Confused as calories coming out very high

SammyBoo1980
SammyBoo1980 Posts: 56 Member
edited November 28 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi guys, ive been making meals from "appetite for reduction" lately - all plant based meals that are 200 - 400 calories. I haven't been following the recipes exactly but I wouldn't say I've gone massively ott. The confusing thing is my meals are coming out REALLY high in calories (I log individual ingredients as opposed to relying on what's already in the mfp database)!! I just made a sandwich of wholemeal pitta, couple of slices of red pepper, couple of shaves of violife vegan cheese, a dash of vegan mayo, and it's come out at a whopping 505 calories! The sandwich was tiny :( I'm guessing at amounts as I just can't weigh absolutely everything I eat - sometimes I make random meals or smoothies wit multiple ingredients and it would take all day to weigh everything and be a right ball ache. I don't think I'm too far off with my guesses though.
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Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,342 Member
    edited January 2016
    Looks about right to me, if the weights are accurate. 50g of hummus is a very large serve for a sandwich, as is 50g of cheese. If you're not weighing it, you might be over-estimating by a fair bit. The pita looks right, and mayo, even vegan mayo, is pretty high calorie. Do you need the mayo with the hummas? If you're weighing your ingredients, and those entries are right, the calorie count looks accurate.

  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    Double check the MFP entries that you've used against the package or another source, as some of them are way out. Also check the weight of the items you've used against the weight of the items in the recipe. Other than that, don't go off-plan with the recipe ;-)
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    you aren't tracking fat on your diary which makes it harder to figure, but 50 grams of cheese is a lump not a couple of shaves :-

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  • SammyBoo1980
    SammyBoo1980 Posts: 56 Member
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?
  • slhall0822
    slhall0822 Posts: 128 Member
    edited January 2016
    Well... mayo, cheese, and pitas can be high in calories... it adds up quickly. I can tell you what works for me... I make sure to pay attention to the individual calories of each of the ingredients as I compile a recipe. I try to use less calories dense foods (like cheese and mayo) and more super low calorie foods, like veggies.
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    edited January 2016
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    There a few different methods for weighing. I build sandwiches on the scale, taring in between ingredients.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,342 Member
    edited January 2016
    put bread on scale, tare scale, add spread, get weight of spread. Or weigh the container before and after you use it. You want to be pretty specific with those, things like PB have a LOT of calories in a fairly small amount.

    If you're not weighing ingredients, I'd say you're overestimating a lot. Do you have a digital scale? Put the plate on it, tare it, build the sandwich on the plate, taring between ingredients. easy.
  • amyr271
    amyr271 Posts: 343 Member
    edited January 2016
    Anything with cheese, mayo AND humous is going to be calorie dense. Honestly, the only weigh to know is to way your food, regardless of the 'ball ache'
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  • amyr271
    amyr271 Posts: 343 Member
    *weigh
  • SammyBoo1980
    SammyBoo1980 Posts: 56 Member
    I do have a digital scale, thanks I'll start using it. I never thought of weighing stuff as I add it to the sandwich. . Was trying to work out how to do it haha. I've been trying to plan out my foods the day before to see what the calories will be but had a busy morning today and couldn't resist a quick sarnie :)
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,342 Member
    I think you'll find you're using a lot less cheese and hummas than you think you are.
  • slhall0822
    slhall0822 Posts: 128 Member
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    There a a few different methods for weighing. I build sandwiches on the scale, taring in between ingredients.

    I agree that a food scale is EXTREMELY useful for those hard to measure items, like mayo or shredded cheese. When I first started measuring my food, I used a food scale and was OCD about measuring everything, down to the exact gram. After a week or so, I had a pretty good idea of an accurate gram/calorie count for the things I regularly eat. Even today, after years of counting calories off and on, I still occasionally break out my food scale to keep myself honest and for new foods. I especially like to use my food scale for things like greens, such as spinach or kale, and for various fruits... when "1 cup" or "I large fruit" can vary greatly depending on if you pack the greens in the measuring cup or depending on what you consider to be a small vs. large piece of fruit. If I remember correctly, I initially bought a food scale from Walmart for 10 or 15 bucks and while I do have to change the batteries every few months, the scale has lasted for at least 5 or 6 years.
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    Hehe I'm British, cups are for tea ;-)
  • ktekc
    ktekc Posts: 879 Member
    I spent 30 bucks on an Escala scale at a local kitchen gadget shop to replace my 10 dollar walmart one. ( it still worked i just got tired of having to flip it over to switch to grams every time i turned it on.) I then a few weeks later found the same scale at goodwill for 3 bucks. . i now have 2. lol
  • Hehe I'm British, cups are for tea ;-)

    *giggles*

  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    ktekc wrote: »
    I spent 30 bucks on an Escala scale at a local kitchen gadget shop to replace my 10 dollar walmart one. ( it still worked i just got tired of having to flip it over to switch to grams every time i turned it on.) I then a few weeks later found the same scale at goodwill for 3 bucks. . i now have 2. lol

