timriley's Journal, 04 September 2015

For something like that, I would usually just be approximate. For example, if you enter "Shanghai", the top search I see is "Shanghai Recipe Beef (Safeway Select)", with 1 tray being 420 cals. Not sure whether your meal is beef or not, but anyway. You can also weigh the food and enter the number of grams, that is likely more accurate. Also, when doing a search like that, you can see the top few links vary quite a bit about cals. In that case I would choose the one in the middle. Anyway, I think a rough entry is better than none at all. Good work on the weight history! Cheers, 

Hey Timriley! Are you trying to figure out how to add the food without having to create a new database entry? Or are you wanting to know how to add the nutritional information to the database? 

Once you've entered the name of the food and come up with a blank search, there should be a "+" sign underneath the food search list with the option to "add new food". Use that. You'll need to enter in all the nutrition info. from the product's packaging. When done it'll be saved and available for others to use in their food diary's also. 

I've added food to the database before that's not the issue. I just can't find any info on it period. I entered it from my receipt which gives me the name but it just comes up for salads. If it were trays it would be easier but the food came in those take out containers. I even asked the kid behind the counter and he had no clue as to what i was talking about. In fact, none of them did nor did I see any nutritional info at all. I'll toy with it and see what I can come up with. When I first started I was taking pics on my phone if I couldn't find it on in the database. Well, wish me luck, I'm gonna need it lol. 

Ok what I did was add each one individually and what I couldn't find for that particular brand I used what I thought was closest. I have never really dieted until a little while ago and I'm just trying to be as precise as possible. I dunno I guess it's one of my little quirks lol. but I found everything I needed. Thanks a bunch guys. 

Your conundrum is an admirable one - you are working hard to log honestly! THAT is fantastic! You will be successful with that kind of diligence! 

There are going to be times when you just need to do the best you can, putting together the ingredients. If this is something you are going to eat frequently (or even just occasionally, you can save the meal you entered, name it Shanghai Salad and it will be easy to get it in your food log next time around.  

I totally agree with izzypup68, and want to throw in something else... most restaurants, now, are required to have nutritional information posted somewhere-- either on the menu, or on a wall. It only applies to restaurants that have above 'X' numbers, but I'd be willing to bet that there's a pamphlet or something around the Safeway that you went to that has that information. If none of the deli folks knew what you were after, maybe next time ask to see the package it comes in? I've done that in restaurants before, because I am corn intolerant (and you wouldn't believe what kinds of corn by-products are out there in TONS of stuff) so I have to be super-careful, and most folks aren't going to be able to search a label for 26 different ingredients without wanting to give up. (Some days, I do, too.) At any rate, that's gotten me the nutritional information as well, because usually the ingredients are on there. Breaking things out into their individual ingredients and guessing is excellent in a pinch, but depending on how they prepare the meat, they could potentially use more or less oil than you might use yourself, which can throw things WAY off. So I'd try asking for the nutritional label, or maybe calling the corporate office. Those folks can be very helpful as well. Cheers, and good luck! :)