Why are so many foods in grams?

CherylM1977

I struggle with the conversion of grams vs tbls vs tsp vs oz vs cup. Many times I think I've got it figured out how much of what is on my plate and then I go to register it and the measurement is only available in grams. Example the butter I use has tablespoons as the serving size. I go to log it and it is only grams. I have no idea and when I guess it doesn't match what the serving size is. Anyone else have this problem and figure out a fix?

shadow2soul

grams are more accurate than cups/tbsp/ect.

Look at your butter, does it not have the gram measurement listed?

mine for example says 1 TBSP (14 g)
14 g is what the serving should weigh.

Most foods have what the serving size should weigh on the package next to an approximate volume measurement.

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Alluminati

Because the database is created by users and a lot of them use kitchen scales to weigh their food by oz. or grams. The fix is to either get a scale to weigh your food (more accurate) or just eyeball and look at the package measurement with the grams next to it i.e. tsp,cup (not as accurate).

emdeesea

Use the nutrition facts on the package. It will list the common measurement (for example: tablespoon) and then in parenthesis next to it will be the gram measurement.

Buy a scale and use the gram measurement. Always.

SiegaPlays

I assume a good number of people actively adding food to the database are from outside US.

The metric system is in greater use worldwide than the imperial system the US use because, well, basically, the metric system makes more square sense also in regards to computers while the imperial system made functional sense back in the time it was invented


(source: onhech.blogspot.dk/2010/06/living-in-past-imperial-system.html)


(source: zmescience.com/other/map-of-countries-officially-not-using-the-metric-system/)

For MFP entries it would be wonderful is the people adding to the database put in choices for both sides of the pond. But I have never added any myself, so I have no idea how timeconsuming and messy it is to get through adding database entries for the use of all.

I found this metric converter.

AmandaOmega

Because measuring cups/spoons are inaccurate; someone somewhere posted a good video demonstrating two 1/2 cup measuring cups weighing out oatmeal. A serving size should be 40g. One of his 1/2 cups poured out 56g and the other poured out 33g. So no matter what, he wasn't getting the actual serving size regardless of which cup he used. If you end up using the cup that gives you more than the intended serving size, that can add up to a lot of extra calories you're unintentionally eating and not realizing it.

The best way to get accuracy is through a scale and by weighing in grams/oz/lbs.

dutchandkiwi

Weight is by far more accurate than volume. That has to do wiht something called bulk density.
Plus a US cup is not the same as a UK cup size. TBH I avoid foods that are listed in volumes as I know right there and then that they will be inaccurate.

Calliope610

The fix is to get a food scale with grams as a measuring unit.


This morning my breakfast consisted (in part) if 2 slices of toast with butter. The nutritional value of the bread is 120cals per slice (40gr). Butter is 100cals per TBSP (14g). I had 2 slices this morning (weighing 69g) with 10g sweet cream butter. I logged that as

1.73 servings of bread >>> 69gr serving div by 40g serving size >>> 208 cals
.7 TBSP butter >>> 10g div by 14g serving size >>> 70 cals

for a total of 278 calories rather than 340 calories, a savings of 62 calories

Conversely, had my slices of bread weighed more than the standard serving size of 40g and had I "overshot" my TBSP of butter (a common result of "eyeballing" serving size), I could have easily underestimated my calories by 20%, negating much of the daily deficit I need to lose weight if I used the conventional "stated values" on the packaging.

zoeysasha37

Get yourself a food scale. Weigh all your solids. Log them in grams. Problem solved.
Using measuring cups and spoons is not accurate logging.

Justifier

I have a pocket scale that's probably meant for drugs, but I use it in my kitchen instead. It was super cheap on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/22ZjSB5

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booksandchocolate12

Krisstastic_ wrote: »

buy a scale. struggle is over lol

Ding!

2snakeswoman

I have had no trouble finding measurements in tsp, tbsp, and cups in the data base. Keep looking. Or, as already suggested, get yourself a scale that weighs in grams. My scale does both ounces and grams.

SmartAlec03211988

Because that's how the world measures stuff.

jvbrooks

To echo everyone else, grams are certainly more accurate than pounds, ounces, cups, etcetera. I live outside the states and I find the imperial system bewildering -- why are there 16 ounces in a pound, for instance?

The metric system makes perfect sense (1000 miligrams to a gram, 1000 grams to a kilogram; 1000 milimeters to a meter, 1000 meters to a kilometer; etc) in that regard, as well. Also, with ounces, there isn't a commonly-used smaller measurement, so you have to use fractions, whereas with grams you get more accuracy.

So, I'd buy a scale and probably learn some of the common conversions. 1 tablespoon = 15(ish) grams, 1 teaspoon = 5(ish) grams, etc.

amusedmonkey

Not enough foods in grams in my opinion They get buried among all the weird "cup" and "piece" entries.

Not long ago I struggled to find an appropriate banana entry in grams and surrendered to logging a "homemade banana, one banana".

rankinsect

Justifier wrote: »

I have a pocket scale that's probably meant for drugs, but I use it in my kitchen instead. It was super cheap on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/22ZjSB5

Nah, I think a scale for drugs would be more accurate than 0.1 grams. I have one that measures down to 0.01 g, that's probably got me on a watch list somewhere I use it when I make my own diet soft drink syrups - particularly with anhydrous caffeine, I need to be precise as overdoses could be deadly.

CherylM1977

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

kpeterson539

Justifier wrote: »

I have a pocket scale that's probably meant for drugs, but I use it in my kitchen instead. It was super cheap on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/22ZjSB5

This. Is. AWESOME.

You've made my day.

cerise_noir

@CherylM1977 check out this video... Scales vs measuring:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XpHykP6e_Uk