Using "Quick Add Calories" Feature

arabianhorselover
arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
edited November 2023 in Getting Started
Hi. I find myself using this feature a lot. The problem is that you can't track your nutrients that way. How do you all deal with this? Or do you not use this feature?
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Replies

  • MG_Fit
    MG_Fit Posts: 1,143 Member
    Do not use this feature.
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    I use it when I know how many calories are in something I ate. It seems more accurate than looking something up in the database and possibly choosing something that may not have the right calorie count.
  • Swiftdogs
    Swiftdogs Posts: 328 Member
    I use it for one-time foods, since they cannot be deleted. I just use the Note section to record nutrients. It messes up the graphs, but at least the data is there if I want to check.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Or do you not use this feature?

    Ding ding ding!

    The only time I would use it is if I know I had more calories but there was nothing in the database that was similar enough to be worth using. It should not, IMO, be something you use on a regular basis.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Hi. I find myself using this feature a lot. The problem is that you can't track your nutrients that way. How do you all deal with this? Or do you not use this feature?

    That's exactly why I don't use it.
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    I guess I'll have to try using the database more. So do you just add the things you eat all the time to the database?

    Also, I really don't know how much off all the different things I should be having every day. Is there an easy way to figure it out?

    Thank you.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I don't use it!!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I guess I'll have to try using the database more. So do you just add the things you eat all the time to the database?

    Also, I really don't know how much off all the different things I should be having every day. Is there an easy way to figure it out?

    Thank you.

    I rarely have to add anything... 99% of what I eat is in there already.

    What do you mean by "all the different things" you should be having every day?
  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    have never used it.
  • peggymdellinger
    peggymdellinger Posts: 151 Member
    I've only used it once when I took a couple of taste tests at the Fresh Market. Other than that, I don't use it! I make sure the info loaded by other members is correct and track it that way. You'll find that you eat a lot of the same foods and you can just select them from your recent foods list. I also use the recipe section when I cook a meal at home.
  • peggymdellinger
    peggymdellinger Posts: 151 Member
    As far as "the different things you should have every day", that's where your macros come in (carbs, protein, fats, etc...). These help you figure out where you're doing well and where you need more or less of whatever type of food.
  • spammarino
    spammarino Posts: 34 Member
    Yeah I wouldn't really recommend this feature as you don't get the macro breakdown. Take some time to search the database or make you own entry. Once you have a library going, it will be easy to recall those previously eaten items and it gets easier to enter information.
  • bookworm_847
    bookworm_847 Posts: 1,903 Member
    The only time I use it is if I'm going to a party or family gathering, and won't be able to log after. I usually don't know what exactly we're having, but I know the kinds of food they usually serve. So I'll just guess based on if it's usually high calorie stuff or low calorie stuff. I'm probably never right on, but may be in the ballpark.

    Other than that, I don't really use it. You can find pretty much anything in the database.
  • cbroadberry
    cbroadberry Posts: 130 Member
    I use this when i know i am eating out in the evening, but cant log it as i dont know what m having yet. I will log Quick add calories to the estimated value, and then update with the actual food choice when i get home.

    Just lets me know what calories i have available to eat earlier in the day, and stops me going over when i dont know what im having.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I guess I'll have to try using the database more. So do you just add the things you eat all the time to the database?

    Also, I really don't know how much off all the different things I should be having every day. Is there an easy way to figure it out?

    Thank you.

    Try this: http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/fnic/interactiveDRI/
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    That's what I mean. The macros. How do you know how much of everything you should be getting?
  • hamminit
    hamminit Posts: 184 Member
    i like to use it for homemade soups- which still sucks tho because i dont know exactly what I am getting. (calories macros wise) but i love homemade soup- i only use fresh veggies in it though and watch the salt so hopefully its not too bad :)
  • jetlag
    jetlag Posts: 800 Member
    That's what I mean. The macros. How do you know how much of everything you should be getting?

    It really depends on what you're trying to achieve and how much media hype you believe.
  • kiwidrop
    kiwidrop Posts: 222 Member
    I very rarely use it because I often go back and look at my progress and compare my eating and nutrient levels to see what I've been doing. With the quick add it's not an accurate view. I only use the quick add for tiny things, like someone mentioned taste tests at a store.
  • Katkamm77
    Katkamm77 Posts: 108 Member
    I've only used it once, after a buffet. I had bites of several items and it would have been ridiculous to try to remember everything and figure out how many calories a bite would be. So, I estimated the calories and added some on to that number (I'd rather log too many than too little).
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    I only use it if I can't find a particular beer in the database - no real nutrition info on beer anyway, so I just record the calories.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    I use only this feature, I don't look anything up in the database.... I don't track nutrients.
  • judilockwood
    judilockwood Posts: 134 Member
    The only time I use it is if I'm going to a party or family gathering, and won't be able to log after. I usually don't know what exactly we're having, but I know the kinds of food they usually serve. So I'll just guess based on if it's usually high calorie stuff or low calorie stuff. I'm probably never right on, but may be in the ballpark.

    Other than that, I don't really use it. You can find pretty much anything in the database.

    I use it this way, sometimes I cant find everything I need - family parties, social events and meals out, so I make an informed 'gestitmate' and least the calories are shown somewhere. x
  • peggymdellinger
    peggymdellinger Posts: 151 Member
    That's what I mean. The macros. How do you know how much of everything you should be getting?

    You can use what MFP sets them at until you've done enough research to know how you want to set them in the custom settings. A lot of ppl go with a 40/30/30 split... 40% carbs, 30% fat, 30% protein.
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
    i like to use it for homemade soups- which still sucks tho because i dont know exactly what I am getting. (calories macros wise) but i love homemade soup- i only use fresh veggies in it though and watch the salt so hopefully its not too bad :)

    you can enter your recipe into the recipe section (basically you enter each ingredient and then how many portions it makes) and it'll then calculate the breakdown for you
  • unapologetically_crystal
    unapologetically_crystal Posts: 278 Member
    i ONLY use that feature if there was an incorrect entry.. like say i scan a food that is supposed to be 250 calories but its scanning as 230.. i go to quick feature and add the 20 extra calories.

    if you are eating something that you have eaten before.. you do realize you can copy and paste it so to speak.. the little wrench tool.. it will say remember meal. label it. and then input it where u like.. OR u can add it to the particular date if you can see that day.

    sorry if thats a little confusing.. if you need more help message me and i can go in depth i suppose.
  • eylia
    eylia Posts: 200 Member
    I only use it when I eat out. I log my meal as best I can, by breaking down the ingredients etc (where I live, restaurants etc. don't have any nutrient breakdown/calorie counts online and such) and trying to eyeball it as accurately as I can. I then use the quick add option to create a buffer because there's 1000 chances I mis-calculated, and sauces etc.,oil, will no doubt be higher. So I might add anywhere up to 100, more if it was likely to be calorie-dense, to be safe. I always log, otherwise.
  • loserlee123
    loserlee123 Posts: 109 Member
    I used it tonight. I was going out to dinner so beforehand I went to the restaurant's website and took down the calories of what I planned to eat, it was easier to just do a quick add of the calories but my nutrient numbers were off so that was a bummer.
  • ereck44
    ereck44 Posts: 1,170 Member
    I've never used it. One of my friends uses it, and I scratch my head, wondering what it was she ate.
  • savagedaisy
    savagedaisy Posts: 9 Member
    I just use it if I have 'bites' of things on a specific day. Sometimes you have parties/buffets/etc...
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