dumb question about weighing fruit
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hassankarimi82 wrote: »Weighing everything out to a T is border line eating disorder and isn't 'healthy'. When its concerning fruit and vegetables, an estimation is sufficient. When it comes to CAKE, then yes, weigh it.
If you don't want to weigh everything to a T, don't. But consider the context before labeling it as eating disorder behavior. As a male, your calorie budget is likely quite a bit higher than many of the women in this thread. 20 or 30 calories may mean nothing to you. But to many others, over 3 days that's a significant difference, especially if you are a shorter/older/leaner woman.6 -
Here is what I did. I weighed apple cores a few times (when it was convenient) and the average was about 20g. Now I weigh my whole apples and subtract 20g from the weight. Alternatively you can weigh several of your apples when you get home from the grocery store and use the average as an estimate for the weight. I do this sometimes. It is ok to not be absolutely exact about weighing as long as you have realistic expectations for your weight loss. If your weight loss stalls, these estimations should be the first thing to tighten up.4
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caffeinatedcami wrote: »Here is what I did. I weighed apple cores a few times (when it was convenient) and the average was about 20g. Now I weigh my whole apples and subtract 20g from the weight. Alternatively you can weigh several of your apples when you get home from the grocery store and use the average as an estimate for the weight. I do this sometimes. It is ok to not be absolutely exact about weighing as long as you have realistic expectations for your weight loss. If your weight loss stalls, these estimations should be the first thing to tighten up.
That is a good method too. I did something similar with pasta. We always get the same kind of spaghetti noodle. I made 1 serving one time and measured it in a measuring cup. It was a generous (slightly heaping) cup of noodles. So now I just use a level 1 cup measuring cup to serve it up.2 -
I weigh my apples when sliced. Even though I only buy one kind of apples, they can be anywhere from 60-120 grams, which may only be a few calories different, but what really changes is the amount of carbs.
The lemon juice on the apple really keeps it from becoming brown. To me, it's worth it to weigh each apple because I never know how big its going to be.2 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Weighing everything out to a T is border line eating disorder and isn't 'healthy'. When its concerning fruit and vegetables, an estimation is sufficient. When it comes to CAKE, then yes, weigh it.
But how many of those small 20-50 cal "differences" is she missing throughout the day? Being vigilant isn't disordered.4 -
I just weigh my apple in the morning and subtract 15-20 grams depending on the starting weight. Close enough. I'm not bringing home a core to weigh it again.1
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helenrosec0 wrote: »DoreenaV1975 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »I think weighing it would be a little extreme. Just log it as a regular apple or whatever. The calorie difference will be so minimal. Or just weigh it the one time, then you know for future refernece.
There can be big differences!!! I know this from having weighed all my food for (almost) every meal for over a year...
The only thing I don't weigh is what I can't, like when we go out to dinner.
If I buy food and bring it home, even if it's tacos from Taco Bell, for example, I weigh it...
So yeah the calorie difference is not "minimal"... Just sayin'
At least the calorie difference will be lower, not higher, maybe 50 cals if that.
In some cases, yes, and that's fine, but if you don't weigh your fruit, you may not realize that that piece of fruit is actually more (in size, weight and calories) then it says and that's when it causes negative repercussions to your weight loss/maintenance efforts
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JoshuaMcAllister wrote: »DoreenaV1975 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »I think weighing it would be a little extreme. Just log it as a regular apple or whatever. The calorie difference will be so minimal. Or just weigh it the one time, then you know for future refernece.
There can be big differences!!! I know this from having weighed all my food for (almost) every meal for over a year...
The only thing I don't weigh is what I can't, like when we go out to dinner.
If I buy food and bring it home, even if it's tacos from Taco Bell, for example, I weigh it...
So yeah the calorie difference is not "minimal"... Just sayin'
Eating an apple that has a weight of 154g on the label, not eating the core which is about what 1/5 of the apple which is about 30g? That is like 20kcals! That is minimal, just saying.
