About the Nutrition Calculations on RecipeLand.com

The recently introduced nutrition calculations are still in Beta and undergoing improvement. We welcome your feedback. Please feel free to give us your feedback.

Because of dietary sensitivities, and our health consciousness, we felt it was very important for RecipeLand.com to provide nutritional information for all of our recipes. Years of work to to standardize tens of thousands of recipes is now available on RecipeLand.com.

How do we calculate that information?

RecipeLand.com uses the USDA nutritional information database. The USDA classifies thousands of foods and gives their nutritional analysis. We have used their data to compute the nutritional totals on our recipes.

Nutritional totals are calculates on a per-serving basis including all foods in the ingredients list that can be matched with a USDA Food Description. We total the nutritional information for all foods in the ingredients of a recipe, and then divide by the number of servings it estimate the per-serving nutritional information.

For some recipes the number of servings information is unknown, in which case we simply use a serving size of 4 and provide the nutritional information. This, of course, often results in enormous numbers. We encourage you to provide servings information for any recipes you have tried, in order to improve our nutritional information results.

If a range for any ingredient is given it is not included in the nutrition calculation. e.g. 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of salt, will not be included in the results. Similarly if we cannot recognize or match an ingredient the the USDA nutrient or calculate its weight it will not be included in the nutritional calculation of the recipe.

Ingredient sizing can vary. Some recipes specify an ingredient size as simple "1 can", "1 package", etc. Obviously, the size of the can or package you use may differ from the size the recipe author used. We encourage members when submitting a recipe to explicitly specify the exact size in these cases, but not all recipes have. In some cases, we assume a standard size for the ingredient (3 ounces for a package of Jello®, for example) and we use this size to compute nutritional data. In various countries worldwide, standard sizes of jarred or canned goods may vary a great deal. We encourage our members to submit such sizes explicitly. For example 2 cans tomatoes; if each can is 28 ounces it is better to specify 56 ounces tomatoes.

Some ingredients may be included in the nutritional calculation but in fact they may not end up in the final recipe in the same quantity. For example, a marinade which is then discarded before the recipe is completed. Another example is if the recipe specifies 2 cups of oil for deep frying but of course not all that oil ends up in the recipe. Similarly a recipe may call for deep frying but then not specify oil in the list of ingredients. Please be aware that in this situation the nutritional facts presented may be inflated as a result.

Ingredients without discrete measurements are not included in the nutritional information. For example, "1 x salt, to taste" we cannot calculate what to taste means to you. Therefore these ingredients are not included in the nutritional calculation.

In other cases if an ingredient is marked optional or has preparation notes; eg. "1 cup cheddar cheese, optional" this ingredient will be included in the nutritional calculation of the recipe.

We do our best but some situations arise where our nutritional database and algorithms cannot distinguish quantities, amounts, specific preparation methods, number of servings and/or a matching USDA equivalent for any particular ingredient. This can lead to in incomplete nutritional information. We encourage any member to submit corrections or add information such suggesting a serving size or reviewing a recipe. We encourage non-members to provide corrections, ideas or feedback throughout RecipeLand.com.

It is our hope that you find the nutritional information provided of value to build more awareness about what we eat and make better choices on the food you prepare for your family and yourself.

Always consult a registered dietitian, nutritional or your physician before embarking on any diet plan which relies on these nutritional calculations and for any other questions.

The nutrition data information was provided by the USDA. Such information has been obtained from what is believed to be reliable sources. However, the data and information contained herein is your sole responsibility and the USDA and RecipeLand.com will not be liable for any reliance on the information by any person.

The nutrition data information on RecipeLand.com provides relevant information about the nutrient content of certain foods. It is intended merely to assist you and is not a substitute for your decision nor for personal medical advice or treatment. If you feel you need medical advice, please see your doctor. For specific diets you may also consider consulting a registered nutritionist or dietitian.