Is it possible to add foods to the database?

[MsD]

It would be great to add foods to the database, or somehow suggest that they be added. Escpecially those foods that are packaged with a nutrition label. 

[WUA]

I agree and think we are on the same page.........

I'm new to Fitbit and the Forum. Hoping that the Fitbit team reads these posts too.  I thought that I would be able to list all of the foods that I eat, to start logging them. And then I could pull those foods from the list as having just consumed them. 

I havne't begun logging yet, but it appears that it's a log as you go set up. 

I would prefer to sit down and put in most of the foods I eat, and then add them to m daily consumption charting throughout the week. Does this sound unreasonable?

Also, I make up a morning drink that consists of 3 different ingredients. My own Starbucks concotion so to speak. How do you add something like that into the site?

Sorry if I am popping in at the woong spot, but I am just starting to get the hang of this site which is not overly user friendly in comparioson to other sites I have used:)

[SunsetRunner]

for your drink, what I've done on other calorie counting apps is one of two things:

either 1. Enter all three ingredients separately each time. A little more time consuming but accurate, especially if I change the amount of ingredients from time to time.

  or 2. Create a custom food (with a title I recognize) and enter all the data (calories, fat, protein, carbs). This one takes planning and it is nice for quick on the go counting, but sometimes I run out of xx ingredient and my calories could be off. 

Personally, for the food database, I prefer to add my items in as I go. I look at the list generated when I do a search, and choose from there when possible. Sitting down and adding it all at once sounds like a lot of work to me! LOL

[SunsetRunner]

You can add food to the database. On the phone app, as I start tyoing to search for my food it ask me if I want to create a custom food. If I say yes, i have 2 options for nutrients. basic or advanced (with all the sodium and cholesterol numbers etc.)

On the dashboard, I type in my food to log it, and at the bottom of the drop down menu of choices it asks "search food" or "Add new foods" and then I can add my own calories etc.

Hope that helps!

[MsD]

Thank you! As I become more familiar with the computer program, I've discovered that you can indeed add food to the database. In the Food Log section in the "What did you eat" section; as you begin to input your food item, at the bottom of the "pop up" list, you will see a selection/choice to "Add New Food".  

[SunsetRunner]

I found that if you use the website "www.myfitnesspal.com" there's an app for smart phones that allows you to use the camera on your phone and scan the UPC symbol on foods which imports the information, you can then sync it to your log in fitbit (its a one way scan).

It is CRAZY COOL!!  You will need to grant access in fitbit.com to the myfitnesspal.  This has made my food loging a very quick and interesting experinces.  

Hope that helps you too.

[WUA]

Good tips here, thanks. You have to take the paid premium option to add foods other than what they list, correct?

[WUA]

Thanks, I agree, it could be time consuming. But I'd planned to do it a little at a time. I realize now that you have to pay to add foods without the primium option, I think. 

I guess I'll figure this all out, but Fitbit sure makes it's tricky. Between this helpful community and their good customer service, I'll get there 

[WUA]

If fact, this is an awesome tip, now that I think about it. If you have to pay to add foods, not so much.

Can you add foods, just to add them? Or is it as you eat them? 

[SunsetRunner]

No...you don't have to pay for premium.  My wife and I didn't.  when you go to the fitbit site you go to "Log" on the top of the site and then select "food".

This is where you Log your food.  There's feild under that asks you "what did you eat today".  As you start to type a word it searches for common words..but you can type anything then you get a submenu with "Add new food".  

select that..and it will log it.  It will calulate the calories you list it for that food.

[WUA]

Thanks again!

Hope you don't mind if I may ask another question or 2 on this subject. 

[zelda]

I didn't pay for premium either. Just follow the directions from logging.

[LCHFmom]

I do not use the fitbit food database, because not all the foods I eat are in it ( or the right merasurements...) I already had a myfitnesspal  account, and have been using their extensive database for quite some time.   The good news -- everything I eat gets imported into the fitbit - so no loss of data!

[jpmenezes]

We cook at home almost on a daily basis.  We cook from scratch using raw ingredients and spices.  I am not sure how to measure the nutrition values that are required by the database.  

It is easy for those buying packaged foods because the package contains all the values.  How do people who cook their own meals get these values?  any ideas?  

[SunsetRunner]

there's a ton of data on the Internet so depending upon what the food is I would do the research then add it to my favorites for example I'm a big white rice eater. and I have one serving saved as the quantity for the calories based on what I found online.

Hope that helps.

[jpmenezes]

As I said before these values you find online are all for processed foods.  We know by now that any food that is packaged is "no" food, just junk not at all good for your health.  Doctors are crying hoarse and telling us not not to consume packaged foods.  I want to measure values for home cooked food and not rely on the values of processed foods on the internet.

[whome]

I have found values for things like - strawberries,raw - or - whole milk - or other foods that would be used as ingrediants in something I am making.

Those aren't processed foods.

[jpmenezes]

Hey thanks, I am looking for such values as tomatoes, lentils, beans (fava beans, Lima beans etc.), leafy green vegetables like swiss chard, Kale etc and fresh chillies, cauli flower, cabbage, potatoes, sweet potatoes, raw fish, raw meat, raw chicken that I use as ingredients for cooking my meals.  Please let me know which database you are referring to so I can search for what I mentioned here.

Thanks again

[whome]

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@jpmenezes wrote:

Hey thanks, I am looking for such values as tomatoes, lentils, beans (fava beans, Lima beans etc.), leafy green vegetables like swiss chard, Kale etc and fresh chillies, cauli flower, cabbage, potatoes, sweet potatoes, raw fish, raw meat, raw chicken that I use as ingredients for cooking my meals.  Please let me know which database you are referring to so I can search for what I mentioned here.

Thanks again

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 in the fitbit database I found - tomatoes, lentils, fava bean, lima bean, swiss chard, kale, serrano, jalapeno, cauliflower,potato, sweet potatoes, salmon, trout, whitefish, chicken breast, brisket, steak, pork,.

 Sometimes small things like potato or potatoe can make a difference when searching and you might want to check the database at Livestrong's "How to lose it all" website, or the "myfitnesspal" website. I am sure than are a lot more out there but these seem to be a good start.

Good Luck

[MatthewFitbit]

We welcome your input on our ever-evolving food database. If you notice that a food item is missing, please head over to the Food Database Requests forum and let us know what you'd like to see added.

Please include the following details in your post on that board:
Food item
Brand name
Serving size
Calories per serving
Your state/country