CONCERNED: MFP calorie tracking is wrong

caroldot
caroldot Posts: 388 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I'm a little concerned that the nutrition info on some foods is incorrect. Not so much with a product such as yogurt or cream cheese where I can look at the side of the container and verify. More like if I'm building a recipe or adding produce, meat etc.

For example: Earlier I looked at 2 submissions for avacados:

1) Produce-Avacado-Half. (Note the serving size is 1/2 of avacado but I'm only using 1/4 so changed it to .25 svg size. Here's the calculation: 50 cals / 5g fat / 3 carbs.

2) Generic - Avacado - 1svg of 1/4 amount. Here's the calculation: 80 cals / 7.5 carbs / 4.25 carbs

That's a 30 calorie difference which is alot to me!!

Here's another example:
Earlier today, I posted a topic about a creamy chicken taco soup. With 6 servings it came out to 182 cal / 21 carbs / 3g fat / 23g protein. Just a few minutes later I saw where someone else had posted EXACT same recipe on their topic. Her recipe calls for 9 servings and if I remember correctly it was 216 calories / 24 carbs / can't recall rest. Anyway it was significant difference and the only difference in our recipes besides serving size was she had 3 chicken breasts and lite cream cheese. I had 2 chicken breasts and fat free cream cheese.

I even tried recalculating mine as hers and it still came out way lower than what she entered.

My concern is that I'm actually eating more calories than I think - even on exercise days when I eat them back! Anyone else have this concern? Sorry for the long post!!
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Replies

  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    If there are too many variations of the same food, I'll search elsewhere and take my best guess. Everything I make at home is typically weighed, so I don't have much of an issue there.

    When it comes to recipes I weigh everything and use only my own recipes...I don't use others'.
  • carrie_eggo
    carrie_eggo Posts: 1,396 Member
    This is what I do: I use the option that has the most confirmations for the nutrient content. If I'm not happy with what I find in the database, I look it up (or look on the label) and enter it in as a new food.

    For things like avocados, for example, I would google "nutrition info avocado." Then I would use the most consistent answer that I got on the various websites the search lead me to. If that option with that specific nutrient information wasn't one of the options in MFP, I would enter a "new food" into the database. You're right to be concerned about accuracy, it is very important, especially if you only have 1200 calories to work with.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    It's to be expected when you have 99% user generated content. Lots of stuff ends up flat out wrong. Besides, let's face it, everything is just an estimate. From your BMR to your TDEE to the food you eat and the exercise you perform. It's all a rough estimate. Use your best judgment. I personally use a food scale and stick to things that have weights listed, at least I feel slightly confident there. Things like "half an avocado" are fairly useless - how big is the avocado? Without measurements you're only going to be in the rough ballpark.
  • MrDude_1
    MrDude_1 Posts: 2,510 Member
    heres something that will really mess with your head then...

    the calories on the package could be up to 20% off.

    the people labeling the product get to self regulate their nutrition info.. the FDA doesnt have the resources to check everything... but theres HARSH penalties for selling something for less then the posted weight.. so they often sell it a little over... meaning theres MORE in there then what the package says.

    so yea. you're often eating more then you think.

    but it doesnt matter. just like you dont know EXACTLY how much you're burning.... just keep track, and it'll be close... for produce you can look it up elsewhere too.
  • Jay0hwhy
    Jay0hwhy Posts: 63
    i have the calorieking book and i look up things to make sure i am choosing the most accurate entry in MFP.
  • JennS19
    JennS19 Posts: 642 Member
    I use the scanner on my phone a lot when I'm making up a recipe. I don't use the database very often unless I have to
  • kerriBB37
    kerriBB37 Posts: 967 Member
    I'm a little concerned that the nutrition info on some foods is incorrect. Not so much with a product such as yogurt or cream cheese where I can look at the side of the container and verify. More like if I'm building a recipe or adding produce, meat etc.

    For example: Earlier I looked at 2 submissions for avacados:

    1) Produce-Avacado-Half. (Note the serving size is 1/2 of avacado but I'm only using 1/4 so changed it to .25 svg size. Here's the calculation: 50 cals / 5g fat / 3 carbs.

    2) Generic - Avacado - 1svg of 1/4 amount. Here's the calculation: 80 cals / 7.5 carbs / 4.25 carbs

    That's a 30 calorie difference which is alot to me!!

    Here's another example:
    Earlier today, I posted a topic about a creamy chicken taco soup. With 6 servings it came out to 182 cal / 21 carbs / 3g fat / 23g protein. Just a few minutes later I saw where someone else had posted EXACT same recipe on their topic. Her recipe calls for 9 servings and if I remember correctly it was 216 calories / 24 carbs / can't recall rest. Anyway it was significant difference and the only difference in our recipes besides serving size was she had 3 chicken breasts and lite cream cheese. I had 2 chicken breasts and fat free cream cheese.

