What's a food?

Excellent question and I have a feeling you will get a
number of different opinions. I don't know if WW online
might have an answer on how to calculate an entire meal -
clearly, as you show, it makes a difference and can either
result in over or under-counting points.

I've had the same question and never did get a satisfactory
answer. But maybe ultimately it may not matter all that much
over the course of a day or week.

I usually calculated meals (sweet potato, fish and veggies,
separately; milk and cereal separately) by item and did the
same for sandwiches - first the bagel and then the pickled
herring (G)

It may make more difference when you are close to goal and
your goal weight is relatively low????

Anny Middon said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two slices of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6
fiber, I get 2 points. If the filling is 100 cals, 3 fat
and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the filling. Total then is
3 points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home package)
and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10 fiber I get 5 points. So how
am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a bit
more complicated. I'm using Fitday to journal and I like
the way it tracks a variety of nutrients. But it won't give
me points. I'm using the purchased version of the Fitday
software and I can easily get it to give me totals by meal
for calories, fat and fiber. But if I calculate points on
that total I get a higher number than if I calculate on a
food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly because I'm inputting my free vegetables because
I want to track the vitamins. I can compute points
individually once I know what the heck a "food" is (the
bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
wondering if ther wasn't some sort of standard correction.

Anny

I think it basically boils down to the fact that this is not
an exact science. I specifically leave a flex point or two
per day to offset any miscalculating I may have done during
the day. You know, in case that glass of milk was actually 1
¼ cups instead of a cup exactly, that sort of thing.

If you know the calories et al for the parts, and you
know it for the sum of the parts, theoretically it should
come out to the same thing shouldn't it? The sum of the
parts can't have more or less calories than the parts
that went into it.

In my opinion, you should probably go for the sum of the
whole if you are able to do that. Individually a carrot may
be zero points but if you're adding 20 to a sandwich, those
few calories might add up to a point or so. Exaggerated
example of course.

Or you could count the lower amount of points for the day
but cross off those "not sure they really exist" points from
your flex points. You should cover all your bases that way.

Alex

Quoted message said:

Anny Middon said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two

slices

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6 fiber, I get 2 points.
If the filling

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
filling. Total then

is 3

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home
package) and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10

fiber I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a
bit more

complicated.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm using Fitday to journal and I like the way it tracks
a variety of nutrients. But it won't give me points. I'm
using the purchased version

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
totals by meal for calories, fat and fiber. But if I
calculate points on that total I get a higher number than
if I calculate on a food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to track
the vitamins. I can compute points individually once I
know what the heck a "food" is

(the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some sort of standard correction.

Anny

Anny,

I get 3.45 points calculated for the sum of the foods that
you list. I'm using the calculator that has been posted with
the welcome notice-although I'm not sure exactly which link
it was. I get 1.45 points for the filling and 2 for the
bread. Rounding down = 3 points. When dropping the fiber
from the calculation, I get 5.45, rounded down = 5. Could
you have missed the fiber when calculating the total?

Just some thoughts.

Julie

"Anny Middon" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two slices of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6
fiber, I get 2 points. If the filling

is

Quoted message said:

100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
filling. Total then is

3

Quoted message said:

points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home package)
and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10 fiber

I

Quoted message said:

get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a bit
more complicated. I'm using Fitday to journal and I like
the way it tracks a variety of nutrients. But it won't
give me points. I'm using the purchased version

of

Quoted message said:

the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
totals by meal for calories, fat and fiber. But if I
calculate points on that total I get a higher number than
if I calculate on a food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly

because

Quoted message said:

I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to track
the vitamins. I can compute points individually once I
know what the heck a "food" is (the bread and filling are
one food or two?), but I was wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

some sort of standard correction.

Anny

Well, technically a *food* is anything you put in your
mouth and swallow ... ANY and EVERYthing - in my mind
anyway. Calculations are a bit different though. You could
go either way with your calcs - figuring the entire meal or
individual items
- whatever you are most comfortable with. You are right
though, the difference in points will be due to the
capping of the fiber content in calculations.

