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Public vs private food diaries on MFP
Replies
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claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.
OMG - that sounds amazing! Oh wow, I need to try that 🤤
I'm having the same thought here. This ticks a lot of boxes for me: simple (I hate cooking so the less fuss the better), vegetarian, ability to control sodium... then I just have to think about the protein box.2 -
claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.
OMG - that sounds amazing! Oh wow, I need to try that 🤤
I'm having the same thought here. This ticks a lot of boxes for me: simple (I hate cooking so the less fuss the better), vegetarian, ability to control sodium... then I just have to think about the protein box.
I’m thinking lean ham might complement it; beans might be too filling with it, maybe some sliced chicken breast steamed with lemon slices? Or hang it, scoff the carbs and have a protein shake later 😀0 -
claireychn074 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.
OMG - that sounds amazing! Oh wow, I need to try that 🤤
I'm having the same thought here. This ticks a lot of boxes for me: simple (I hate cooking so the less fuss the better), vegetarian, ability to control sodium... then I just have to think about the protein box.
I’m thinking lean ham might complement it; beans might be too filling with it, maybe some sliced chicken breast steamed with lemon slices? Or hang it, scoff the carbs and have a protein shake later 😀
I'm thinking I love you a little right now for using the correct "complement"
I've got it: a Tofurky Italian sausage, that even keeps the meal in the same national theme.
........ or just have that protein shake later.2 -
When I first started, my diary was very private, because I thought everyone else here ate perfectly every day. Then I read some public diaries. I eventually came to know that we’re all doing the best we can do and trying to learn the best ways to do just a little better. So now my diary is open. I can’t imagine why anyone else would WANT to look, but if it helps anyone in any way, then they can look.6
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claireychn074 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »claireychn074 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »I've had my diary open for 9 years. When I joined MFP your food diary was automatically public, then they changed it to automatically private. I don't care one way or another. Very few have ever commented because my diary is in Italian with Italian products and imagine very few know what I'm eating. Since I live in Italy, we follow the Mediterranean diet as most do here. I eat pasta, pizza, risotto, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and EVOO is our main fat. Carbs are an important part of the diet. Love the "carbs are evil threads".
I kind of feel like I want to actively dislike you now. I LOVE Italian food! I am so jealous you live there! Had the best ever pizza in Sorrento a few years ago, it was just amazing. And, strangely for me, cheeseless. I love making risotto - obviously nowhere near as good as the authentic dish, but it’s so soothing to make.
If you like risotto--yesterday I made a family favorite that was my MIL's specialty.
Riso e Patata (Rice w Potatoes)
Get a type of rice that has the biggest kernels that you can find.
The recipe uses 1/2 rice and 1/2 potatoes
Put the rice in a deep saucepan--pour water and rinse it (I swirl it around and then gently pour it off)
Then put enough water to cover it by an inch--turn on heat (keep it low, once the water boils--you want a simmer here)
Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes (I eyeball the potatoes to be about the same volume as the rice--don't stress over this)
My rice takes almost half an hour to cook, I put the potatoes in 10 min before the rice is done and cook w the rice.
I keep adding water as needed and the rice absorbs.
I use vegetable broth crystals, if you use real broth, it takes the place of water.
Broth is usually salty so I don't add more.
I do add pepper.
When the rice is almost ready I add--gasp! butter--I eyeball. A good chunk (I'm feeding 4 men--all thin)
Then (and your rice should be creamy, not watery) I shut off the heat and let it "rest" a few minutes.
Last I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and mix.
OMG - that sounds amazing! Oh wow, I need to try that 🤤
I'm having the same thought here. This ticks a lot of boxes for me: simple (I hate cooking so the less fuss the better), vegetarian, ability to control sodium... then I just have to think about the protein box.
I’m thinking lean ham might complement it; beans might be too filling with it, maybe some sliced chicken breast steamed with lemon slices? Or hang it, scoff the carbs and have a protein shake later 😀
I'm thinking I love you a little right now for using the correct "complement"
I've got it: a Tofurky Italian sausage, that even keeps the meal in the same national theme.
........ or just have that protein shake later.
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I am not even sure if my diary is private or public, I will to check 🤣 I use it mainly keep within different each day amounts and to be mindful of everything I am eating. We eat mainly a Mediterranean based menu. I pretty much eat whatever I want, just smaller portions. It works for me to lose the weight I want to lose.
I know there’s a person in our town who has her clients share their diaries with her, so she can monitor if they are sticking to the diet plan she gives them. So it has some use.0 -
Private - so I can log what I actually eat with out feeling like people might judge or criticism.
So if my logging is incomplete or wrong I am only fooling myself and making the tool worth less.
Like if I eat 2 pizzas for dinner I would rather log it and know I messed up rather than say log 1 pizza so people who might look at my log dont see I went over by 2000 calories that day.4 -
Public. I can't think of a reason to make it private. I don't cover my plate with a newspaper when I go to a restaurant. And--who knows?--someone might benefit from seeing it.