    I even tried recalculating mine as hers and it still came out way lower than what she entered.

    My concern is that I'm actually eating more calories than I think - even on exercise days when I eat them back! Anyone else have this concern? Sorry for the long post!!

    This was my recipe that I posted. :)
    I ALWAYS make my own recipes within the website, ie. I check every label and enter everything personally into a blank recipe. This way I know all my stats are equal to the packaged ingredients. I even said, "the ingredients I used".. I then take a measuring cup and scoop out the crockpot to see how many I have. I portion out, but my fiance doesn't lol.. at least I know when I scoop I'm getting exactly what I measured.
    I never add anything into my diary that I personally don't read the labels for, or input myself! The database is flawed sometimes! :) Also, I never add my recipes into the MFP database and I label them "Kerri's ____"
    Have you used this recipe feature before?
    recipewcc.png
  • oharabears
    oharabears Posts: 85
    If the serving size listed for the avocado was 1/2 an avocado, and you were using only 1/4, you should have put in .5 of a serving, not .25. Half of a half. That may have accounted for the difference there--on the other stuff...I don't know! : )
  • JakeMallory
    JakeMallory Posts: 9
    I KNOW RIGHT? WE'RE PAYING ALL THIS MONEY TO USE THIS SITE THEY CAN AT LEAST GET THE CALORIES RIGHT.
  • llahairdna
    llahairdna Posts: 502 Member
    If the serving size listed for the avocado was 1/2 an avocado, and you were using only 1/4, you should have put in .5 of a serving, not .25. Half of a half. That may have accounted for the difference there--on the other stuff...I don't know! : )

    This.
  • JStarnes
    JStarnes Posts: 5,576 Member
    If the serving size listed for the avocado was 1/2 an avocado, and you were using only 1/4, you should have put in .5 of a serving, not .25. Half of a half. That may have accounted for the difference there--on the other stuff...I don't know! : )
    This.
    Yes, this.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    Weigh your food, that will cut out most of the error. The issue with the avocado is most likely because of different serving sizes. Also, cross check ingredients with other databases. For anything from a package, check the entry against the package, it only takes a few seconds. For recipes, enter your own and measure carefully, preferably by weight.

    I use the recent/frequent foods thing, so when I find a database entry that is more-or-less correct (i.e. I was able to verify elsewhere), I keep using it. Occasionally I will enter my own foods.

    Oh, and at the risk of sounding like someone's mother, don't worry about other people's recipes, just enter your own and move on.
  • meg7399
    meg7399 Posts: 672 Member
    If the serving size listed for the avocado was 1/2 an avocado, and you were using only 1/4, you should have put in .5 of a serving, not .25. Half of a half. That may have accounted for the difference there--on the other stuff...I don't know! : )
    This was my first thought exactly. Also, the calories could depend on size. Also, note there are close to 250 calories in an avacado...so both of those seem drastically wrong!
  • For_the_Last_Time
    For_the_Last_Time Posts: 136 Member
    http://www.avocado.org/nutrition/

    1oz (30g) is 50 cals

    I don't like to go by 1/2, 1/4 etc, Weight is much better since not all are going to weigh the same so if you really want to be accurate a scale is needed.

    Even though 28g is an ounce they had 30 though?
  • ShilohMaier
    ShilohMaier Posts: 135
    I don't care about calories (I'm a low-carber), but carb counts are a mess too. Lots of entries have the add on of "Net Carbs" which is supposed to be total carbs, minus fiber and any sugar alcohol that may be present. So for the count to be compatible with low-carb, the total carb area needs to have the net carbs, but a lot of entries just have total carbs minus fiber- or total minus SA- and it messes with my journal. I just make my own foods now, the way they are supposed to be calculated.
  • Angimom
    Angimom Posts: 1,463 Member
    I don't concern myself to much with the calorie counts that are pre listed as I use what is on the package, and then weigh everything. Soups are hard even if you do that. However, there are some HUGE numbers in the exercise counter that cannot possibly be right.
  • Charisse1011
    Charisse1011 Posts: 84 Member
    Your recipe sounds good, can u inbox me the recipe. I'm cooking at home more so I can control what goes in it and that sounds easy to make...also u can add me as a friend...
  • le_kameleon
    le_kameleon Posts: 1
    This is what I do: I use the option that has the most confirmations for the nutrient content. If I'm not happy with what I find in the database, I look it up (or look on the label) and enter it in as a new food.

