Measuring Calories

Scott_x2
Scott_x2 Posts: 8
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
I'm trying to learn how to gauge what sort of calories I'm taking in on home cooked meals, I've slow cooked a whole chicken with mushrooms, peppers, carrots, onions with a bit of stock etc. and I'm curious as to how I would know what sort of calories I'll be taking in.

Also, is slow cooking a healthy way to cook?

Replies

  • xAdrianax
    xAdrianax Posts: 269 Member
    Hiya

    On the home page on the left if you click food diary you can enter each ingredient and it will all add up in your daily food diary

    You can search by generic or brands and it allows you to select amounts aswell.

    Have a play around, you can always delete things off your food diary by clicking the red minus sign on the right.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    The best way is to put the whole recipe into the "recipes" tab under food - then if it's something you make frequently all the details are there ready for you in future.

    Otherwise, I'd go for the big hitters in your meal - any oil or cream is going to rack up calories, so add whatever you think you ate of them (say 1 tablespoon oil). Then go for the meats - how much chicken did you eat? Most veg you could ignore unless you're being very strict, or else add a coverall 100 calories for other ingredients.

    Slow cooking is a great way to cook - makes the meat lovely and tender, and gives everything a chnace to absorb all teh flavours. Have fun experimenting!
  • peteski44
    peteski44 Posts: 1
    Hi Scott,
    To calculate calorie content in home cooked meals, I suggest you create a recipe (on the Food tab above) containing all the component ingredients for the meal and the number of portions it contains.
  • Scott_x2
    Scott_x2 Posts: 8
    Thank you for the advice, to be honest, I don't tend to cook loads of the same stuff, this was more of an experiment of chucking what was in the fridge into the slow cooker. Had a little taste this morning and it smelt and tasted lovely! I only only put about 2 tablespoons of oil in the whole thing, along wiht 3 full peppers, 6 chopped carrots, 3 small onions, 3 small red onions and about 8 mushrooms.

    I'll have a play around with it when I get in and serve it :).
  • Crystal817
    Crystal817 Posts: 2,021 Member
    *What the last three people said....*

    :wink:

    Also, it's best to jot things down as your making it and input it in later. Also, make sure you know about how many servings you're going to get out of the dish.
  • Cdcaldwe
    Cdcaldwe Posts: 189 Member
    If you pulled the skin off the chicken and the ingredients you used that sounds pretty good. Also pretty healthy. Just make sure when you go to eat it you weigh out how much chicken you consume.
  • Scott_x2
    Scott_x2 Posts: 8
    I haven't taken the skin off but will when I go to eat it, I'm likely to have a full breast with a portion of the vegetables. I'm not too sure what else to have with it, the stock will no doubt make a great soup.

    I might create a side leafy salad.
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