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Nutrition Content is Too Low?

Kevin U
  • Updated

Nutrition Content is Too Low?

When you review a recipe, you may notice that its nutrition content is lower than it should be for the portion size for the recipe. In the Pasta Primavera example recipe below, the nutrients and calories (110) are too low for the 250 ml portion size set for the recipe.  

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In addition, notice the low cost at $0.45 per 250 ml portion for the recipe.

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Possible Reason 1: Serving Number too High for Total Ingredient Amounts

When the nutrition content of a recipe is too low, it could be that the serving number is too high 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 ingredient divided by the serving number; see Understanding Estimated Serving Size of a Recipe).

In the Pasta Primavera example recipe below, the Estimated Serving Size is 88.90 g (3.14 oz) and the Servings are 150, which means that the total EP amount of ingredients 13335.27 g (470.39 oz) is divided by 150 servings, resulting in the estimated serving size of 88.90 g (3.14 oz), which is too low for the ideal portion size of 250 ml.*

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Note: Click the scale icon (scale_icon.png) for a breakdown of each ingredient's weight per serving. 

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Solution Option 1: Calculate and Enter a Lower Serving Number to Increase Estimated Serving Size

After identifying that the serving number is too high for the total ingredient amounts, you can calculate a lower serving number to increase the estimated serving size to match the portion size. To do so, use the following calculation:

  1. Multiply the current estimated serving size 88.90 g (3.14 oz) by the serving number (150) to get the total weight of the ingredients: 13335 g (470.39 oz).
  2. Divide the total weight of the ingredients 13335 g (470.31 oz) 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.*
    1. With the portion size in grams, the calculation is as follows: 13335 g weight of ingredients / 261 g portion size = 51 servings.
    2. With the portion size in ounces, the calculation is as follows: 470.31 oz weight of ingredients / 9.21 oz portion size= 51 servings. 

With the correct estimated serving size calculated (51), 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. 

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Solution Option 2: Increase the Ingredient Amounts to Increase Estimated Serving Size

If you don't want to enter a lower serving number, then the other option is to increase the ingredient amounts to increase the estimated serving size to match the portion size. 

Rather than doing the math for each ingredient to increase 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. 

  1. 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 lower serving yield until you achieve the desired result. In the example screenshot below, entering 51 servings increases the estimated serving size to 261.48 g (9.22) oz, which matches the portion size (250 ml portion size x 1.044 density = 261 g). 

    serving_of_51.png
     
  2. 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).

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  3. In the Scale To field, enter the original serving number of the recipe (which, for example's sake, was 150), and then click Calculate. The window refreshes with the new ingredient amounts. 

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  4. Click the Update Recipe Yield button to apply the new ingredient amounts to the recipe.
  5. Click the Save button to apply your changes.  

Possible Reason 2: An Ingredient uses a Special Unit of Measure that is too Low

If the Serving number is not too high, but the Estimated Serving Size is too low, it could be that an ingredient in the recipe uses a special unit of measurement (i.e., "Each", "Loaf", "Slice"), and the amount for the special unit of measurement is too low. 

For example, for the Chicken 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 2 grams, which is too low.

Reach out to MealSuite Support to have the special unit of measure amount adjusted. 

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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).