Nett Carb calculation, please help!

There is no way to accurately provide this info in MFP. As you have found out some labels are already net carb, and other labels aren't. MFP has a database with hundreds of thousands of entries that are a mixture of both (and no way of telling which ones are which).

You could change your settings to track fiber, then subtract that number from your entries that are not net carb. OR create a list of your own net carb entries.

londonsangel wrote: »

Thanks TeaBea, this isnt actually by using the MFP values, this is by looking at the actual packets of food themselves and comparing them. that's why I'm so confused as to why Ireland would have so many carbs in vegetables, compared to SA. And frozen veg should not have anything added?

As long as you are within calories, you won't gain weight. It's the calories that drive weight gain, not the carbs.

We could possibly help if you would identify the brand and specific name of the package. I am sure Irish vegetables aren't more caloric and carb-filled than the exact SA equivalents.

Peas are peas, sweetcorn is sweetcorn, and carrots are carrots. I'd look up a similar product in the MFP database or a site like SELFNutritionData and use the numbers from there rather than what's on the packet.

londonsangel wrote: »

Hello lemurcat12, yes the Irish one is Four Seasons Mixed Vegetables Peas, Carrots & Sweetcorn (bought from aldi) and the south African one is Frozen Whole Green Peas, Carrots & Sweetcorn Kernels (bought from woolworths)

The only version of the Four Seasons product I found had a sauce, which could explain the difference (as well as the difference in fat content, as none of the vegetables should have much fat). The Woolworths one (which seems to be the right one), is only the carrots, peas, and corn.

The Four Seasons one had 86 cal per 100 g serving, 12 g carbs, 4 g fiber, and 2 g fat, 3 g protein. The Woolworths was about 55 cal per 100 g serving, 7 g carbs, 4.9 g fiber, .4 g fat, 3 g protein.

The reason for the difference in carbs could be the sauce (I couldn't find a photo of the ingredients for the Four Seasons one, but the one I found said butter sauce on the front and again that would account for the fat). It also could be related to a different mix of the vegetables included (corn is technically a grain and peas a legume, I believe).

USDA says:

100 g of carrots: 41 cal, 9.6 carbs, 2.8 g fiber.

100 g of corn (what you call sweetcorn): 86 cal, 18.7 carbs, 2 g fiber (again, it's really a grain)

100 g of frozen peas: 82 cal, 14.1 carbs, 5.9 g fiber.

So an equal amount of the three would be something like 70 cal, 14 g carbs, 3.5 g fiber, or 10.5 net carbs.

Maybe the Irish one has more corn and the S.A. one less corn.

londonsangel wrote: »

lemurcat12 wrote: »

londonsangel wrote: »

Hello lemurcat12, yes the Irish one is Four Seasons Mixed Vegetables Peas, Carrots & Sweetcorn (bought from aldi) and the south African one is Frozen Whole Green Peas, Carrots & Sweetcorn Kernels (bought from woolworths)

The only version of the Four Seasons product I found had a sauce, which could explain the difference (as well as the difference in fat content, as none of the vegetables should have much fat). The Woolworths one (which seems to be the right one), is only the carrots, peas, and corn.

The Four Seasons one had 86 cal per 100 g serving, 12 g carbs, 4 g fiber, and 2 g fat, 3 g protein. The Woolworths was about 55 cal per 100 g serving, 7 g carbs, 4.9 g fiber, .4 g fat, 3 g protein.

The reason for the difference in carbs could be the sauce (I couldn't find a photo of the ingredients for the Four Seasons one, but the one I found said butter sauce on the front and again that would account for the fat). It also could be related to a different mix of the vegetables included (corn is technically a grain and peas a legume, I believe).

USDA says:

100 g of carrots: 41 cal, 9.6 carbs, 2.8 g fiber.

100 g of corn (what you call sweetcorn): 86 cal, 18.7 carbs, 2 g fiber (again, it's really a grain)

100 g of frozen peas: 82 cal, 14.1 carbs, 5.9 g fiber.

So an equal amount of the three would be something like 70 cal, 14 g carbs, 3.5 g fiber, or 10.5 net carbs.

Maybe the Irish one has more corn and the S.A. one less corn.

Definitely no sauce, its pure frozen veggies, maybe it is more corn? But I'm finding it in all Irish food, more carbs and I cannot subtract the fibre, which almost seems like I should... perhaps I just need to stop counting carbs as they are much higher on foods here and stressing me out. Ireland is one of the countries with the highest sugar consumption but I would not think in frozen veg, I dont buy take out or ready meals.

Are you sure you were supposed to be subtracting the fiber in South Africa? Given the mix of veg, I don't think the 9 given for the Woolworth's product was total carbs -- it looks like net. And isn't Woolworth's an Australian chain? I'm reasonably sure that in Australia carbs are already net, as in the EU.

And no, if it doesn't include fiber in the carb total, you wouldn't subtract fiber.

The carbs and calories for the Irish mix looks totally normal to me given the carb content of plain corn, peas, and carrots. However, obviously, many, many vegetables are much lower carb. This has nothing to do with Ireland.

I would suggest that if it's stressing you out focusing on calories might be simpler and less stressful. ;-)

Edit: this and other information I've found about South African food labels suggest to me that like the EU, South Africa does not include fiber (or fibre, if you must) in carbs. They list "glycemic carbs": http://www.woolworths.co.za/store/fragments/corporate/corporate-index.jsp?content=../article/article&contentId=cmp200922

Watch your starchy veggies.
Don't do mixed veggies. ... stick to your green or leafy veggies.
A lot of those mixed bags have corn or taters...
Stay away from those.

Libmatos wrote: »

Londonangel: It IS the carbs that cause gain weight along with total caloric intake minus exercise or energy spent. 1st while at home, use a digital food scale to actually measure what you are consuming. Your estimates for quantities may be off. After a month or so, you will know how much you are eating outside of home. Second, all carbs be they from straight sugars or juices, fruits, vegetables or flours turn into either instant energy for exercise or are converted into fats and stored. If you do not burn them immediately, then you are storing them. To burn fat, you must deprive your body of almost all carbs. Fiber only helps you a little, not much. Force use of fats stored by switching to lean neats, fish, green vegetables, eggs, good fats such as olive oils instead of "vegetable oil." Munch on cheeses, pecans, other high fat nuts/seeds, limit fruits, you will see a dramatic loss of weight. But you must also move! Friend me if you wish. Good luck, don't give up!

Oh boy. No.