I can't find where else to put this so I'm writing here and hoping the moderators can pass on the info to the powers that be. I have a few suggestions to improve the nutrition log. All in all, it's really good... but it could be better :-).

1. It would be great to have the Define New Recipe area be able to compute the nutrition info for you. I entered all the ingredients to a recipe before I realized I'd have to enter each ingredient separately in my nutrition log and divide it by servings in the recipe to get the actual nutrition info. Very time consuming the first time because in addition to that I have to then create a New Food which is the recipe I have and enter all that nutrition info in myself.
2. For prepared foods, frozen foods and the like that are need to be added in Define New Foods we don't get credit for vegetables, fruit, lean meat, etc. I had a Green Giant Simply Steam vegetable packet the other day which was at least one, maybe two, servings of veggies but it didn't show up as any. I'd love to be able to manually add that in to get a more accurate picture of the day.
3. It would also be helpful to be able to choose the serving size of different foods. For example, something may come up only as ounces but I want to put it in as a tablespoon or it shows up as a tablespoon and I want to enter it as teaspoons because that's what I used. I found a handy kitchen conversion chart online which helps with some of this (I learned that 3 teaspoons equal a tablespoon) but for some transitions it isn't so easy or requires a calculator (1/8 of a cup in the recipe divided by 4 servings but I only ate 3/4 of a serving, etc.)

On another note, the survey for the website pops up for me repeatedly. I think I've completed it at least 3 times now and ignored it another 3. I wish it could recognize that I've already done it or have a limit on how often it asks me... even once a week would be better than once a day.

Thanks for listening.

E

Hi E,

I will pass this message along.  

The alli website is continuously updated and your comments and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 Thank you!

I was also thinking it would be nice to be able to not only create your own recipe but your own meal. For example, if I eat the same breakfast several times a week and it consists of cheerios, skim milk and oj it would be nice not to have to type that in each time. I could just enter "cheerio breakfast" or something and it would the one I created.

:-)

E

 I agree that it would be nice to be able to enter a recipe with all the ingredients and have the system compute the nutritional information for you.  The WW site has this capability so I'm sure it can be done. Trying to figure out the nutritional information of a casserole or cake, etc is too time consuming and too difficult to be bothered with when you are trying to log everything to keep up with your daily intake.  It leaves you vulnerable for errors in your daily nutrition log and subject to failure.  This is a good suggestion for the next system update - it has my vote!

I don't have any problems with prepackage products as they have the nutritional information on the package.  You only have to enter that once under "define new food" and it is available for you to use whenever needed.  For instance, I like the Tostitos Multi Grain Chips, 8 chips per serving - I have entered the nutrional information per serving from the package and if I eat 8 chips that is one serving, 12 chips is 1 1/2 servings and 16 chips is 2 servings - the log updates properly.  I thing that is great.  I have added several foods that are not in the database already and it saves me a lot of time. The important thing is to indicate the serving size with the name of the food so you will know how many servings you are eating.

Thanks,

Carolyn

CARICK:

 I don't have any problems with prepackage products as they have the nutritional information on the package.  You only have to enter that once under "define new food" and it is available for you to use whenever needed.  For instance, I like the Tostitos Multi Grain Chips, 8 chips per serving - I have entered the nutrional information per serving from the package and if I eat 8 chips that is one serving, 12 chips is 1 1/2 servings and 16 chips is 2 servings - the log updates properly.  I thing that is great.  I have added several foods that are not in the database already and it saves me a lot of time. The important thing is to indicate the serving size with the name of the food so you will know how many servings you are eating.

I have added new foods, too. But have you noticed you don't get credit for eating your veggies or grains or whatever it is you are eating. I mean in the area below the daily summary where it says how many servings of veggies, fruits, lean meats, etc. you have eaten for the day. That's what I would like changed. I know I ate my veggies but if they were an added new food it doesn't appear that I have.

E

 I see what you mean.  I had never paid any attention to that but you are right.  Is there a guide as to the number of fruits, veggies, etc. that should be consumed in a day?  I always concentrate on the nutritional balance above and try to keep everything in the green or blue but have never paid attention to the exchange info.  It seems that if your nutrition is in balance the exchange should also be balanced.  Guess I'm missing something.

This is a good suggestion.  The exchange points should be updated when you eat a food that has been added to the food list. 

Thanks,

Carolyn 

 I believe the guidelines for the food groups are in one of the little books that come with the starter kit. From memory (and thus prone to error) I think it is:

fruits: 3-4

veggies: 4

bread/starch: 6-7

lean meat/protein: 2??

dairy: 2

fat: 3-4

Hope that's on target.

It also depends on your calorie allowance with more calories meaning more exchange food.

E