We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Dumb question on measuring

ohmygosh33
ohmygosh33 Posts: 2 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, this is probably a dumb question but one that I don't know the answer. How do I measure oatmeal? I normally measure 1/4 cup of dry with 1/2 cup of water but after cooking it makes 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal. So do I log as 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup?

Replies

  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited April 2016
    Weigh and log oatmeal dry, since cooking the oatmeal in water doesn't change the calories. Same with rice, grains and pasta.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    edited April 2016
    If you don't have a food scale (which is the recommended way of measuring) log the 1/4 cup. It's supposed to be dry/uncooked.
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    cerise_noir wrote: »
    Weigh and log oatmeal dry, since cooking the oatmeal in water doesn't change the calories. Same with rice, grains and pasta.

    Agreed.
    Also, Cerise_noir, you have THE BEST photo.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    edited April 2016
    I agree with doing it dry. Then anything you add (other than the water) I would be sure to measure and log that of course.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Dry (the serving size for oatmeal is 40 g/ roughly 0.5 cup dry)

    Same goes for noodles, rice, etc. Water doesn't add calories, but it does change the weight depending on how much is absorbed.
  • forthemovies
    forthemovies Posts: 14 Member
    Log as ¼ cup dry. Recommend weighing, as there's a tendency to mound a scoop and still call it a ¼ cup. My measuring cups were off even when levelled and the portion by weight ended up well below the rim.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories