What is the easiest way you count calories?

moondybee

Now that I know the ideal amount of calories, what's the easiest way to keep track? I'm kind of a disorganized person and always on the run so it's difficult to stop and add everything up. What works best for you? Do you prepare meals for the entire week or do you purchase frozen meals that already have the calories added up? Let me know your tips, secrets and tips that help make eating right simple!

icimani

Use MFP of course!

If I'm on the run, sometimes I'll jot down what I've eaten and an idea of portion size and log it into MFP in the evening. There's an MFP app smart phones that some people have used but I don't use them so I can't comment on those.

In MFP, the Recipes section lets you add in all of your ingredients and how many people the recipe serves, and it will give you the calorie count for an individual serving. I've done it with some of my go-to meals and it saves a lot of time.

neverstray

You have a phone with an app, right?

If you can't be bothered with that, just write it down. I am trying to log in less, starting today, LOL (not working), but trying, and I have been jotting down what I eat on a sticky note. I kinda eat a lot of the same stuff all the time, so I kinda know anyways, but, then I'll go log it all in tonight when I get home, if I can get the ipad away from my daughter for 5 minutes.

DoomCakes

Someone on my friends list pre-logs their meals. At first I thought it was bad, but then I did it. It's not a bad concept for those that are too busy to stop and add every time they pop something in their mouth. Bonus, if you're able to stick to a strict plan, it's not hard at all. If you didn't add it, don't eat it. I started logging mine the night before now, and it's been a great thing. It helps me plan my meals for the next day, and tweak it if I start going over my macro's instead of eat something, log it, then surprise, overage! If you wanna aim for the week go for it, but I think one day advance is pretty nifty.

Helloitsdan

I tend to eat a lot of the same food so I copy and paste it from day to day.
Dinner tends to change daily so thats pretty much the one item i have to scan in.

elleloch

I plan a lot of what I eat in advance and log it all ahead of time.

girllovedcupcakes

I eat almost the exact same thing every day so that makes it really easy. I log in advance, and then adjust as I go along if I change something.

Linli_Anne

Spend some time and build some of your favourite meals (ie. meatloaf with mashed potatoes and baby carrots). Use the recipe section, save favourite meals/snacks as such so they are there for quick reference.

I typically plan ahead and log everything at the start of the day - but once I'm at the office I don't have much choice to run out and get anything extra so I make sure I always have enough stuff on hand that is healthy.

RobynLB

Prior to finding this MFP thing... which I've switched to because I am monitoring more than calories... I just did it in my head, but you can write it down in a little notebook too. You can also round. Here's my ballpark rounding per serving of things I normally eat.

Lean protein 130
Veg. 25
Starchy/ sweet veg. 50
Bread 80
Pasta or rice 200
Fruit 60
Fat / nuts 100
Cheese 100
Packaged food whatever it says on the package

So you just jot down how many of servings you eat of what per meal and the totals and keep a running total. You can also keep a running total in your head if you're used to it and you eat the same stuff all the time. This method does require you to know portion sizes though. Lean meat = palm. Veggie = .25 - 2 cup depending on veggie. Fruit = one med piece of fruit or half banana. Bread = 1 slice. Rice or pasta equals about 3/4-1 cup. Fat = 1 tbsp. Cheese = 1 oz (1" square).