If you are going to input food data, do it right

donesawyer
donesawyer Posts: 5
edited November 11 in Food and Nutrition
I don't know why some people insist on putting in data but can't be bothered to look at the label for spelling and nutrition. Come on, quit being a slacker or don't bother f'ing up the database for the rest of us.
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Replies

  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    That's kind of harsh. But, I will say that it is frustrating to select a certain food and see nutrition facts that are clearly not even close.
  • eugenett
    eugenett Posts: 1
    myfitnesspal needs to improve the way data can be entered, it's too cumbersome at the moment:

    1. Mobile editing of input data needs to be added, the only way I and many other users interact with MFP, not through the website
    2. Ability to upload a photo of a label from your phone for others/mechanical turk to process would be helpful as well
  • donesawyer
    donesawyer Posts: 5
    Yeah, I used the bar code scan on some simple whole milk and the data was a mess. Pissed me off so I flamed. Soz if too harsh.
  • farfromthetree
    farfromthetree Posts: 982 Member
    I really wish they would clean up the database and only keep "scanned" items in there, not whatever Joe Schmoe decided to add...
  • Lmck4
    Lmck4 Posts: 1
    Just started. Help? I can't find the scanner?
  • TheMannon
    TheMannon Posts: 36 Member
    farfromthetree wrote: »
    I really wish they would clean up the database and only keep "scanned" items in there, not whatever Joe Schmoe decided to add...

    no need to go to this extreme - why would MFP delete some 'joe schmoe' added item that has 100 confirmations?

    I agree that it'd be nice if stuff could get purged if there are no confirmations after X period of time.
  • shellma00
    shellma00 Posts: 1,684 Member
    I just make sure I double check to make sure it comes up correctly. I used the barcode scanner the other night on a box of HoneyMaid Honey Graham Crackers and it came up zero calories, I thought "that cannot be right". Upon closer look it had came up as Mio.. the zero calorie water flavor enhancers.. Anyway, I scanned again just to be sure and it still came up Mio.. So I just had to search the database. I just wonder if sometimes the barcodes on certain products might be similar?
  • weird_me2
    weird_me2 Posts: 716 Member
    I think MFP also needs to give us the option to remove a food from the database if we enter it ourselves. I've always saved my personal foods for my use only, but the last few entries I've made have automatically gone in to the MFP database. I just entered one yesterday and looked at the box where you can choose to have it entered in to the database and it was NOT checked and as soon as I hit SAVE, the box showed as checked and the food uploaded to the MFP database. I don't think that every single possible combination of food from Chipotle needs to be in the database, which is why I created my own and tried to save it for myself only. At least my NI is correct, but how likely is it that someone will get the exact same quantity and type of ingredients and want to enter it in to MFP?
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Lmck4 wrote: »
    Just started. Help? I can't find the scanner?

    On the app - looks like a little bar code. Click on Add to Diary - you can either click it right where it says barcode or go into the meal you want and select the little barcode next to the search bar.
  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
    You definitely have to read the info because there is a ton of erroneous info recorded in the database.
  • SherrieBee71
    SherrieBee71 Posts: 21 Member
    Oh gosh! I just joined & had no idea the data base could be off :/ I'll be sure & check behind stuff and try the scan option. Its important to have the right info
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    weird_me2 wrote: »
    I think MFP also needs to give us the option to remove a food from the database if we enter it ourselves. I've always saved my personal foods for my use only, but the last few entries I've made have automatically gone in to the MFP database. I just entered one yesterday and looked at the box where you can choose to have it entered in to the database and it was NOT checked and as soon as I hit SAVE, the box showed as checked and the food uploaded to the MFP database. I don't think that every single possible combination of food from Chipotle needs to be in the database, which is why I created my own and tried to save it for myself only. At least my NI is correct, but how likely is it that someone will get the exact same quantity and type of ingredients and want to enter it in to MFP?

    You need to manually check off the box that says to add it in the database; I've only ever seen it unchecked.

    My own recipes show up in the database because I've inputted them in my own recipe section, but haven't marked them off for general use; if I search for 'chicken salad', my own recipes will be the top options to choose from, but someone else won't be able to see them.
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    To combat this, I usually try looking up the product on Wal Marts website as they keep accurate labels. I'll correct what is wrong and change the units to grams.
  • AmandaHugginkiss
    AmandaHugginkiss Posts: 486 Member
    When you see data that is entered incorrectly, correct it and mark it as corrected. If people started doing that instead of entering an all new entry or simply complaining, things would improve.
  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
    AmandaHugginkiss wrote: »
    When you see data that is entered incorrectly, correct it and mark it as corrected. If people started doing that instead of entering an all new entry or simply complaining, things would improve.

    That would be a big help. There are so many entries that are the same thing with different figures.

  • obscuremusicreference
    obscuremusicreference Posts: 1,320 Member
    spacequiztime wrote: »
    To combat this, I usually try looking up the product on Wal Marts website as they keep accurate labels. I'll correct what is wrong and change the units to grams.

    Oh, I did not know this. Thanks for the heads up!

    And IDK why anyone would flag OP. It's the truth and some of y'all need to hear it. There are products on here that are lacking any info beyond calories, have the wrong calories/serving sizes, and are misspelled beyond all reason. And then there's the homemade ones. What even is this entry?


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  • jnv7594
    jnv7594 Posts: 983 Member
    edited January 2015
    AmandaHugginkiss wrote: »
    When you see data that is entered incorrectly, correct it and mark it as corrected. If people started doing that instead of entering an all new entry or simply complaining, things would improve.