When I am making sandwiches or single type meal items (meat,
potatoes, veggies, etc) I calculate the individual items -
so that sandwich would count as 3 points (bread 2 points,
filling 1 point) then add whatever else I am having with the
meal (veggies 0 points, pickles 0 points, chips 1 point,
etc.). When I make casserole type dishes, I calculate points
based on the entire recipe ingredients, which will put the
cap on the fiber content even if loaded with wonderful
veggies, and use that higher point amount. I figure it all
balances out by the end of the day. You can still log those
seperate veggies to keep track of your nutrition
information, then just count them as 0 points when adding up
your ww points.

I honestly don't know if there is a *standard* way of doing
things, but believe the above is how most people figure
their daily points.

Joyce

Anny Middon said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two slices of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6
fiber, I get 2 points. If the filling is 100 cals, 3 fat
and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the filling. Total then is
3 points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home package)
and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10 fiber I get 5 points. So how
am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a bit
more complicated. I'm using Fitday to journal and I like
the way it tracks a variety of nutrients. But it won't give
me points. I'm using the purchased version of the Fitday
software and I can easily get it to give me totals by meal
for calories, fat and fiber. But if I calculate points on
that total I get a higher number than if I calculate on a
food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly because I'm inputting my free vegetables because
I want to track the vitamins. I can compute points
individually once I know what the heck a "food" is (the
bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
wondering if ther wasn't some sort of standard correction.

Anny

I have used Diet Power and Points off and on during the
whole time I was losing, and maintaining. Most of the time
anyway. I found that even though I went over every now and
then on one or the other, it all ended up a loss unless I
had periods of going completely freaky like this past Easter
Sunday.....

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, technically a *food* is anything you put in your
mouth and swallow

... ANY

Quoted message said:

and EVERYthing - in my mind anyway. Calculations are a bit
different

though. You

Quoted message said:

could go either way with your calcs - figuring the
entire meal or

individual items

Quoted message said:

- whatever you are most comfortable with. You are right
though, the

difference in

Quoted message said:

points will be due to the capping of the fiber content in
calculations.

When I am making sandwiches or single type meal items
(meat, potatoes,

veggies,

Quoted message said:

etc) I calculate the individual items - so that sandwich
would count as 3

points

Quoted message said:

(bread 2 points, filling 1 point) then add whatever else I
am having with

the meal

Quoted message said:

(veggies 0 points, pickles 0 points, chips 1 point, etc.).
When I make

casserole

Quoted message said:

type dishes, I calculate points based on the entire recipe
ingredients,

which will

Quoted message said:

put the cap on the fiber content even if loaded with
wonderful veggies,

and use

Quoted message said:

that higher point amount. I figure it all balances out by
the end of the

day.

Quoted message said:

You can still log those seperate veggies to keep track of
your nutrition information, then just count them as 0
points when adding up your ww

points.

Quoted message said:

I honestly don't know if there is a *standard* way of
doing things, but

believe

Quoted message said:

the above is how most people figure their daily points.

Joyce

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 13:55:53 GMT, "Anny Middon"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two

slices

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6 fiber, I get 2 points.
If the filling

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
filling. Total then

is 3

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home
package) and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10

fiber I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a
bit more

complicated.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm using Fitday to journal and I like the way it tracks
a variety of nutrients. But it won't give me points. I'm
using the purchased version

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
totals by meal for calories, fat and fiber. But if I
calculate points on that total I get a higher number than
if I calculate on a food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to track
the vitamins. I can compute points individually once I
know what the heck a "food" is

(the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some sort of standard correction.

Anny

not sure about the points but can you have several small meals on fit day so
you can count them that way, Lee
Anny Middon <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two slices of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6
fiber, I get 2 points. If the filling

is

Quoted message said:

100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
filling. Total then is

3

Quoted message said:

points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home package)
and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10 fiber

I

Quoted message said:

get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a bit
more complicated. I'm using Fitday to journal and I like
the way it tracks a variety of nutrients. But it won't
give me points. I'm using the purchased version

of

Quoted message said:

the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
totals by meal for calories, fat and fiber. But if I
calculate points on that total I get a higher number than
if I calculate on a food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly

because

Quoted message said:

I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to track
the vitamins. I can compute points individually once I
know what the heck a "food" is (the bread and filling are
one food or two?), but I was wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

some sort of standard correction.

