I'm hoping you geniuses have a few good pages/tools you can refer me to because, for as long as I can remember, I've been DYING to calculate the nutrition info of my recipes.
The other day a reader asked for the calorie count for my Crockpot Baked Potato Soup and, unsure the best way to go about this, I looked up each ingredient individually using the Self Nutrition Data webpage. I kept thinking "There has GOT to be a better way to do this!" while I plugged in each item to my calculator and prayed for accuracy.
The result? I learned my soup has 221 calories per cup [pretty rockin' for a cheesy potato soup!] but didn't glean any further information for my efforts. I want to know more! How much fat is in it? Which vitamins is it rich in? If a reader chooses to add bacon, what will that do to the nutrition facts? [other than jack up the fat and calories! lol] Basically, I want it all!
The result? I learned my soup has 221 calories per cup [pretty rockin' for a cheesy potato soup!] but didn't glean any further information for my efforts. I want to know more! How much fat is in it? Which vitamins is it rich in? If a reader chooses to add bacon, what will that do to the nutrition facts? [other than jack up the fat and calories! lol] Basically, I want it all!
So this is where you kids come in. What is, in your opinion, the best and most user-friendly free website or tool to calculate nutrition information? I'd preferably love one that caters to homemade recipes and will give me accuracy, as well as a boatload of info about my dishes. If you could leave me a link or two in the comment section pointing me in the right direction and letting me know what has worked best for you, well then I'll run around squealing with joy. Oh and I'll be able to post more recipes with nutrition information. And I'll love you forever. So do it =) Pretty please with a cherry tomato on top? Thanks guys!
Hmm... This feels like way too short of a post. I don't have a recipe lined up for today but I do have a speedy lunch idea that will be perfect once spring produce makes it's way back into our lives!
Alphabet Pasta Salad
I typically keep a box of pasta ABCs in my pantry for when my niece comes to visit, but I'd totally be lying if I said I didn't eat it too. It reminds me of cous cous, but with the added perk of being able to spell out inappropriate words and score a few giggles in the process. A total win in my book. I'm a firm believer that you're never too old for ABC pasta.
dress it
You can basically go ape with a number of different dressing combinations and have every single one of them rock your face off. That's the glory of pasta salad right!? Pauliandro's favorite [um yes I give Paul fancy nicknames, haven't you noticed that by now?] is a combination of a zesty Italian dressing [like this one or this one] mixed with a spoonful or two of all-natural store bought caesar dressing. He will run away with the bowl and not return until it has been licked clean. It's cute. And absolutely annoying when I haven't had time to steal some for myself first. As always, load it with as many fresh veggies as you can get your hands on and enjoy! Pasta salad is a perfect way to clean out the crisper drawer!
You can basically go ape with a number of different dressing combinations and have every single one of them rock your face off. That's the glory of pasta salad right!? Pauliandro's favorite [um yes I give Paul fancy nicknames, haven't you noticed that by now?] is a combination of a zesty Italian dressing [like this one or this one] mixed with a spoonful or two of all-natural store bought caesar dressing. He will run away with the bowl and not return until it has been licked clean. It's cute. And absolutely annoying when I haven't had time to steal some for myself first. As always, load it with as many fresh veggies as you can get your hands on and enjoy! Pasta salad is a perfect way to clean out the crisper drawer!
http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
ReplyDeletethis is the site i use to calculate for recipes i make. i just copy and paste it in. sometimes it requires playing with formatting a little or looking up a few ingredients that it doesn't automatically recognize but i like it WAY better than the ones where you have to add one ingredient at a time. i don't got time for that.
I used to use this one and it really is easy, until someone pointed out that the saturated fats on one of my recipe was off the charts (even though nothing in the ingredients warrented it). Just FYI! ;)
DeleteThanks ladies!
DeleteI use that tracker and LOVE it, but you do have to pay CAREFUL attention to the foods listed in the database...I've found a TON of errors! :-/
DeleteTry SparkRecipes.com or MyFitnessPal.com. Both are free. You add each individual ingredient and it adds everything up for you. You can save it by recipe for reference later!
ReplyDeleteSweet! Thanks Tiff - I like the save feature, since I'm always losing everyyything!
DeleteI use SparkRecipes to do all my recipe calculations! It's pretty good!
DeleteI love MFP! My favorite feature on the app is that I can scan bar codes if I can't find an ingredient when I manually search.
DeleteI LOVE my MyFitnessPal app!!! It makes it super easy to build recipes because it has an option that uses your phone's camera to scan the barcode of items - making finding info a snap! I can enter in a recipe in just a few minutes while standing in my kitchen without having to go sit at the computer.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's foolproof.
DeleteFabulous! Thanks ladies! Just downloaded the app!
