Spices

It depends on the spice and the quantity. Black pepper is pretty low, crushed red pepper is a little higher.

You can google search for calories per gram for a lot of common spices, or in the MFP database.

If you're using a lot of spices, or a lot of a single spice (like several grams worth), you might want to do a sanity check and use MFP to figure out how much it adds for a given serving.

Some spices also are mixed with sodium, so if that is a factor for you it might be worth logging.

In my case the amounts of spice I use do not add more than a few calories per serving, so it's not something I do regularly.

I don't at the moment because I don't use large quantities and as for body fat, well, I still have a large quantity.

It might become more important to log them if you use a lot - it might make a difference over a week and that would influence your choice to have an extra treat or something.

It depends. I don't log salt or pepper, and if I add a dash of something for a kick (like a shake of cinnamon to my morning oatmeal) then I don't. But in recipes, or more than a dash then I do log it. I assume that I will always be a bit off on logging, just because companies are allowed to be off on calorie counts a bit, so 1 or 2 more calories I can live with (cinnamon is like 2 calories for a gram, and when I add a dash it is at most a gram - I usually just leave the cup on the scale when I add it).

I usually only log spices when I create and save My Recipes.

This is my quick list of spices and Calories per tablespoon I put together for my own reference.

Spices, Calories per tablespoon

Spices – Mustard seed, yellow, 53
Spices – Poppy seed, 47
Spices – Nutmeg, ground, 37
Spices – Fenugreek seed, 36
Spices – Garlic powder, 28
Spices – Celery seed, 25
Spices – Mace, ground, 25
Spices – Chili powder, 24
Spices – Cumin, 24
Spices – Onion, powder, 24
Spices – Turmeric, ground, 24
Spices – Anise seed, 23
Spices – Cumin seed, 23
Spices – Caraway seed, 22
Spices – Cloves, ground, 21
Spices – Curry powder, 20
Spices – Dill seed, 20
Spices – Fennel seed, 20
Spices – Paprika, 20
Spices – Ginger, ground, 19
Spices – Pumpkin pie spice, 19
Spices – Cardamom, 18
Spices – Cinnamon, ground, 18
Spices – Oregano, dried, 17
Spices – Pepper, red or cayenne, 17
Spices – Allspice, ground, 16
Spices – Pepper, black, 16
Spices – Coriander seed, 15
Spices – Poultry seasoning, 11
Spices – Rosemary, dried, 11
Spices – Dill weed, dried, 8
Spices – Saffron, 7
Spices – Thyme, dried, 7
Spices – Sage, ground, 6
Spices – Bay leaf, 6
Spices – Basil, dried, 5
Spices – Marjoram, dried, 5
Spices – Spearmint, dried (mint), 5
Spices – Tarragon, dried, 5
Spices – Parsley, dried, 4
Spices – Spearmint, fresh (mint), 3
Spices – Rosemary, fresh, 2
Spices – Thyme, fresh, 2
Spices – Basil, fresh, 1
Spices – Peppermint, fresh (mint), 1
Spices – Pepper, white, < 1

No. How many calories are in 1/8 tsp of cayenne pepper or 1/16 tsp of Israeli Za'atar?

Not enough for me to care about.

No, not unless I've bought a spice packet. For one, I don't measure my spices when I cook. I just sprinkle them in. But I don't log all of my exercise either, so a bit of nutmeg and chili powder is probably being cancelled out by that.

I log all my spices. The calories don't usually add up too much, but if anything I want to be able to replicate the meals I have created here if I decided to cook them again.

kyrannosaurus wrote: »

ForeverSunshine09 wrote: »

I log spices because I am watching sodium.

This too. Most spices are okay, but those "spice mix" type things can add a significant amount of sodium.

Indeed.
I use a lot of MrsDash too. they are really good

Coley88 wrote: »

Do you log your spices? I use a variety of them when I cook. I am especially found of pepper and crushed red pepper, I put the two on almost everything I eat.

We use LOTS of spices and I do log them. I try to log everything that goes past my lips and be accountable (please note the word "try" )

yes but it is different for everybody of course.

how big peoples deficit is and how accurate they (have) to be also
For me it is very important to get potassium...and herbs and spices have quite a lot.

I agree that not everybody has to do this.
But when i see that i use easily 80 calories in herbs and spices. Than some cooking spray which says zero but it isnt so 56 calories
that is 136 calories not calculated...that is over 900 a week so in 5 weeks a whole pound (3600 calories) miscalculating

Now like i said it is different from person to person.

No, not generally, unless it's a large amount in a recipe. A shake or two of garlic powder and a dash of crushed red pepper is simply not adding enough calories for me to be concerned with. In reality, none of our calorie counts is perfect anyway, and I'd rather be as accurate as possible on the weight of the spaghetti than worry away over that pinch of oregano I just added to the sauce.

No. I mean, I use a lot of cayenne and chipotle powder, but not a tablespoon per chicken breast or anything. The calories there get swamped by rounding errors.

TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »

yes but it is different for everybody of course.

how big peoples deficit is and how accurate they (have) to be also
For me it is very important to get potassium...and herbs and spices have quite a lot.

I agree that not everybody has to do this.
But when i see that i use easily 80 calories in herbs and spices. Than some cooking spray which says zero but it isnt so 56 calories
that is 136 calories not calculated...that is over 900 a week so in 5 weeks a whole pound (3600 calories) miscalculating

Now like i said it is different from person to person.

What herbs and spices are you using that total up to 80 calories in a day, just for you?

Nope the amounts involved are too small. The list from cybertone is interesting but im not eating tablespoonfulls of spices a day.