Logging canned foods

AnnaBellQ14

How do you log canned foods? For example the serving size for Green Giant canned corn is 1/2 cup or 123 grams. I used to go by the grams until I found out that 1/2 cup of corn is only about 80 grams. So if I log 123 grams as one serving, I would eat more than the actual serving size and I would eat more calories. Thanks

macgurlnet

Serving sizes vary from item to item. Go by the grams listed on the can.

ETA: if you measure out both, you'll find that they fill the cup fairly equally in most cases, but some foods are more dense than others & thus weigh more. This is why you see the different weights.

~Lyssa

Ready2Rock206

I always go with weight over cups for solids.

JenMc14

Go by the weight for sure.

AnnaBellQ14

Thanks. I thought they included the water as part of the weight, that's why it was more grams.

Angiefit4life

I drained them but always measure less grams maybe 15 less. Not sure if that's right but I figured the water was part of the serving size.

ruggedshutter

I always go by the grams on the label. I figure that they are adding the water weight in as well but I drain and rinse my canned vegetables.

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

Yeah, I know it's nasty, but I made something with canned chicken breast

The label said the whole can was ~6 servings at 2 ounces per serving (12.5 ounces total). When I drained the water away, the remaining chicken weighed only 8 ounces, (which is 4 servings at 2 ounces per) so they were counting the water as part of the serving.

I looked up chicken broth (I think that's a good analog for what you pour out of the can as water) and worked out that pouring off 4 ounces of "broth" removed 33% of the volume but less than 8 calories from the total. So the total calories were diluted with the "broth."

The label says the can contains 6 total servings (12.5 ounces in the can at 60 calories per 2 ounce serving), which comes to ~360 calories in the whole can. I subtract the 8 calories that went down the drain with the broth to get 352, then divide that by 8 to get 44 calories per ounce.

So, with the water drained, that 2-ounce serving is now 88 calories, and not the 60 printed on the label.

abetterluke

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »

Yeah, I know it's nasty, but I made something with canned chicken breast

I've had canned chicken breast once or twice...it's not that bad. I love chicken salad (though prefer it with non-canned chicken...)

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

That's what I used it for. It wasn't bad, just too too salty! I've made soups out of it, too.

ForeverSunshine09

I only weigh what I eat. If I don't eat the water it isn't included in the weight. I obviously don't eat the nasty water. Hence the can being less than it says. The cals are still the same weight wise. Just less of it.

AnnaBellQ14

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »

Yeah, I know it's nasty, but I made something with canned chicken breast

The label said the whole can was ~6 servings at 2 ounces per serving (12.5 ounces total). When I drained the water away, the remaining chicken weighed only 8 ounces, (which is 4 servings at 2 ounces per) so they were counting the water as part of the serving.

I looked up chicken broth (I think that's a good analog for what you pour out of the can as water) and worked out that pouring off 4 ounces of "broth" removed 33% of the volume but less than 8 calories from the total. So the total calories were diluted with the "broth."

The label says the can contains 6 total servings (12.5 ounces in the can at 60 calories per 2 ounce serving), which comes to ~360 calories in the whole can. I subtract the 8 calories that went down the drain with the broth to get 352, then divide that by 8 to get 44 calories per ounce.

So, with the water drained, that 2-ounce serving is now 88 calories, and not the 60 printed on the label.

So, should I just go with the 1/2 cup serving as opposed to the 126 grams, in the case of the corn? Because if I go with the 126 grams, I'm eating about half as much more corn, hence about 90 calories instead of the stated 60.

atypicalsmith

I don't go by the label on canned foods, because I also rinse and drain them. If it's a can of peas, and I eat two ounces, I log it as two ounces of salted peas - never mind that it was in a can. This might not be perfect, but it makes me feel that I am more accurately counting at least. And what's with the 3.5 (or other fraction) servings per can????

AnnaBellQ14

That makes sense to me. I will try that next time.

meghanduprey

is it because of the liquid in there i wonder? that's why it's 123g instead of 80?

AnnaBellQ14

I think so, that's why I'm hesitant to measure out 123 grams of corn, and call it a serving.

460mustang

If the can contains 2 servings you could drain the water, weigh the corn divide by weight into 2 portions. 1 portion would probably be close to the calories on the label. If that is too much cals then divide into 4 portions. eat one portion and that would half the calories listed on the can . I am assuming the can is 2 servings, if it is more you'll have to do the math