    For things like avocados, for example, I would google "nutrition info avocado." Then I would use the most consistent answer that I got on the various websites the search lead me to. If that option with that specific nutrient information wasn't one of the options in MFP, I would enter a "new food" into the database. You're right to be concerned about accuracy, it is very important, especially if you only have 1200 calories to work with.

    Ditto,
    And yes, if Avocado serving is already 1/2 and you 1/2 that (.5) then you'd have 1/4 but you put 2.5 so it would be less.... But i get your point. so thats why i agree with the above. Although what scares me is that even though something was confirmed 25 times in the PAST... couldn't someone claim it was not right and then edit it? i was able to edit trader joes unsweetened soy milk from 90 / 70 cal and i realized this fact.. worried about messing up others i created my own new 70 cal version which are identically named so i had to rename it a little. Maybe somewhere in the country trader joe is still selling 90 cal soy milk ?!??!
  • milkandtea
    milkandtea Posts: 116 Member
    This is what I do: I use the option that has the most confirmations for the nutrient content. If I'm not happy with what I find in the database, I look it up (or look on the label) and enter it in as a new food.

    Agreed.
  • adhillman01
    adhillman01 Posts: 206
    For fruits, veggies and meat that don't have calories listed on them I usually search whatever the name is and then USDA. That will bring up the USDA listed calorie counts and per 100 grams is usually an option. That way you can weigh it out and get a better approximation than 1/2 or 1/4 of something and account for different sizes of these things. I recently found a USDA entry that was different from the USDA database (which you can access by googling USDA nutritional information). I had to search again to find one that was right, so even this method isn't fail safe.
  • kit_katty
    kit_katty Posts: 992 Member
    I understand your concern. Personally I'm not that worried about it, as one poster mentioned, everything is pretty much off anyway. But for me, if I'm consistently losing the weight I think I should be, then I don't worry. If I stop losing weight, then I'll worry and be more careful.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    I second the person that said to always go by weight, it's the closest way to accurate. As noted, 1oz of avocado is 50 cal. But that could be 1/4, 1/3, 1/5, etc. of any particular avocado. For me, the avocados that I buy I tend to try to get the same approximate size each time and my quarters always come out to 7/8oz to 1 1/8oz. But there are definitely larger avocados readily available that 1/4 is closer to 2oz. Never go by fractions when it comes to stuff like that because there are too many variables.

    I like to use nutritiondata for my fresh fruit and veggie info because you can choose the option of 100g for any entry and get all of the nutrient info, including potassium, which so many entries here don't have. So I've created entries for almost all of my own regular use fruits and veggies, then just weigh everything by grams and enter it that way.
  • amykathleen2005
    amykathleen2005 Posts: 79 Member
    Remember as well that these are foods being eaten by people all around the world. There is a huge variation in products from one place to another.
  • Kendrawinn
    Kendrawinn Posts: 160
    I KNOW RIGHT? WE'RE PAYING ALL THIS MONEY TO USE THIS SITE THEY CAN AT LEAST GET THE CALORIES RIGHT.

    ROFL!!! :laugh:
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    You entered it in wrong. If the base serving size is half an avocado and you ate a quarter, you need to enter 0.5. Because you entered 0.25 you got the information for 1/8th of an avocado.

    The database is built by users. There is no guarantee of accuracy unless you use the entries that do not have a star next to them when you search. Double check with your food labels. If you are using a fresh ingredient, use the MFP-generated entries.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Never trust the user-entered items unless you've personally verified.
  • oceanchristy
    oceanchristy Posts: 120
    I often cross check with calorie count.com if im concerned.
  • leanmachinedream
    leanmachinedream Posts: 223
    I KNOW RIGHT? WE'RE PAYING ALL THIS MONEY TO USE THIS SITE THEY CAN AT LEAST GET THE CALORIES RIGHT.

    I know. It's so criminal, those jerks.
  • Fat_Bottomed_Girl
    Fat_Bottomed_Girl Posts: 355 Member
    I understand your concern. Personally I'm not that worried about it, as one poster mentioned, everything is pretty much off anyway. But for me, if I'm consistently losing the weight I think I should be, then I don't worry. If I stop losing weight, then I'll worry and be more careful.

    Agreed. I used to stress about it, but I think the fluctuations are actually a GOOD thing...
  • virgomuse
    virgomuse Posts: 33 Member
    I KNOW RIGHT? WE'RE PAYING ALL THIS MONEY TO USE THIS SITE THEY CAN AT LEAST GET THE CALORIES RIGHT.

    ROFL!!! :laugh:

    tee hee.. I giggled twice!!
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