Logging alreay prepared food - What do you do?

kumitekg
kumitekg Posts: 61
in Food and Nutrition
I have a logging question: how do you log something you buy that is already prepared and has no nutritional information available??

I try to be making all of my own meals as much as possible, but sometimes it doesn't happen. Example - today I bought a sandwich for lunch. I knew it was basically a vegetarian sandwich with hummus (as per the label), so chose the closest thing I saw on MFP, but how do you account for things like that? For all I know I am way up or up down. This also comes up if eating at a friend's or at a restaurant or whatever. I would imagine you try to find the closest thing on here, but are there any other suggestions?

Replies

  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I knew it was basically a vegetarian sandwich with hummus (as per the label), so chose the closest thing I saw on MFP, but how do you account for things like that? For all I know I am way up or up down. This also comes up if eating at a friend's or at a restaurant or whatever. I would imagine you try to find the closest thing on here, but are there any other suggestions?

    That's all you can do. You can't get any more accurate than a best guess if you didn't prepare it yourself or don't have the recipe.
  • Gizziemoto
    Gizziemoto Posts: 430 Member
    I make the best choice possible. If I have time, I try to enter each item and guess the quantity. Or I will pick the higher calorie item that is the best fit. Rather over guess than under guess. But that is just me.
  • DoxieLove10612
    DoxieLove10612 Posts: 145 Member
    I enter all the ingredients manually. Like if I get a wrap at work, I will type in every item I can. If there are multiple options for say turkey meet I will try and find the common number. Say 4 options are around 66 cals for 6 pieces and one states 120 for 6 pieces I will input 70 calories and hope for the best. Good luck! We all learn as we go.
  • di2losew8
    di2losew8 Posts: 131 Member
    Usually that's what I do too...manually add each ingredient in and try to estimate how much. Or find something close to it that looks about the same.
  • kumitekg
    kumitekg Posts: 61
    Thanks ! It all makes sense. Guess I was dreamily hoping there was an easier way :-)
  • edleim
    edleim Posts: 81 Member
    And don't forget the olive oil. I buy a lot of prepared veggies, etc... and always double the amount I think I add since they always seem to add more.

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