If we're supposed to weigh everything...
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jakichan
Posts: 109 Member
...then why are so many foods only listed by volume in the database?
For example, let's say I'm building a salad for lunch, as I did today. I hit the salad bar with a measuring cup in hand. My salad had, among other things, 1/4 cup garbanzo beans. Searching for garbanzo beans in the database I find plenty of things based on volume, but none of the entries are by weight.
If you're using MFP and if you're weighing everything then how does that work? Many simple foods are only listed by volume.
For example, let's say I'm building a salad for lunch, as I did today. I hit the salad bar with a measuring cup in hand. My salad had, among other things, 1/4 cup garbanzo beans. Searching for garbanzo beans in the database I find plenty of things based on volume, but none of the entries are by weight.
If you're using MFP and if you're weighing everything then how does that work? Many simple foods are only listed by volume.
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Replies
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I keep searching for a listing until I find one that uses weight. If it doesn't exist, I create one using the nutrition label. Luckily here (in the UK) there is very little volume measuring so almost all of our labels are by weight.0
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When you search type in raw by grams after the word you are searching. (such as garbanzo beans raw by gram) it will give you more options. In doing this I see that Natural Directions garbanzo beans are 120 calories for 130 grams. (which equals .92 calories per 1 gram) using this you can multiply your gram weight (depending on your serving size by .92 and find out the calorie content of what you had)0
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Whenever you are having something generic, like garbanzo beans, keep scrolling until you get to a record that doesn't start with an asterisk (*). No asterisk is an USDA entry, not user added, and in my experience always has a grams option in the drop down box.
Edited to correct typos0 -
Because the food database is mostly populated by users who usually use volume. The primary unit on food packages is also often volume and not food. It's not a perfect system. You've just got to do the best with what you got.0
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If you search by USDA, you can generally find in terms of grams/ounces. Makes things easier.0
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Keep scrolling til you find it, my food list definitely has 1/4 c. for garbanzo's because I use it often. As a general rule try not to use generic.0
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Because America.0
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Whenever you are having something generic, like garbanzo beans, keep scrolling until you get to a record that doesn't start with an asterisk (*). No asterisk is an USDA entry, not user added, and in my experience always has a grams option in the drop down box.0
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Some foods are meant to be weighed - meat, dry pasta, etc. Others are meant to be measured - beans, veggies, etc. Don't let someone who says "weigh everything" get you confused about weights and measures. Those of us who live in America are used to our food serving size being in measurements instead of weight.
Congrats on the weight loss!0 -
Because America.
That sums it up.
I find the volume entries sorta useful when I have to eyeball something, but otherwise I just look for an entry with grams.
I use a bunch of volume entries but I know how many grams is a serving, I'm just too lazy to do another entry for everything I eat (like frozen veggies).0 -
...then why are so many foods only listed by volume in the database?0
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Because that's how users enter them in. I just solve this by dividing my serving by the serving size on the package. For raw products I'll try to use the MFP-entered data.0
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Because America.
That sums it up.
I find the volume entries sorta useful when I have to eyeball something, but otherwise I just look for an entry with grams.
I use a bunch of volume entries but I know how many grams is a serving, I'm just too lazy to do another entry for everything I eat (like frozen veggies).
Yes yes, imagine my surprise when moving to Europe and EVERYTHING *only* has nutritional info in 100g/100ml. No "portion size about 13 chips" or "two tablespoon".
It just makes so much more sense.0 -
Because America.
^ ha ha ha
That.0 -
Hello? Look at the nutrition label on the food, then enter it as you want under "My Foods".0
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I keep searching for a listing until I find one that uses weight. If it doesn't exist, I create one using the nutrition label. Luckily here (in the UK) there is very little volume measuring so almost all of our labels are by weight.
Thank you! People that weigh and measure accurately please add to the database and make it better. Two things I went and bought when I joined: scale and measuring cups, spoons, etc. Now I try to weigh and measure everything.0 -
This is good. Have you read this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide0 -
Like someone else mentioned, I usually use the usda entries. They always have a grams option.0
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You just have to search for the correct item. Add USDA, raw or use the plural form and you'll usually get there pretty easily.0
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Look for the USDA one or the generic one. It's generally in 100 gram units. There can be a big difference in actual weight and what fits in a measuring cup.0
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