If I had something on there that might aggravate my health-insurance provider, then I'd re-think it.2 -
Private 'cause trolls.
I'm an herbivore and have been astounded on the number of gaslighting trolls who take a look at my diary (why the hell are they looking there to begin with??) and then feel compelled to send me a private message ranting about how F'd I am for not eating animal products. Hateful, crappy stuff.
I just don't need that in my life.11 -
rosebarnalice wrote: »Private 'cause trolls.
I'm an herbivore and have been astounded on the number of gaslighting trolls who take a look at my diary (why the hell are they looking there to begin with??) and then feel compelled to send me a private message ranting about how F'd I am for not eating animal products. Hateful, crappy stuff.
I just don't need that in my life.
Gotta agree with this - trolls suck! I made mine private after the last message I got that said you can't lose weight if you eat that much 'x'... which was one of the nicer comments... and I'm not even an herbivore... I am fairly monogamous in my eating habits and I have gotten some trolling remarks about that as well. Just not worth the hassle, so, private.4 -
ShayAllenHill wrote: »Public. I can't think of a reason to make it private. I don't cover my plate with a newspaper when I go to a restaurant. And--who knows?--someone might benefit from seeing it.
If I had something on there that might aggravate my health-insurance provider, then I'd re-think it.
Well if you have read through the thread you will see plenty of reasons that other people have for making it private
None of which had anything to do with health insurance - most people's user names aren't their real name anyway, how would insurance have any relevance??
I cannot see how anyone else would benifit from seeing my diary
The restaurant analogy doesn't make sense to me - I don't cover my restaurant meal with newspaper either - but neither do I share it with the world wide web nor do I invite or expect strangers to comment on it.6 -
Every now and then someone comes along that think food diaries should be public--why, I don't know. There's a choice, to do or not, and I think that's excellent.7
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Started with public. Then there was this girl who decided I was lying about losing weight and what I was logging! At which point I switched to friends only.
We had some fun. A few friends did remind me that chocolate is not a food macro. A few friends reminded me that chocolate is not considered one of your five a day veggies and fruits either! I countered with sweet potato brownies... those were the days
Then MFP decided to wipe old data... and I started logging on crono.
And the feed started to drive me nuts with scrolling and ads and jumping back to the top every time you sneeze... so I don't go there often anymore...6 -
Public.
Because I’m paranoid enough that if I know it’s ”out there” I’ll keep myself in line for the most part, but keep it honest for the data and also so that if anyone does see those five and six thousand calorie days, maybe they’ll say “well she did it and still lost/maintains, so maybe I can, too.”
If I don’t win a diary award, give about one for the run sentence?!
6 -
I used to keep it private. But then I realized I like looking at other people's diaries (sometimes it gives me ideas) and turnabout is fair play, so now mine is open to friends.2
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I don't even know how to look at other people's diaries but mine is public.1
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I set my Diary to 'Friends Only', my Profile & Badges and my Blog to 'My Friends Only'... all the other stuff is private because it's not essential.
After all, why have friends here at all if you're not going to share and encourage each other?0 -
When I used this app before, I always had my diary set to private. I didn't have any of the "why am i still not losing?" problems, and I understand how plateaus work, so I didn't think it was necessary. I also didn't use these forums, but I was part of other groups, and I didn't want people nitpicking what I ate.
Because, well, *it worked for me*.
Except it didn't. Somehow I am back here, 5 years later, 50lbs heavier than my previous highest weight, trying again.
So I have gone full transparency. Use the community, put all my mental hangups out there, diary set to public... if people nitpick, I will reply, honestly, and then I will be forced to hear how my justifications sound out loud. If there's trolls, I can report or ignore them... not a big deal.
That's what I am hoping will work for me. I tend not to get hurt or offended easily, and I love data and I also tend to justify things to myself, so...
That doesn't mean it would be good (or even safe) for everyone. All people are different, right?7 -
After all, why have friends here at all if you're not going to share and encourage each other?
well that is a separate question I think and perhaps one worth starting a thread about if you are interested in different people's reasons for having MFP friends.
Speaking as someone whose diary is private - I'm actually not interested in having friends on here at all - I just like posting in the forums and using MFP for logging - I dont want or need to share and encourage beyond that
my N = 1 - other people with private or public diaries may of course feel differently.6 -
paperpudding wrote: »After all, why have friends here at all if you're not going to share and encourage each other?
well that is a separate question I think and perhaps one worth starting a thread about if you are interested in different people's reasons for having MFP friends.
Speaking as someone whose diary is private - I'm actually not interested in having friends on here at all - I just like posting in the forums and using MFP for logging - I dont want or need to share and encourage beyond that
my N = 1 - other people with private or public diaries may of course feel differently.
Actually, it's a very pertinent question to this thread. Meaning no disrespect but the fact that you don't have or want MFP friends for support makes me wonder why you would even need to join this discussion... it doesn't seem that you have a horse in this race... just saying2
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