Difference between weighing food in grams versus ounces

prettysoul1908

Hey guys... I'm trying to get the hang of this food weighing thing. I bought a digital scale and lo and behold it only measures lb:oz or fluid oz. Most posts about weighing food seems to reference grams.

Should I return the scale or give it a go? Will I lose accuracy with this version?

blankiefinder

I prefer grams simply because it makes for the easiest math when entering servings. If it was an option to exchange it, I would. Look for a scale that has a tare or zero function as well.

DeguelloTex

I like grams because the unit is smaller and there are fewer conversions to do. I'd return it unless the hassle is prohibitive.

maidentl

I prefer grams because that's usually what's on a package and the usda datatbase uses them as well. So personally I'd return it. I do agree with the suggestion to get one with a tare function.

CrazyMermaid1

A lot of packages have grams rather than oz for serving size. I would get a scale with both

prettysoul1908

The one I have has a zero function. The directions reference a tare function and gram options but the one I have (guess I went to cheap) doesn't have either one of those. Lol.

How do you weigh lighter things like spinach without the gram option?

blankiefinder

edited my post above, I don't know how I typed ounces, I totally meant grams! Ugh, and to think I still have a 9 hour night shift at work ahead lmao

DeguelloTex

You're still going to have multiple ounces, even of spinach, I'd think. It's not a big deal with stuff like that. It will make more of a difference with calorie dense foods (peanut butter, etc).

prettysoul1908

Thanks for the responses guys! Much appreciated. I've already got that digital scale put in the bag with the receipt. Lol.

I have a cheapie spring scale here and never use it (even that one has grams. Lol) Since counting calories I've been mostly eyeballing. I've lost some weight but I want to be more accurate... Especially around those calorie dense things. On Friday I decided I would have a little pasta and eye balled what I thought a serving was. Put it on my cheapie scale and it turned out to be double!

So happy that this forum is helping me recognize these issues early before I try to look for excuses why I'm not losing. Lol

vismal

You can weigh your food in ounces, grams, pounds, kilograms, metric tons, or whatever else you want to use. It's all the same. Roughly speaking, 28 grams = 1 ounce = 0.0617 lbs = 0.028 kilograms = 2.8e-5 metric tons. Just depends how much math you want to do. Since nearly all nutritional labels list a value in grams, I prefer to use grams since there's less conversion required. But if you have your heart set on using metric tons, you can do it...

47Jacqueline

1 ounce =28 grams

Francl27

I'd return it. Your scale won't tell you if you have 5oz or 5.9oz. There are 28g in an ounce... that's pretty much 160 calories worth of nut butter or nuts. Pretty big difference if you ask me.

Dnarules

Francl27 wrote: »

I'd return it. Your scale won't tell you if you have 5oz or 5.9oz. There are 28g in an ounce... that's pretty much 160 calories worth of nut butter or nuts. Pretty big difference if you ask me.

My scale reads 5.9 oz. Even if it didn't, I would assume if something weighed 5.9 oz, the readout would say 6, not 5. But that still leaves room for inaccuracy.

I'd still take it back. It is so nice to have both g and oz.

MKEgal

mhaskins wrote:

The one I have has a zero function. The directions reference a tare function

That's the same thing.
Put the paper plate on the scale, zero/tare it.
Put the bread on, record the weight, zero/tare it.
Put the peanut butter on, record ...
you get the idea.

But having grams is more accurate, less math.
When you take it back, see if maybe the clerk can show you how to get the grams to show up,
just in case it really is in there & maybe the directions are a bit murky.