Searching for food.

You just need to be more specific... like zucchini raw would of probably popped up to the top.

I'll be the first to admit that I weigh my zucchini, because that's how I know how many calories to log for it. How do you know how much to log if you're not measuring?

Anyhoo...when searching, as others have said, search for zucchini, raw. Also try to select items that do not have an asterisk (*) as those were added by MFP or you and are generally more accurate.

How many people who are dieting actually measure out 100g of zucchini? Vs. how many people just buy a zucchini, cut it up, and cook it?

I weigh all my food ..... you would be surprised how much you actually overestimate...

And by the way they use 100g serving sizes to be convenient . So say i am eating a zucchini that is 256g i would plug in 2.56 servings of 100g
It makes it incredibly easy to log this way.

I'm with tessy, I weigh everything. What is a 'small' zucchini? Different countries and regions mean fruit and vegetable sizes vary a tonne. With a zucchini, granted even 50g out either way isn't a huge amount of calories, but if it was a potato, it'd make a difference.

I use the word 'raw' or search 'usda' along with whatever I'm searching. It's not so tough, actually this site makes it so so easy. Sure the database is a bit overrun with things, but I'd always rather that than having to source all my own info because what I wanted was never there; even if it takes a minute, what I want to find is always there.

Does anyone else get frustrated with the search feature here on MFP? Am I the only one who feels the search results are bad? I hate having to wade through a list of irrelevant things. Anyone have any tips for reducing the frustration / improving search results?

For example: I search "zucchini" and I get:
-Chocolate Zucchini Bread
-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts
-Archer Farms Mediterranean Style Veggies
etc etc.

"Fresh Zucchini Small" is the FIFTEENTH item in the search list. It makes no sense.

Go really basic and search "squash" instead - you'll usually find an entry without an asterisk that shows it's an MFP database entry rather than member submitted, and they have pretty complete nutritional info, as well as weight & measure options. In this case, you'll find "Squash - Zucchini, includes skin, raw" or a few options for cooking methods. Click the drop down menu for the amount and you get everything from cups to grams, so it makes it easier to accurately enter what you're eating.

I'm finding that a lot of things are plural, so rather than searching for a russet potato, I search potatoes, and then find the options for Potatoes - Russet, and so forth - same for pears, bananas, blueberries, onions, etc.

Hope that helps.

One of the important ingredients not included in the database is salt. I have been adding recipes and there is no listing for "salt". There's one for black pepper but not salt. I think it's very important to add salt to my recipes because I'm trying to watch my sodium count. Any suggestions or help is most appreciated.

You just need to be more specific... like zucchini raw would of probably popped up to the top.

this

If it's produce, I usually search USDA then whatever it is. And I also go by weight. I mean wtf is a small apple? Apparently what I consider small is actually very large...

How many people who are dieting actually measure out 100g of zucchini? Vs. how many people just buy a zucchini, cut it up, and cook it?

Counting without measuring?

Good Luck with that.

How many people who are dieting actually measure out 100g of zucchini? Vs. how many people just buy a zucchini, cut it up, and cook it?

Counting without measuring?

Good Luck with that.

Measuring a zucchini?

How many cals do you think are in that thing?
You weigh cheese like it's gold, but zucchini, near enough is certainly good enough - and if you're choosing not to eat that zucchini because its calories will put you over your goal, you have lost entirely all plot whatsoever, about what healthy eating is all about.

One of the important ingredients not included in the database is salt. I have been adding recipes and there is no listing for "salt". There's one for black pepper but not salt. I think it's very important to add salt to my recipes because I'm trying to watch my sodium count. Any suggestions or help is most appreciated.

Table Salt

You're welcome.

For fresh, raw foods, I usually add USDA. Sometimes you need to add the word "raw" if you are specifically looking for raw food because the USDA database also contains entries for cooked foods, so if I weigh my boneless, skinless chicken before I cook it, I want to make sure that I am not over-estimating due to water weight in the foods.

I see no issues with the database.

Well, I would say that it is a little less than effective in some ways, but it's certainly usable. Learning little tricks like including "raw" or "generic" or searching by brand, etc, make a difference, for sure. It's kind of like following conversations on here without any notifications, or clicking on a link to view a comment - and just getting taken to the beginning of the thread. Truth be told, some of the features could stand some updating. But overall, it isn't anything that keeps me from being able to do what I'm trying to do.

Yes, I spend most of my day searching for food, then stuffing it in my mouth.

This was my first thought, too. lol "Me too!"

I wonder if MFP would consider making 2 databases... one for specific, singular food items, and one for prepared things / recipes / restaurant items...

That seems like it would make the problem you're describing worse.

When you search any database, you need to choose the correct search terms. Searching for just zucchini should bring up all those other things.