    The problem there is that I've even seen corrected data that is wrong, lol. Sometimes I wonder if people make entries wrong on purpose so that they fit in their diary, lol. A way of lying to themselves so to speak. Because seriously there are many of those entries that should be universal no matter who enters them. I have no idea why so many of them are wrong.

  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
    I use to think people were hitting the flags for likes, but you still have to use the drop down menu to select the flag. Everything seems to be flagged anymore.

    And Yes I have no idea why that would be an entry.
  • Barbs2222
    Barbs2222 Posts: 433 Member
    I think it would be nice if we could put a name on our quick cals. If people could do this they might not make an entry in the database.

  • obscuremusicreference
    obscuremusicreference Posts: 1,320 Member
    Tigg_er wrote: »
    I use to think people were hitting the flags for likes, but you still have to use the drop down menu to select the flag. Everything seems to be flagged anymore.

    And Yes I have no idea why that would be an entry.

    I want their secret to a 200-calorie ham and cheese sandwich though
  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
    obscuremusicreference wrote: »
    Tigg_er wrote: »
    I use to think people were hitting the flags for likes, but you still have to use the drop down menu to select the flag. Everything seems to be flagged anymore.

    And Yes I have no idea why that would be an entry.

    I want their secret to a 200-calorie ham and cheese sandwich though

    Me too, ha. Must be them little rye breads with a dab of Laughing Cow.
  • NoelFigart1
    NoelFigart1 Posts: 1,276 Member
    I am having problems with the bread.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypcSHTLlK8E
  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
    ^^ thats it :D
  • weird_me2
    weird_me2 Posts: 716 Member
    missiontofitness wrote: »
    weird_me2 wrote: »
    I think MFP also needs to give us the option to remove a food from the database if we enter it ourselves. I've always saved my personal foods for my use only, but the last few entries I've made have automatically gone in to the MFP database. I just entered one yesterday and looked at the box where you can choose to have it entered in to the database and it was NOT checked and as soon as I hit SAVE, the box showed as checked and the food uploaded to the MFP database. I don't think that every single possible combination of food from Chipotle needs to be in the database, which is why I created my own and tried to save it for myself only. At least my NI is correct, but how likely is it that someone will get the exact same quantity and type of ingredients and want to enter it in to MFP?

    You need to manually check off the box that says to add it in the database; I've only ever seen it unchecked.

    My own recipes show up in the database because I've inputted them in my own recipe section, but haven't marked them off for general use; if I search for 'chicken salad', my own recipes will be the top options to choose from, but someone else won't be able to see them.

    I've never checked them, but the last couple of food items I've added have been added to the database. This last time, I made sure the box was unchecked, but as soon as I hit SAVE, the box checked itself. Don't know if it's a glitch or what. The first time I noticed one added to the database, I tried to go in and edit it to remove it and it didn't give me that option.
  • Christi102012
    Christi102012 Posts: 87 Member
    farfromthetree wrote: »
    I really wish they would clean up the database and only keep "scanned" items in there, not whatever Joe Schmoe decided to add...

    I don't remember what it was but I scanned something and the MFP data was still wrong. I ended up creating a new entry
  • jequirity
    jequirity Posts: 37 Member
    eugenett wrote: »
    myfitnesspal needs to improve the way data can be entered, it's too cumbersome at the moment:

    1. Mobile editing of input data needs to be added, the only way I and many other users interact with MFP, not through the website
    2. Ability to upload a photo of a label from your phone for others/mechanical turk to process would be helpful as well

    Oh my gosh! That would be food logging heaven. (*)

  • peter56765
    peter56765 Posts: 352 Member
    edited January 2015
    Things that drive me crazy about the MFP database
    1. Multiple entries for the same thing. Come on people. Look first and if there's still a difference, edit, don't add.
    2. Incomplete nutritional information. Usually just calories. Laziness at work here.
    3. People entering rough guesses for dishes, e.g. "Meatloaf: 500 calories" (usually it's only calories again). Please don't share this kind of thing. I just use Quick Add Calories and write in the Today's Food Notes when it's a WAG.
    4. Numbers that don't scale. "3 cookies (45g)". Well, I only ate one but it shows up as "1 cookie (45g)". Yeesh.
    5. The database search results should prioritize and flag items you've selected before. This would save everyone a LOT of time.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    edited January 2015
    peter56765 wrote: »
    Numbers that don't scale. "3 cookies (45g)". Well, I only ate one but it shows up as "1 cookie (45g)". Yeesh.

    Yeah that's annoying. The app should be smarter and correct it to 1 cookie (15g). Although I love people who enter the weight in grams too, and not just '3 cookies'. That drives me nuts. I'm seriously tired of having to enter the data in gram for about EVERYTHING. At this point I just know the gram servings for everything I use a lot (jam, cream cheese, mustard, frozen veggies, whatever) and just don't bother correcting it anymore, it's just too annoying.
    AmandaHugginkiss wrote: »
    When you see data that is entered incorrectly, correct it and mark it as corrected. If people started doing that instead of entering an all new entry or simply complaining, things would improve.

    Amen. Plus it's less work. I honestly don't understand why there are sometimes 15 entries for the exact same thing. Especially as the app asks you if you're sure you're not making a duplicate. I just don't get it at all.

    But yeah, everyone sharing their homemade recipes makes me shake my head. Nobody cares about your 400 calorie lasagna, people.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited January 2015
    The database is messy enough now that I'm looking for an alternative site. When I have to be googling in another window just to validate what MFP is saying, it kinda defeats the purpose of MFP...
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    I agree - if you are just going to enter the overall calories without any of the other details, that's fine, just don't upload it.
This discussion has been closed.

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