How do you log healthier foods?

I want to start off by saying, I don't diet and I don't log my foods.

I know that every meal can be prepared healthier and with that in mind, how would someone log a homemade hamburger vs a McDonald's hamburger? Does MFP knows the difference?

Create a recipe in the recipe tab and save the recipe. I do it all the time.

The food database has a few "stock" entries for burgers

Sandwiches and burgers - Cheeseburger, regular, single meat patty, plain
Sandwiches and burgers - Cheeseburger, large, single meat patty, plain
Sandwiches and burgers - Cheeseburger, large, single meat patty, with bacon and condiments

Sometimes I use one those when I eat a random burger somewhere. If you create a recipe for it, like Thomasm198 suggests, that's an even more accurate way.

If the calories and macros in your homemade burger match that of the McDonald's burger, then no, there is no difference as far as MFP and logging is concerned.

What Thomas said. Another option is to add each ingredient separately in your log... depends on how you log. If you use your phone, unfortunately you may need to log each ingredient (I haven't figured out a way to make recipes on the android app). If you're using your computer, recipes are the way to go.

Create a recipe in the recipe tab and save the recipe. I do it all the time.

This. Or you can log all the ingredients individually, but it's easier (if you'll eat it more than once) to log it as a recipe.

It is annoying to finish logging everything individually only to realize you probably will eat it again. If that is the case, you can save all the individually logged items as a meal. Like others have mentioned, this is only a last resort kind of thing if you logged everything in to one meal instead of as a recipe.

I sense trouble brewing here. But anyway you log it like you would log any other meal.

For Clarity Sake....

Noun:

1.The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.
2.A legislative assembly in certain countries.

Verb:

Restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight: "it is difficult to diet in a house full of cupcakes".

I believe she means she does not VERB...because everyone has a NOUN :happy:

For Clarity Sake....

Noun:

1.The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.
2.A legislative assembly in certain countries.

Verb:

Restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight: "it is difficult to diet in a house full of cupcakes".

I believe she means she does not VERB...because everyone has a NOUN :happy:

This was by far the most useful post in this thread.

EDIT: No offense y'all.

I want to make something clear. I'm here to motivate and encourage other people and talk to other people that's on the healthy journey. I'm not the only person on this site that don't diet. A lot of people are doing a lifestyle change. Plus, this site is not only about food.

I don't diet, but I eat healthy and I exercise. I know that eating healthy and exercising can't only be for people that's on a diet.

I would go as far as to say that MOST people on this site don't "diet". As others have mentioned though, logging our foods helps us stay in control of our macros.

Must . . back. . away. .

If you don't log....why worry??????

logging our foods helps us stay in control of our macros.

^ That. I'm trying to look a certain way and perform a certain way in the gym, so I'd like to know with a high degree of accuracy what I'm consuming.

Same with me. Just joined to log my food to hit my macros while I cut/bulk seems useful

Oh and I'm not "dieting" either. But if I don't log I probably wouldn't eat enough protein and I'd probably eat 3000-4000 calories.

One of the main points to this site is to log your food, to aid you in dieting...Im confused why you would use it even. Lol. Anyway, yea it knows the difference...You can log a McD's burger...Burger king...wendys...hardees...just about anywhere. It will more than likely have a homemade burger option, with or without bun, with or without cheese, lean meat or not, etc. The database is pretty amazing.

This. And why would you ask? Given that you don't log or diet.

^^ im confused xD if you don't log food... why ask how to log it? o.O

Gentle reminder to please be respectful in all posts and responses :flowerforyou:

This should not turn into an argument over who logs what, or why.


With Respect,

_Sally_
MFP Forum Moderator

Thanks, Sally. But still, LOL, you gotta admit the "noun" - "verb" response lightened it up a bit. I'm still laughing at that one. I hate "verbing" but lately am trying to make my "noun" more healthful!

I thought it was hilarious