so in response t your question.., no im not that crazy about it, if im at a deficiet for the day then thats all that matters, i usually have about 100-150 cal left over for the dy anyway to combat that sorta stuff. otherwise id go mental.

sa11yjane

Everything should be logged really as those little bits do add up. They are obviously hard to calculate but I would have a guess, and over estimate rather than under estimate. Once you see all those little bits logged and how many calories those tiny bites turn into, you might actually decide that they're not actually worth it. When at a slimming club we were told that 'little pickers wear bigger knickers'......dare I say food for thought?!

Vailara

You could always makes sure there are about 50 calories left at the end of the day. (As long as that doesn't encourage you to take multiple bites!).

Or you could set your goal to a faster weight loss to make sure that those bites and any other accidental extras are covered (which is kind of what I've done, to allow for underestimation of calories, overestimation of exercise, etc. I started on 1/2 pound a week, but changed it to a pound)

Or you could just forget about it. 50 calories most days, maybe 250 calories a week, is only going to add up to a very slightly slower weight loss. It might be worth logging it for a little while, though just to make sure it really is that much, and not much more.

BrienJD

Depends on HOW MANY "bites" of different things throughout the day. Calories can add up quickly. That bite of pizza, the quick sip of soda, coupled with that one chip and dip..et, etc, etc. You got the picture. Just a bite of a few things can be 100 calories or more by days end.

If you are like that then definately log.

JMHO

FuneralDiner

It's probably a good idea to do so.

This is why I try to avoid doing it. Way too lazy to log it all. :P

mem50

For a bite of something to be 100 calories, you'd have to be biting a stick of butter. A bite of any junk food is probably around 20-40. What I do when I take a bite of my kids' food or something is just round up on what I'm eating. Maybe I'll have salad with cheese on it and just log a little more cheese than I actually ate if i took a bite of pizza or something. That way I avoid going through the database, finding the thing I only ate a bite of, and figuring out how to log it (finding the smallest serving size, figuring a percent of that.) It's just easier to add to something comparable that's already in my log.

mmmm...deep fried buttersticks.

Seriously, yes you log it. As a true item, like .25 of candy bar or rounded up with your other foods, either way is good. Yeah it may only be a few calories but how do you know if you don't log? I know a skinny little slice of cheesecake is horrific so even a couple of bites may be as high as 100 calories. Cheesecake factory Godiva Chocolate slice is over 1000 calories. Yikes. So a couple of bites of that and...............

JediMaster_intraining

I just started doing this and wow one cheez-it and one bite of my boyfriend's dessert add up quickly! it helps me to log it because i'm trying to lose the last few pounds! every little bit helps and it makes me more accountable to myself.

michellesz

Log everything. You would rather be logging to your benefit than wondering why you're following the plan and not losing weight. All those little bites here and there (if that's what you are doing several times a day) could surprisingly add up to be a whole snack or meal in some cases. I would err on the side of caution.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

All bites have calories. If you do this 2-3 times a day, that's 60ish calories, no biggie for a day. But a week that's 420 calories... so yeah, I would just add "Quick Calories" to the snacks.

Bobby_Clerici

Nice...:laugh:
Of course you do!
Take your best guess. One bite here - another there....it adds up.
Any food that goes into your mouth you swallow should be logged.

goldfinger88

It's your call. But if you put it in your stomach and if you log calories, you should log it. If you don't know the exact calories (and likely you won't) just use the quick calories and estimate high. While I personally don't believe in the calorie thing, most here do. So you should log everything you eat or drink as it's part of your daily intake regardless of whether you graze, nibble or eat it as part of a snack or meal.

speediejane

They all add up.

JuneBPrice

If you do it a lot? Yeah. If you do it once a day? I wouldn't. I guess it also depends on your definition of a "bite," and what you're taking a bite of. A bite of a cheeseburger isn't going to be the same as one bite of cheesecake.