Can anyone tell me how you calculate calories in your meal (that you cook from scratch).I am someone who Cooks from scratch, from whatever is in the fridge/freezer, and often jumbles up or changes recipes, which is a nightmare for logging food/calories.
So can anyone tell me how to calculate calories, or is it impossible aha.
Thanks
I use cronometer, and quite like it because you can enter recipes and take "portions", so if you're cooking for 2, you don't have to figure out half a pepper, 1/4 tin of tomatoes, etc. You enter the full recipe, and have one serving.
The other benefit, is that you can see your micronutrients.
Thanks, but its more for when I'm not using recipes. I use MyFitnessPal to log food, but its when I'm like throwing something together, or changing a well used recipe because I'm swapping ingredients.
Hi MissBoris, I find using a calorie counting app helpful as it allows me to create a meal, adding in the calories, and then saving it for the future too. It does all the arithmetic for you. Have a look at the various apps out there….some cost more than others; I use Nutracheck which I have found very helpful.
I use MyFitnessPal to log food and calories, but it means adding individual items when I create a meal from scratch, which is just a pain lol I will have a look a nutracheck though, thanks
Have you tried the barcode scan option on MyFitnessPal? I find I have to estimate amounts as a proportion of the total bag/box/amount, but you can scan the barcode to find your item quickly and then make a judgement on what proportion of the portion size the app comes up with you think you've had.
It's hard to get exact amounts unless you weigh your food and find specifically what that food is, I think. Plus how you cook food can alter the calorie content from what the base calorie level is, for example trimming the skin off chicken/the fat off steak if it's already there. As long as you're around the right number you shouldn't need to be too specific. When I track I lean toward inputting the higher calorie option if I'm unsure meaning I'm more likely to end in a deficit.
Also just seen you're back into running - you may already know of it but Parkrun might be something for you. It's a 5k run/walk (your choice!) that's hosted by volunteers. Free to attend, you can sign up and they track your times for you, and there are quite a few areas they run in. Just thought I'd add that in case you didn't know. Good luck for your weight loss journey!
Why do you want to know how many calories are in a meal? If you eat low calorie you can eat until you're satisfied without worrying abaut the caloriies. I've never ccounted a calorie in my life and my bmi is between 20.5 and 21.
I cook from scratch and avoid processed food (even bread and fruit juice). For the past month I've even cut out rice and potatoes.
Its a way of monitoring my input and output. I have a varied diet which depends on what money I have and what's left in fridge, rather than repetitive meals and recipes.
Gosh, Eryl, what DO you eat love?? Are you pro-protein? If so gosh I so wish I could do the same, its alot better then carbs though they do have a little place in a diet I guess. Unfortunately I'm so bad at dieting I'm on the 5:2 plan and I just drink Slimfast shakes on those 2 days and try to keep on a tighter eating plan the rest of the time. I dunno what I'm doing, hence Slimfast and 5:2!!!
I eat meat, fish, eggs, veg, salads, nuts only cooked in olive oil, butter or occasionally coconut oil (never refined seed oil). I only have one portion of fruit in a day and that's usually blueberries or rhubarb when it's in season (with no sugar). I try to restrict my eating to a 7-8 hr window which alllows my insuin levels to get as low as possible for the longest possible preiod.
I eat a high protein-low carb and gluten free diet. I eat hard boiled eggs and Greek yogurt for breakfast, cheese, tuna/salmon/meat for lunch with a yogurt when home and other items at dinner. I have a 30 gram protein bar before bedtime and a Greek yogurt for snack. How many carbs. do you have each meal/snack?
You may find some of the Zoe podcasts useful joinzoe.com/learn/category/...
and glucose goddess podcasts.
If you listen to the Zoe podcast on nuts, for example, this helps to give examples of where "calorific values of foods" don't mean much.
I do this the long way. I started a spreadsheet with foods I generally have in the cupboard and fridge. I then use the nutritional information values on the packet or if it is fresh fruit and vegetables check the internet for a basic value to add the calories per gram (value divided by 100). Next to that I type in how many grams I used and it multiplies that by the calories per gram to tell me the total.
I also use this sheet to meal plan which is a big help as I can tweak the weights until the end count fits in with my limit. I also have to take into account fats, sugars, and carbohydrates though which makes a lot of apps obsolete.
I used to use specific recipes but found that the various brands and such or missing/added ingredients made a large enough difference in the end result that I had to do it manually.
However, as people have also mentioned in this post, if you are not on a strict calorie counting diet and eating fresh foods rather than processed, you will be surprised at what you can eat and not consume that many calories.
I also use the free version of Cronometer to calculate my recipes and daily intake. I simply create a new recipe and input the individual ingredients of the recipe in the Custom Recipes of the Food section, including the number of portion for the recipe and save. You can then use it whenever you need.
Hi MissBoris
Firstly I would not be worrying too much about calories per se. The key to better health especially where the liver is concerned is the food quality. Try and concentrate on (if possible) organic and unprocessed food. Fresh vegetables, salads and some protein, and healthy fats. Coconut oil and olive are best. Try and avoid refined sugars and flours and high carb (bread, pasta, cereals etc) as these spike blood sugar and make the liver work extra hard. If you just follow this there is really no need to count calories and the way you say you cook “as hoc” it would certainly be very challenging to get an accurate gauge anyway. But it’s great you are cooking from scratch! Good luck.
My diet and food choices are not a problem as such, I eat a good varied diet, mostly all fresh, not much processed stuff (only on odd occasions) but I do consume alcohol (more than recommended amounts aha) and I have a sedentary job. So my input of food is much greater than output of energy, and I have a good appetite and appreciation of food, so I can eat tiny bowls of fruit to sustain me like some office staff, or plain sandwiches.I had been trying to reduce food consumption, but perhaps I simply need to just be more active.
I've heard it said that to lose weight we simply need to eat less (calories) and that exercise has nothing to do with losing weight albeit it does make us more toned, tighter etc. Apparently an hour at the gym may take off 100 or so cals, hardly gob smacking!
There are a few calorie counting apps, in the app stores (android and iPhone). I use one called "my fitness pal" and I believe another good one is "calorie counter" by nutracheck.
The key is, getting to know the weights and sizes and logging accurately, including cooking oils or butters, sauces etc.
They all have a barcode scanner attached, so you can just read barcodes and enter the appropriate amount.
But it's no good entering 150 gr of something, if your actual portion is twice that.
Eventually it gets easier, to judge amounts etc but a good set of digital food scales and accurate tsp, tbsp sets to measure with helps.
You can get different sizes spoon sets and cup sets for measuring.
It gets a bit obsessional but if u really want to know how much you're really eating, that's what it takes.
Low fat high calorie food? 
Is Eating this Meal Most Days Unhealthy?
Another Meal with my Neighbour