Anny

I have thought about this and I think if you pick one method and use it
consistently until you it losing then maybe change it will work fine, Lee
Alex Robinson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think it basically boils down to the fact that this is
not an exact science. I specifically leave a flex point or
two per day to offset any miscalculating I may have done
during the day. You know, in case that

glass

Quoted message said:

of milk was actually 1 ¼ cups instead of a cup exactly,
that sort of

thing.

Quoted message said:

If you know the calories et al for the parts, and you know
it for the sum

of

Quoted message said:

the parts, theoretically it should come out to the same
thing shouldn't

it?

Quoted message said:

The sum of the parts can't have more or less calories than
the parts that went into it.

In my opinion, you should probably go for the sum of the
whole if you are able to do that. Individually a carrot
may be zero points but if you're adding 20 to a sandwich,
those few calories might add up to a point or so.
Exaggerated example of course.

Or you could count the lower amount of points for the day
but cross off those "not sure they really exist" points
from your flex points. You

should

Quoted message said:

cover all your bases that way.

Alex

Quoted message said:

Anny Middon said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two

slices

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6 fiber, I get 2
points. If the

filling

Quoted message said:

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
filling. Total then

is 3

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

got yesterday with my At Home package) and use 260 cal,
3 fat and 10

fiber I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a
bit more

complicated.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm using Fitday to journal and I like the way it
tracks a variety of nutrients. But it won't give me
points. I'm using the purchased

version

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
totals by meal

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

calories, fat and fiber. But if I calculate points on
that total I get

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

higher number than if I calculate on a food by food
basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber
grams and partly

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to
track the vitamins.

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can compute points individually once I know what the
heck a "food" is

(the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some sort of standard correction.

Anny

I've found with dietpower I don't focus entirely on points
- or at least not the total daily number. I do figure
points for individual items, I just forget to add them all
up at the end of the day - guess I am pretty focused on the
calories for the time being. I did have a few weeks stretch
where I was putting the points into the memo/notes section,
not sure why I stopped doing that. <g> I have stopped going
to the ww website though, has been over a month since I
last logged
in. It's kind of an experiment for me ... if I can go a few
months and continue to successfully maintain, then I
MIGHT get brave and cancel my membership. Every time I
think I can safely do this, I have second thoughts.

Joyce

Lesanne said:

I have used Diet Power and Points off and on during the
whole time I was losing, and maintaining. Most of the time
anyway. I found that even though I went over every now and
then on one or the other, it all ended up a loss unless I
had periods of going completely freaky like this past
Easter Sunday.....

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, technically a *food* is anything you put in your
mouth and swallow

... ANY

Quoted message said:

and EVERYthing - in my mind anyway. Calculations are a
bit different

though. You

Quoted message said:

could go either way with your calcs - figuring the entire
meal or

individual items

Quoted message said:

- whatever you are most comfortable with. You are right
though, the

difference in

Quoted message said:

points will be due to the capping of the fiber content in
calculations.

When I am making sandwiches or single type meal items
(meat, potatoes,

veggies,

Quoted message said:

etc) I calculate the individual items - so that sandwich
would count as 3

points

Quoted message said:

(bread 2 points, filling 1 point) then add whatever else
I am having with

the meal

Quoted message said:

(veggies 0 points, pickles 0 points, chips 1 point,
etc.). When I make

casserole

Quoted message said:

type dishes, I calculate points based on the entire
recipe ingredients,

which will

Quoted message said:

put the cap on the fiber content even if loaded with
wonderful veggies,

and use

Quoted message said:

that higher point amount. I figure it all balances out by
the end of the

day.

Quoted message said:

You can still log those seperate veggies to keep track of
your nutrition information, then just count them as 0
points when adding up your ww

points.

Quoted message said:

I honestly don't know if there is a *standard* way of
doing things, but

believe

Quoted message said:

the above is how most people figure their daily points.

Joyce

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 13:55:53 GMT, "Anny Middon"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?

Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
calculate two

slices

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6 fiber, I get 2
points. If the filling

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
filling. Total then

is 3

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

points.

However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home
package) and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10

fiber I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?

