question on database

heather4132
heather4132 Posts: 7 Member
edited January 20 in Food and Nutrition
Why won't the database let you select "normal" amounts of food to determine calories. I looked up brocolli and wanted to know cal in 1 cup, all I got as an option was 85 grams. I've seen this for other foods too, like peanuts, where you only have two options and they are in grams. Maybe I'm doing something wrong and if people could tell me what, I'd appreciate it!

Edit: I guess for peanuts, you get 1 oz, 100 grams, or 1 peanut. But I'd like to select 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 2 tablespoons, that kind of thing.
Thanks for any info.

Replies

  • sarahDickson501
    sarahDickson501 Posts: 87 Member
    look on the label of whatever it is you are eating, it should have the normal measurement and also the Grams listed.
  • ZyheeMoongazer
    ZyheeMoongazer Posts: 343 Member
    For most food items, weight measurement is far more accurate. Buy a food scale.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Get a food scale and use it. Volume measurements are really pretty bad.
  • heather4132
    heather4132 Posts: 7 Member
    OK, thanks. I eat mostly unprocessed foods, so there isn't always a label to look at.

    But you still can't enter the total weight, right? You'd have to do fractions based on 85 grams, for example.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    I have the equal complaint from the other side. How the heck do you measure 1 cup of broccoli crowns? So, I prefer weight for most things. It's very easy and results in 1 fewer dirty dishes. Just whap that scale down on the counter, throw the bowl you're going to eat in on it, hit the tare button and off you go.

    Grams are cool for this purpose, even for this Amerkun, because they're little so you don't have to do fractions and you don't have to figure out how many ounces 1/2 of 1 pound 5 ounces is. (It's 10.5 oz. ... I think ...) You also don't need to remember that 1.5 pounds is more than 1 pound 5 ounces.

    So, when adding to the database, please put both grams and cups. Make us both happy.
  • cb83580
    cb83580 Posts: 136 Member
    OK, thanks. I eat mostly unprocessed foods, so there isn't always a label to look at.

    But you still can't enter the total weight, right? You'd have to do fractions based on 85 grams, for example.

    For most whole foods, MFP has entries with multiple measurements to choose from. Look for the ones without the asterisk before the title.

    For peanuts, search "peanuts raw". You get 1 cup, 1 oz or 100 grams to choose from. Yes, fractions are generally necessary to enter things in your diary. Most of us learned how to use those in grade school. It shouldn't bee too difficult to enter .85 of one (100g) serving to enter 85 grams of peanuts.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

    ^^ This is a great site for looking up fairly definitive nutrition values for various foods. It's especially great for produce and meat.
  • heather4132
    heather4132 Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks for the responses!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    OK, thanks. I eat mostly unprocessed foods, so there isn't always a label to look at.

    But you still can't enter the total weight, right? You'd have to do fractions based on 85 grams, for example.

    Yes, use fractions. I don't weigh my food, but I've found that, since there are multiple entries for everything, there is usually oen entry by volume (cups or spoons).
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