Logging Accurately..step by step guide

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@K9RSQ4ME 2-3 years ago they changed how the items were displayed in the Food Database.

Now you will see a Green Check mark. Example Nectarine Raw
The example below Nectarine Raw 1 cup is a very bad choice because how can you measure 1 cup of fruit.



A better choice would be to include/search for items with "USDA" in the title and then verify them to the USDA Web Site ( or European, Canadian, Australian equivalent etc. ). Usually if they have the word USDA and the product code they are pretty accurate. Items that do not have the Check mark but USDA in the name may be more accurate than the so called verified items.


Notice in the example below carrots at two differant portion sizes but the same calorie value - an example of a bad database food item. Once you get through a few months of logging your favorites/most common items will be easily available to you in your recent or frequent list and logging gets easier.



Now I always choose items that I can cross check to the USDA site and that display values in grams as the math is so easy.

Thanks for the information. It was very helpful. There was a lot of things explained that I was not aware of, especially when it came to using the database to figure out my calories.

Editing a public Food Database item does *not* create another item in the database. Users can edit items without green check marks. Only database admins can edit verified items (those with green check marks).

When a user edits a public item, they become the temporary owner of the database record and it displays in their My Foods list. If another user edits the same public item, the item will disappear from the current owner's My Foods list and display on the editor's My Foods list. To prevent this, users should create personal My Foods items that are not shared with the public Food Database.

Just signed up today - these are great tips, thank you!

HappyCampr1 wrote: »

TonyB0588 wrote: »

Just had a bit of a shock!! Wanted to log a 42g pack of biscuits I had for a snack today. Found the item description in the database, but all the references were to a 30g pack. Found another unopened pack and checked the Nutrition Info. It was all listed as per 30g, although the pack is a 42g pack. So to log accurately, I had to use the entry and record that I had 1.4 servings. 30 x 1.4 = 42

If you touch the serving size box (that shows 30g), there should then be a drop-down giving you the option to use 1g serving sizes. This enables you to just type 42 single-gram servings, ending up with your 42g, and saves you having to do any math.

Yes you're correct. It's just that if I hadn't read the label, i would've assumed a pack is a serving. That would be far from accurate logging. But thankfully I've become wiser over the time since I joined MFP.

I wouldn't worry much about taste and licks unless your spoon becomes half cup lol.

I cook from scratch and have been weighing and counting every mushroom and every squirt of fry light ( 1 cal cooking spray) ! My kitchen scales battery has gone in under a week 😜 I then log the meal I have created. Problem is I never follow a recipe but make it all up as I go along, so logging is aaaalllways a lengthy process.

it's a good bump yep.

Please can you help me with getting the most out of the food logging? I’ve tried searching for foods the way that you have described it and my screen looks nothing like yours.... I also can’t find the “confirmations” that you refer to. Where do I find this?

I didn’t read through the entire thread, so please forgive me if this has been posted already, but I wanted to give the link for the Health Canada guide to nutrient values. I find it super helpful.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/alt_formats/pdf/nutrition/fiche-nutri-data/nvscf-vnqau-eng.pdf

SuperMotivated56 wrote: »

Thank you for clarifying this - this is really helpful. So I’m guessing that the green tick is a safe option then (or preferred option)?

They have a better probability of being correct, but I still check them. Most that I've run across were correct, but I have found some that were wrong. It could be as simple as the company changed the formulation, so the checked entry used to be correct but now isn't.

Great tips, thank you. Im not great at logging my food, but not great at it. I get frustrated when I can't find what I just ate, and it's hard to break out all the ingredients, so then I'm just guessing.

ginafranklin2 wrote: »

I’ve been using the bar code option whenever I can. Even eggs can be a little different, depending on the farm. That’s taking it a tad to far, I realize, but it’s more about the ease of using it. It’s easier than looking it up, plus gives me reassurance that the nutritional information is more accurate. I let the bar code do the info for me and I adjust the servings.

Unfortunately the bar code isn't more accurate. The MFP app doesn't read the nutrition info through the bar code. It just reads the name of the product and then searches the database the same way it would if you typed the name into the search bar.

It is way easier than typing on my phone, I use it all the time, but you do still need to check the numbers in the database entry to the package just as much. I've def pulled up bad entries with the scanner. I think it does tend to be a little more accurate though because it eliminates typing errors and searches with the manufacturers preferred syntax rather than the imperfect random words I sometimes end up using