DeleteI used to use caloriecount.com, but now I have the My Fitness Pal app. I never really go to the website, just use the app. But when I click to 'add a food' i can choose to 'create a new recipe' where I add all of the ingredients and amounts of each, and select how many servings it makes. It generates the complete nutrition profile per serving. I love it!
ReplyDeletePerfect! Thanks! =)
DeleteDef my fitness pal! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa!
DeleteI used alphabet pasta when I made vegan spaghetti-os (and As and Bs and Cs...). There really is something fun about food shaped like letters. I mean, hello, Alpha-bits! :)
ReplyDeleteI usually use MyFitnessPal. You can choose the information it gives you, but it isn't the MOST comprehensive.
Whole foods in fun shapes is totally where it's at! Especially if it can lure kids into nomming some veggies
DeleteI use my Lose It app, but it doesn't give you the nifty graphic. I tried some others but got annoyed and all entry process.
ReplyDeletepshh graphic schmafic! I searched for the lose it app but couldn't find it! hmm...
DeleteI agree it is a pain, but the Self Nutrition website is actually my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI've been using it for work and personal use for years but it takes forever with some of my lengthier recipes. I do love it's accuracy though!
DeleteI use Calorie Count - they do a great job breaking down the macros!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteYeah. now I want macaroni salad, which in my house means miracle whip. that's not natural. west virginnie is peaking through.
ReplyDeleteNo, no - none of that! Do you ever make your own mayo? I've always wanted to try it... Though I usually get lazy and grab greek yogurt or a oil-based dressing
Deletecaloriecount.com, hands down
ReplyDeleteThanks Jillian!
Deleteoh my goodness! Alphabet pasta salad! Genius.
ReplyDeletehaha thank you! =)
DeleteI use MyFitnessPal.com to add recipes all the time. Usually I add everything I put into the recipe online or on my app, which gives the nutrition facts for the total recipe, then split it up into how many servings I want... cranberry crack could easily be one serving, right? :)
ReplyDeleteCranberry crack burns calories as you eat it. Duh! =) haha thanks Alysia! mwah!
DeleteI'm reading the comments too - I wish I could find an easy, copy/paste option that was accurate. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know once I try a few of these out. Though something tells me I'll end up doing it the hard way
DeleteI love MyFitness Pal if you already KNOW the calories, because there is a lot of incorrect info floating around there. This one is great for homemade recipes : http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp
ReplyDeleteI used to have the exchange list [calorie counts and all] memorized when I was using it daily for work/dietetics but ohmygosh now I only know bits and pieces by heart and I'm so scared I'll goof! Thanks for the link! =)
DeleteMyfitnesspal, caloriecount, and sparkrecipes are all fairly reliable.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me if how I still love spaghettios! You're never too old for those either!
ReplyDeleteI always use MFP as well, and I double check the calories on the labels for the ingredients I use with the ingredients I choose on MFP to make sure I get the correct calculations. I also like the fact that I can keep the recipes and add them to my daily counts super quickly. I also use this link for both Weight Watchers points & Points Plus in case you want to use post those too! http://www.calculatorcat.com/free_calculators/weight_watchers_calculator.phtml
ReplyDeleteI like the one on LiveStrong!
ReplyDeleteLooks healthy as always.
ReplyDeletei use spark recipes. It's the best, well in my opinion. so fast!
ReplyDeleteMyfitnesspal is always the easiest for me to use. I can do it on my phone which is awesome too. But I do know that the government nutrition page has a calorie counting tool. It does NOT include nearly everything, but sometimes it's good to double check every once in a while to make sure you're on track.
ReplyDeleteI love the use of Alphabet pasta! It is so creative and cute! There is nothing like feeling like a kid at heart while prepping and eating meals! :)
ReplyDeleteI have actually done the calorie count for some of your recipes. It is a little annoying, but it saves each recipe and give you the break down of all that info: Fat, carbs, calories, fiber, sugar. If you use MYFITNESSPAL.com... Under FOOD, there is a RECIPES tab... then Add new recipes. You would just type in each ingredient with the amount used (if they dont have the ingredient in the data base you can add it in yourself, but they have basically EVERYTHING) and then depending the number of servings it breaks it down for you. Then save, and you have it forever. Your the best Jenn, hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteThat would have been my suggestion, too ;)
DeleteThe comments on this post were super helpful, I'd been having the same problem!
ReplyDeleteHow fun and this looks delish!
ReplyDeleteWhere are your lovely chevron kitchen/tea towels from?
ReplyDeleteThanks :D
cecilia[at]mylifesansgluten.com
I bet someone has mentioned this already, but I love MyFitnessPal, it's free, easy to use and the site is really user friendly.
ReplyDeleteJen@HealthyFoodandFamily
I use my fitness pal. I really like how I can scan barcodes with my phone so when I am making a recipe I just scan everything and which makes it easier. You do have to double check cause sometimes it gets stuff wrong but its pretty great!
ReplyDelete