- Nutrition Content is Too High?
- Possible Reason 1: Serving Number too Low for Total Ingredient Amounts
- Possible Reason 2: An Ingredient uses a Special Unit of Measure that is too High
Nutrition Content is Too High?
When you review a recipe, you may notice that its nutrition content is higher than it should be for the portion size for the recipe. In the Chicken Casserole example recipe below, the nutrients and calories (1300) are too high for the 250 ml portion size set for the recipe.
In addition, notice the high cost at $5.76 per 250 ml portion for the recipe.
Possible Reason 1: Serving Number too Low for Total Ingredient Amounts
When the nutrition content of a recipe is too high, it could be that the serving number is too low for the total ingredient amounts for the recipe. You can confirm this by checking the Estimated Serving Size and the Servings set for the recipe. (The estimated serving size is the sum of the edible portion (EP) amount of all ingredients divided by the serving number; see Understanding Estimated Serving Size of a Recipe).
In the Chicken Casserole example recipe below, the Estimated Serving Size is 1150.57 g (40.59 oz) and the Servings are only 10, which means that the total EP amount of ingredients 11505.70 g (405.90 oz) is divided by only 10 servings, resulting in the estimated serving size of 1150.57 g (40.59 oz), which is too high for the ideal portion size of 250 ml.*
Note: Click the scale icon () for a breakdown of each ingredient's weight per serving.
Solution Option 1: Calculate and Enter a Higher Serving Number to Decrease Estimated Serving Size
After identifying that the serving number is too low for the total ingredient amounts, you can calculate a higher serving number to decrease the estimated serving size to match the portion size. To do so, use the following calculation (using examples from screenshot above):
- Multiply the current estimated serving size 1150.57 g (40.59 oz) by the existing serving number (10) to get the total weight of the ingredients: 11505.70 g (405.9 oz).
- Divide the weight of the ingredients by the portion size to get the proper estimated serving size. Note that if you are calculating in grams, and the portion size is in ounces, then first convert the portion size to grams. If you are calculating in ounces, and the portion size is in grams, then first convert the portion size to ounces.*
- With the portion size in grams, the calculation is as follows: 11505.70 g weight of ingredients / 230 g portion size = 50 servings.
- With the portion size in ounces, the calculation is as follows: 405.90 oz weight of ingredients / 8.11 oz portion size = 50 servings.
With the correct estimated serving size calculated (50), you can now enter the number directly in the Yield/Servings field, which will adjust the Estimated Serving Size accordingly to match the ideal portion size. Ensure to click Save to apply your changes.
Solution Option 2: Decrease the Ingredient Amounts to Decrease Estimated Serving Size
If you don't want to enter a higher serving number, then the other option is to decrease the ingredient amounts to decrease the estimated serving size to match the portion size.
Rather than doing the math for each ingredient to decrease the estimated serving size, you can use the yield tool to automatically calculate the new ingredient amounts based on the portion size. To do so, complete the following steps.
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Your first step is to obtain the desired estimated serving size to match the portion size, which in the example below is 250 ml.* You do this by entering a higher serving yield until you achieve the desired result. In the example screenshot below, entering 50 servings decreases the estimated serving size to 230.11 g (8.12 oz), which matches the portion size (250 ml portion size x .92 density = 230 g).
- With the desired estimated serving size achieved, your next steps are to use the scale function to automatically adjust the ingredient amounts. Click the adjust icon beside Yield and the Yield Adjustment window appears (second screenshot below).
- In the Scale To field, enter the original serving number of the recipe (which, for example's sake, was 10), and then click Calculate. The window refreshes with the new ingredient amounts.
- Click the Update Recipe Yield button to apply the new ingredient amounts to the recipe.
- Click the Save button to apply your changes.
Possible Reason 2: An Ingredient uses a Special Unit of Measure that is too High
If the Serving number is not too low, but the Estimated Serving Size is too high, it could be that an ingredient in the recipe uses a special unit of measurement (i.e., "Each", "Slice"), and the amount for the special unit of measurement is too high.
For example, for the sandwich recipe below, the "Bun Hamburger White" ingredient has an "Each" measure, and by opening the ingredient and drilling down, you see that the "Each" measure has 200 grams, which is too much.
Reach out to MealSuite Support to have the special unit of measure amount adjusted.
Portion Size as a Volume Measure
- If the portion size is a volume measure in ml, then convert the portion size to weight in grams via the density value. For example: 250 ml portion size x .92 density = 230 g portion size. Once you have the portion size in grams, then the ounces can be calculated (8.11 oz).
- If the portion size is an imperial volume measure, then first convert the portion size to ml (1 fl oz = 29.57; tbsp = 14.79 ml), and then convert the portion size to weight in grams via the density value. For example: 6 fl oz portion size = 177.44 ml; 177.44 ml portion size x 1.03 density = 182.76 g. Once you have the portion size in grams, then the ounces can be calculated (6.45 oz).