By linking your items to a listing from the USDA that is included in your database, or entering a label, our nutrition module will calculate the nutrition of each menu item.
How to Link Items to the USDA
- Select "Items" (main menu toolbar)
- Select an existing item to link nutritional information.
- Choose "Nutrition" (items toolbar)
- Click "Link To" (items toolbar) to see a listing of items.
- Type in the name of your item. You can use more than one word to search (e.g. beef ground).
- Look carefully at the list to choose the proper/most suitable item and how you prepare/cook it.
- Click "Next"
- At this point, suggested conversions will appear. Liquid measure is not a calculation in nutritional analysis (everything is calculated by grams) so you will be presented with some volume to weight conversions. Click at least one to complete the link.
NOTE: Read these conversions carefully as some are very useful when entering recipes. - Select "Finish"
NOTE: If you feel you made a mistake, click "Close (X)" or "Cancel" and relink.
How to Enter Nutritional Information from a Label
- Select "Items" (main menu toolbar)
- Select an existing item.
- Choose "Nutrition" (items toolbar)
- Click "From Label" (items toolbar)
- Enter the portion size. The serving size is listed on the label you are entering from (e.g. 1 serving = 45 grams, one can = 355g, etc.)
NOTE: In some liquid cases, there may be no conversion to grams, only milliliters or ounces. In this case, you may have to look up the weight per 100 grams (e.g. 250 grams of water = 250 ml or 1 gram = 1ml). - Double check the nutrition guideline you are calculating against. By default the settings are Canadian Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Guide.
- Enter the amounts per nutrient as listed on the label.
NOTE: For percentage of total diet listings (e.g. Vitamin A, calcium, etc.), enter the percentage and then check the percentage box. - Click "Save"