    I hated that about the walmart Taylor scale I had. I'm pretty sure all the frustrated flips to put it on grams is why it stopped working lol. I spent just a few more dollars to get a target Taylor scale that has all controls on the front and actually stays on grams. Same manufacturer yet way different quality ... I really believe some manufacturers cheap out for anything they sell at Walmart. (Issues with other products as well)

  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    no idea but a level teaspoon or tablespoon measured out and then spread would give you a better idea
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I eat a lot of vegan sandwiches and it's just a fact of life that a sandwich with mayo, hummus, and cheese is going to have more calories that a sandwich that includes just one or two of those ingredients and makes up the rest of the bulk with vegetables. I have found a scale to be incredibly valuable when building sandwiches or any meal. I'm really bad at judging how much hummus or cheese I'm actually eating. I'm not familiar with the brand of cheese you're using (I'm in the US), but I know that Daiya cheese can add up in calories very quickly.

    Once you get the hang of weighing, it stops being a "ball ache." I find that knowing how many calories I have eaten (and how many I have left for the day) far outweighs any inconvenience of weighing.
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    @SammyBoo1980 With only 44 Posts that tells me you are new to MFP and the Forums.
    I recommend some good reads for you to start this journey as my "incredibly generic advice" when someone is new to MFP.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ihad/view/the-forum-survival-guide-722758

    http://fit101.org/the-step-by-step-guide-to-losing-weight-with-myfitnesspal/

    At the Top of most Message Boards you will see an Announcement Forum.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/general-diet-and-weight-loss-help

    If you open the Announcement you will see a big list of Links to posts that are a great source of information.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10260537/most-helpful-posts-general-diet-and-weight-loss-help-must-reads#latest

    Of all the "Stickied" Posts these are some of the ones that I keep referring back to all the time.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1290491/how-and-why-to-use-a-digital-food-scale/p1

    One I add is a 4 part Blog about the power of habits.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ihad/view/the-power-of-habit-part-1-why-habits-matter-688130

    These are just a few of the many great posts that have been so helpful.
  • allaboutthefood
    allaboutthefood Posts: 781 Member
    weigh everything even your mayo, hummus etc.
  • neohdiver
    neohdiver Posts: 738 Member
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    Until you develop a good eye for quantity, tare your knife, scoop out the spread & weigh the knife with the spread on it.
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    no idea but a level teaspoon or tablespoon measured out and then spread would give you a better idea


    Except that a teaspon measured it rarely the grams stated on the label.

    For example, my butter says 14g or 1tbspn per serving. If i measure a level tablespoon...its actually 18g....about 20%more than the label state!
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    neohdiver wrote: »
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    Until you develop a good eye for quantity, tare your knife, scoop out the spread & weigh the knife with the spread on it.

    Or put the container on the scale and tare it out, then scoop out the product. It'll give you the weight you used in negative grams.
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    There is a simple answer to this. Weigh your ingredients.
  • ReadyWillingEager
    ReadyWillingEager Posts: 56 Member
    Another way to simply weigh is to put the hummus while in the container on the scale (just plop the entire thing on there) hit tare, then scoop out what you'd like. It will give you a negative read "-14g" for example, but it's 14g.
  • neohdiver
    neohdiver Posts: 738 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    neohdiver wrote: »
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    Until you develop a good eye for quantity, tare your knife, scoop out the spread & weigh the knife with the spread on it.

    Or put the container on the scale and tare it out, then scoop out the product. It'll give you the weight you used in negative grams.

    That works even better.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    You totally can and should weigh everything. I can't tell you how confident I was that all my measurements were correct. They were not! Not even close.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,342 Member
    mkakids wrote: »
    yarwell wrote: »
    I get really confused with things that are spreadable like humous or vegetable spread, peanut butter etc. How many grams is an average knife spread lol?

    no idea but a level teaspoon or tablespoon measured out and then spread would give you a better idea


    Except that a teaspon measured it rarely the grams stated on the label.

    For example, my butter says 14g or 1tbspn per serving. If i measure a level tablespoon...its actually 18g....about 20%more than the label state!

    Not to mention, leveling out a teaspoon of butter in a teaspoon measure, then having to scrape it out onto your bread is really annoying and makes more dishes. Simply weighing it is easier, less messy and more accurate.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    You are probably further off with your guessing than you can even imagine. It may seem like it will "take you all day" to weigh things, but really, it gets easier and faster as you do it. Pick up a digital scale...about 10 bux at Walmart...I guarantee you will be shocked by the end of your first day of logging. By the end of your first two weeks of logging, you'll be better at eyeballing your foods, and knowing approximately how much weighs how much. Believe me, we've all been there. Good luck xo
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