The NutriBase Complete Book of Food Counts

"Comparing this food count book with those in stores -- it's helpful to see the format which is why I like Amazon where you can peek inside the books :) -- this book was the most comprehensive: a large number of foods reviewed in various forms and serving sizes. The categories (total calories, protein, carbs, sodium, fiber, fat and cholesterol) are what I needed to know. I didn't see the breakdown of saturated fat one of the reviewers mentioned (I just looked again, I have the 2d edition with the blue cover) but I don't need fat breakdown for my nutritional purposes. My only beef is with the formatting of the counts -- I wish it followed the order of the nutrition labels with fat first after total calories, followed by cholesterol, sodium, total carbs, fiber, and protein last. I don't need the breakdown of sugars for my purposes, so I'm okay with just listing total carbs and fiber, and leaving sugars out. Before I got used to using the book, I wanted to throw it across the room also. It helped me to mark in pencil the foods I frequently eat and later made up my own list which I keep a copy in the kitchen and a copy in the back of the book. The fast-food guide in the back section is very helpful. One day I was able to choose wisely at Jack in the Box and not blow my food counts for the day. I appreciate being able to count food pieces (50 blueberries) as I will count 25, halve all the food counts and add another piece of fruit for variety and nutrition. But I'm happy to use measuring cups, spoons and a scale at home. I found the book more comprehensive than Netzer's and many of the others out there, including various carb counters. It's not a book you can carry easily with you -- it's 704 pages! -- but it's a good reference book for home. I keep another smaller food count book in the car and approximate when I eat out, which outings I limit so I have more control over what I eat and my pocketbook."
~ Written on 2005-03-31

"This is a great reference text. However, if you have any hesitation about converting from cups to pints or other types of measures, this is NOT the book for you. If they missed a food, I have not found it yet."
~ Written on 2003-11-30

"Do NOT buy this book if you want to keep your sanity. I wish I could offer an alternative but have not found a reasonable one- yet. My main beef with the book is the units of measures - they are all over the place, and, in many cases, useless. For example: I wanted to find out the carb count on fresh blueberries. A simple request, I thought. But, nooo. Instead of a 1 cup measure, or an ounce measure, their measure is a choice of 1 pint or 50 blueberries! Well, I didn't have a pint of blueberries and um, like I'm going to count them! While I realize a cup of large blueberries would be different than a cup of small blueberries; the same rationale applies to the count of 50 blueberries. More infuriating is the fact that a 1 cup measure was good enough for the fresh blackberries on the opposite page.

Unfortunately, this is just one example. I have thrown this book across the room numerous times for similiar offenses. So, for the sake of my blood pressure and sanity, the first chance I get I am replacing this annoying book with something that measures food the way I measure food: in slices, teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, ounces; consistently and for each food, if necessary.

On the plus side they do cover almost all the values you could want and have a handy dandy guide to all sorts of fast food places. I'd like to tell the publishers of this book (and way too many others)to talk to real people and see how they measure foods; I guarantee that unless it's for a specific recipe, it isn't by pints or counts of individual berries. Consistency counts!"
~ Written on 2003-02-21

"Having just recently started the Atkins program I've grown tired of reading labels. However, it's vital to do so! This is a comprehensive guide detailing all kinds of information one needs in order to better plan meals.

It evens gives listings of fast food restuarants! I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to count calories, fat grams, protein and most importantly Carbs. It details serving sizes and gives varying measurements. Get this book - it's been good for me."
~ Written on 2002-08-29

"I've just been looking around at a few of the calorie books available. I'm not sure which book the other reviewers have been looking at (nutribase publishes several different manuals) but having just looked at this book in a local bookstore this particular one lists only TOTAL fat grams, NOT saturated fat. It does not list any vitamin or mineral info either. If you do not need any of this info then this is a very comprehensive book. Seems like most of the books I've seen thus far are lacking in one area or the other. A cynical point of view would be to say that this allows them to sell more books..."
~ Written on 2002-08-02