I made up that example, but my problem is actually a
bit more

complicated.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm using Fitday to journal and I like the way it tracks
a variety of nutrients. But it won't give me points. I'm
using the purchased version

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
totals by meal for calories, fat and fiber. But if I
calculate points on that total I get a higher number
than if I calculate on a food by food basis.

This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber grams
and partly

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to track
the vitamins. I can compute points individually once I
know what the heck a "food" is

(the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some sort of standard correction.

Anny

Kind of why some of continue to attend meetings. Just a tad
bit concerned about doing it safely.....

Joyce said:

I've found with dietpower I don't focus entirely on points
- or at least not the total daily number. I do figure
points for individual items, I just forget to add them all
up at the end of the day - guess I am pretty focused on the
calories for the time being. I did have a few weeks stretch
where I was putting the points into the memo/notes section,
not sure why I stopped doing that. <g> I have stopped going
to the ww website though, has been over a month since I
last logged
in. It's kind of an experiment for me ... if I can go a
few months and continue to successfully maintain, then
I MIGHT get brave and cancel my membership. Every time
I think I can safely do this, I have second thoughts.

Joyce

Lesanne said:

I have used Diet Power and Points off and on during the
whole time I was losing, and maintaining. Most of the time
anyway. I found that even though I went over every now and
then on one or the other, it all ended up a loss unless I
had periods of going completely freaky like this past
Easter Sunday.....

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, technically a *food* is anything you put in your
mouth and swallow

... ANY

Quoted message said:

and EVERYthing - in my mind anyway. Calculations are a
bit different

though. You

Quoted message said:

could go either way with your calcs - figuring the
entire meal or

individual items

Quoted message said:

- whatever you are most comfortable with. You are right
though, the

difference in

Quoted message said:

points will be due to the capping of the fiber content
in calculations.

When I am making sandwiches or single type meal items
(meat, potatoes,

veggies,

Quoted message said:

etc) I calculate the individual items - so that sandwich
would count as 3

points

Quoted message said:

(bread 2 points, filling 1 point) then add whatever else
I am having with

the meal

Quoted message said:

(veggies 0 points, pickles 0 points, chips 1 point,
etc.). When I make

casserole

Quoted message said:

type dishes, I calculate points based on the entire
recipe ingredients,

which will

Quoted message said:

put the cap on the fiber content even if loaded with
wonderful veggies,

and use

Quoted message said:

that higher point amount. I figure it all balances out
by the end of the

day.

Quoted message said:

You can still log those seperate veggies to keep track
of your nutrition information, then just count them as 0
points when adding up your ww

points.

Quoted message said:

I honestly don't know if there is a *standard* way of
doing things, but

believe

Quoted message said:

the above is how most people figure their daily points.

Joyce

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 13:55:53 GMT, "Anny Middon"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

wrote:

>When computing points, what constitutes a "food"?
>
>Suppose I'm going to have a sandwich for lunch. If I
>calculate two

slices

Quoted message said:

>of bread at 160 cals, 0 fat, and 6 fiber, I get 2
>points. If the filling

is

Quoted message said:

>100 cals, 3 fat and 4 fiber, I get 1 point for the
>filling. Total then

is 3

Quoted message said:

>points.
>
>However if I put in the whole sandwich (I'm using the
>points calculator I got yesterday with my At Home
>package) and use 260 cal, 3 fat and 10

fiber I

Quoted message said:

>get 5 points. So how am I supposed to calculate it?
>
>I made up that example, but my problem is actually a
>bit more

complicated.

Quoted message said:

>I'm using Fitday to journal and I like the way it
>tracks a variety of nutrients. But it won't give me
>points. I'm using the purchased version

of

Quoted message said:

>the Fitday software and I can easily get it to give me
>totals by meal for calories, fat and fiber. But if I
>calculate points on that total I get a higher number
>than if I calculate on a food by food basis.
>
>This is partly I think because of the cap on fiber
>grams and partly

because

Quoted message said:

>I'm inputting my free vegetables because I want to
>track the vitamins. I can compute points individually
>once I know what the heck a "food" is

(the

Quoted message said:

>bread and filling are one food or two?), but I was
>wondering if ther

wasn't

Quoted message said:

>some sort of standard correction.
>
>Anny
>