Nutrition information

baby05phat
baby05phat Posts: 71 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What do you guys do when there is no nutrition information available for things you're about to eat or someone cooked something for you using a lot of ingredients? I've denied things not knowing the calories before but I want to stop and want to know how others work through it

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    It doesn't happen very often for me. When it does, I tend to take a guess and I know that I might end up with water retention for a couple days after.

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Depends on what it is. I might try to reconstruct it (once I had a friend send me a recipe), but more often I just accept it as imperfect and give what I think is a reasonable to generous estimate. This mostly happens with restaurant meals.
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    baby05phat wrote: »
    What do you guys do when there is no nutrition information available for things you're about to eat or someone cooked something for you using a lot of ingredients? I've denied things not knowing the calories before but I want to stop and want to know how others work through it

    Swag.
  • baby05phat
    baby05phat Posts: 71 Member
    Yeah same with me! it's frustrating, I try super hard to stay within items I have information for now
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    It doesn't happen very often for me. When it does, I tend to take a guess and I know that I might end up with water retention for a couple days after.
  • baby05phat
    baby05phat Posts: 71 Member
    That's a good idea! I'll ask them to send some recipes if possible
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Depends on what it is. I might try to reconstruct it (once I had a friend send me a recipe), but more often I just accept it as imperfect and give what I think is a reasonable to generous estimate. This mostly happens with restaurant meals.

  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    baby05phat wrote: »
    That's a good idea! I'll ask them to send some recipes if possible
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Depends on what it is. I might try to reconstruct it (once I had a friend send me a recipe), but more often I just accept it as imperfect and give what I think is a reasonable to generous estimate. This mostly happens with restaurant meals.

    Don't be that person.
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  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    asflatasapancake wrote: »
    Guess and try to overestimate. Usually, I pick the most caloric option in the database. It's served me well.
    I'll do this or try entering the ingredients manually and add a tablespoon or so of butter / oil

  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    asflatasapancake wrote: »
    Guess and try to overestimate. Usually, I pick the most caloric option in the database. It's served me well.

    This is good enough
  • baby05phat
    baby05phat Posts: 71 Member
    That hurts, I picked a huge calorie option and then was hungry shortly after making me think it was way lower in calories, messes with my head! lol .....Still going to try my best to knowing, I feel naked not knowing
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    asflatasapancake wrote: »
    Guess and try to overestimate. Usually, I pick the most caloric option in the database. It's served me well.

    This is good enough

  • lgube283
    lgube283 Posts: 15 Member
    edited May 2015
    I tend to just guess and type in a description in the MFP search. When in doubt, overestimate the calories and fat.
  • booksandchocolate12
    booksandchocolate12 Posts: 1,741 Member
    asflatasapancake wrote: »
    Guess and try to overestimate. Usually, I pick the most caloric option in the database. It's served me well.

    ^^This.

    OP, it makes me sad to think that you're denying yourself something you might enjoy, because you're afraid of being wrong about the calories. Even those most diligent at logging are imperfect, but still successful.

  • baby05phat
    baby05phat Posts: 71 Member
    thanks for the advice everyone :)
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    booksandchocolate12 wrote: »
    OP, it makes me sad to think that you're denying yourself something you might enjoy, because you're afraid of being wrong about the calories. Even those most diligent at logging are imperfect, but still successful.

    This. Just overestimate if you aren't comfortable guessing and maybe try to limit how often it comes up. I don't find using other things in the database all that helpful given the size variation, but it depends on what it is. The main thing is just having an estimate, as the overall point is to be able to adjust your calories after a few weeks if they aren't right.

    During the first several months of my weight loss I probably went out to dinner 2 times a week, and I never go to restaurants with calorie counts. I estimated, and I lost just fine every week.
  • allyphoe
    allyphoe Posts: 618 Member
    I eyeball, log either a similar dish or likely ingredients, and move on. I've been eyeballing successfully long enough that I will sometimes adjust later in the day based on how I feel. A thousand calorie meal and a two hundred calorie meal sit differently in your belly.
  • lgube283
    lgube283 Posts: 15 Member
    So true, Allyphoe!

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