Recipe serving size confusion in MyFitnessPal

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Replies

  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    heathersundean146 wrote: »
    Thank you so much for the info. But, is it just me, or is that method just totally bananas? Holy time consuming and complicated. If the app knows the foods and amounts that went into the recipe, it should be able to tell you how many calories are in any amount of said recipe. Who programmed this thing? :-)

    You can use whatever you want as a serving size for the total number of servings. If you're not pre-dividing similar amounts into a set number of containers at the beginning, then it's generally easier to indicate the total number of servings as the total weight (or total cups, or total ... ). If I immediately divide a batch of stew into jars, then I usually use '1 jar' as the serving size. If not, then I use 100g as the serving size and round the total weight to the nearest 100g.

    (And MFP won't necessarily know the final weight/volume of the recipe based on what you enter... some entries are in weight, some in volume, you likely wouldn't log water as an ingredient, and water loss to cooking would be an unknown.. so you would have to provide the final total for weight and/or volume).

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  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    In the long run it really doesn't matter that much if your 6 equal servings are by weight or by measurement . . . either way you need to first determine the weight or the volume of the entire recipe and then divide that by six. (Caveat: I am talking about the finished dish. When making it and entering it, all ingredients should be weighed for accuracy)

    When I first enter a recipe, I weigh all solids or semi solids and measure all liquids. Everything gets entered, including water. When it is entered, I see how many total calories there are and divide up the number of servings to reflect how many calories I want per serving (I try to stay between 400 and 500 for my main meal). Depending on what it is, I usually weigh the finished dish but will measure soups and stews (mostly because I make them in my crock pot and the ceramic crock plus food is too heavy for my kitchen scale). I have a 4 cup measuring bowl I pour it into, then into a storage container for the refrigerator.

    When I make it again, I change any ingredient weight that is different from the previous time I made it but keep the number of servings. I then weigh or measure that batch to get the serving size.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    iamauntbeth wrote: »
    I have written a few recipes down. But I find nowhere to give direction on how to make it, or when I prefer pecans in place of the walnuts the original recipe calls for.

    If you have a recipe you found on the internet, import it instead of entering it item by item. Make any changes you want, then save it. Your recipe entry will have a link to the original so just click on that for cooking instructions.

    Here are 2 of mine. The top one was imported so you can see where is says "See preparation instructions at allrecipes.com" The bottom one was self entered so there is no link.

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  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    nalerilune wrote: »
    Came here because I have the same issue as the original post. I have a scale and use it. All I want is the ability to note in the recipe, "One serving is 2 tablespoons or 30 grams." It would make the app a lot more convenient and easier to use.

    This is never going to happen because every time you make a recipe it will be different. Your 4 chicken breasts may be 450 grams or they may be 502 grams. Your onion may be 210 grams or it may be 165 grams. Food is agricultural and no two items of the same thing will be the same.

    I keep post-it notes in my kitchen and when I make a recipe and determine how much a serving weighs or measures I will write it down and stick the note on the leftovers. It is only good for that batch anyway.

  • SpanishFusion
    SpanishFusion Posts: 261 Member
    I agree totally with the OP. Even the work arounds are really not that convenient for people who want to make this a lifestyle not a short term diet. I guess complaining amongst ourselves is not going to fix anything. Where do we go to make suggestions to the web builders?
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited October 2021
    SpanishFusion wrote: »
    I agree totally with the OP. Even the work arounds are really not that convenient for people who want to make this a lifestyle not a short term diet. I guess complaining amongst ourselves is not going to fix anything. Where do we go to make suggestions to the web builders?

    You can try but people have been trying since I joined 7 years ago and it has not happened for the exact reasons we experienced people have mentioned. Too many variables to make it work with a reasonable amount of accuracy.

  • Cheesy567
    Cheesy567 Posts: 1,186 Member
    Thelinbc wrote: »
    Put the serving size or weight in the recipe title.

    This. To expound, name the recipe “Favorite soup, per 100gm” or “Favorite soup, per ounce.” Note— make it the size of your pre-portioned lunch container, which handily also freeze well and microwave and go in the dishwasher. (Wide mouth freezer-safe pint mason jars hold about 13-14 ounces. Just saying.)

    Weigh your soup pots, or IP inner liner, when empty and keep a list (a photo list of them on the scale in a notes doc on my phone works well for me) so that you can easily access it when you’ve forgotten and you can only weigh your full soup pot.

    Another tip for the recipe builder- if you adjust your recipes slightly for ingredients on-hand each time, don’t delete them. Just set the amount to zero. That way you’ll save time searching for them next time.

    For those complaining about how the recipe builder works, this isn’t the forum. Go to the Tech Help and Suggestions forum. Your complaints might be heard there.

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