Good foods (green checkmark)

As the PPs are saying, the items with a green checkmark are "verified" items. Unfortunately, they are NOT more likely to be correct, as they are not checked by humans, but they fit some algorithms MFP have set up. Be careful, and check every entry yourself with reliable sources, like food label, producer's home page, or the USDA database.

I think I can guess where the idea that the green checkmark represents a good choice, comes from. The way nutritional information, from the various governments and their agencies, and through the diet industry, is handed to the public, is oversimplified and overcomplicated at the same time. Understand this: Nutrition is complex, but eating well isn't complicated. There are no good/bad foods, only better or poorer diets, and individual needs and preferences.

When you plan your meals, look for a variety of fresh foods, a little bit of everything, but not too much of anything. Pick foods you like. Log it and try to hit your calorie goal. After a while, you will see a pattern emerge - some food combinations make you satisfied and energetic without struggling to stick to your calorie allowance, other foods make you hungry, lethargic and find yourself way over goal. There is no problem eating some of these foods occasionally, the clue is to eat satisfying, nutritious foods most of the time. If you eat in a way that keeps you close to your calorie goal, you will lose weight, and keep it off afterwards.