They're not saying the core difference isn't minimal. Hassan thinks that weighing fruit in any form isn't necessary because you can log "1 medium apple" and get an estimate. Doreena thinks that there can be very large differences between the "average apple" and the one you buy in the store, and thus weighing it can reveal significant caloric differences. This conversation has nothing to do with core/no-core.0 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Weighing everything out to a T is border line eating disorder and isn't 'healthy'. When its concerning fruit and vegetables, an estimation is sufficient. When it comes to CAKE, then yes, weigh it.
If you don't want to weigh everything to a T, don't. But consider the context before labeling it as eating disorder behavior. As a male, your calorie budget is likely quite a bit higher than many of the women in this thread. 20 or 30 calories may mean nothing to you. But to many others, over 3 days that's a significant difference, especially if you are a shorter/older/leaner woman.
Exactly! I'm only 5'1 and a few extra calories can make or break my weight loss/maintenance efforts.
I've been on MFP for a little over a year and have been maintaining a 28 pound (up or down 3lbs because I allow myself a 3-pound weight range) for over 6 months.
I still eat whatever I want to... and I can do this and still be successful because I weigh my food.
I never said that EVERYBODY has to do that...
do it however you want, I was just pointing out that there COULD BE differences in weight, and therefore calories, listed on a food item that can be more than just "minimal" when it comes to someone's logging...
If you don't need to worry about these things than good for you...but some of us have to.
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JoshuaMcAllister wrote: »DoreenaV1975 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »I think weighing it would be a little extreme. Just log it as a regular apple or whatever. The calorie difference will be so minimal. Or just weigh it the one time, then you know for future refernece.
There can be big differences!!! I know this from having weighed all my food for (almost) every meal for over a year...
The only thing I don't weigh is what I can't, like when we go out to dinner.
If I buy food and bring it home, even if it's tacos from Taco Bell, for example, I weigh it...
So yeah the calorie difference is not "minimal"... Just sayin'
Eating an apple that has a weight of 154g on the label, not eating the core which is about what 1/5 of the apple which is about 30g? That is like 20kcals! That is minimal, just saying.
They're not saying the core difference isn't minimal. Hassan thinks that weighing fruit in any form isn't necessary because you can log "1 medium apple" and get an estimate. Doreena thinks that there can be very large differences between the "average apple" and the one you buy in the store, and thus weighing it can reveal significant caloric differences. This conversation has nothing to do with core/no-core.
Yes! Thank you!
A "small apple" to one person may be a 'large apple" to another...
I'm tiny...your medium apple may be a giant apple to me... LOL
So in other words, logging "1 medium apple" doesn't mean the same to every person.
That's why I weigh, by grams, and log.
Even pre-packaged items a can be "off"...
Manufacturers post what the weight should be...but when you weigh the actual item it can be higher or lower than what the package says.
Perfect example: Pure Protein Shakes..
Carton says it's 11oz = 160 cals.
I've measured and those cartons actually contain 12oz and that equals 175 calories.
Sure it's only 15 calories difference but how many other items are like that (a lot, I know because I weigh everything) and throughout the day those "minimal" difference add up to a lot!
Another more extreme example:
My husband bought a marshmallow egg that was supposed to be 250 calories.
I weighed it for him, and guess what it was way over, that egg wound up being in the OVER 300 calorie range (I can't remember exactly because it was a while ago)! It was eye-opening to him; He still hasn't eaten it, LOL!
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cariduttry wrote: »thanks everyone!
@jemhh, i like that idea because i don't like to have my apples turn brown.
@treegirl97, i was thinking that, but do you do anything to keep them from turning brown?
i'm trying to be obsessive right now because i'm just beginning to weigh food and want to keep it honest. as time goes on and i get good at it, i agree @gobonas99 that i probably won't need to be so ocd about it.
I just saw your question about them turning brown... I haven't had that happen and I slice and package mine the night before...I just put it in a Tupperware container. IDK if it makes a difference...0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »helenrosec0 wrote: »What does everyone do, it they log all the ingredients they use to make a meal, and then don't finish it all? Separate all the ingredients weight them and then subtract them? Yeh it's probably minimal calories, but so it the OP's apple.
I have 2 methods, depending on how feasible this is for the particular dish.
1. Make the recipe with each ingredient. When finished, weigh the entire finished product of food. Go back and edit the recipe serving size based on weight. So if the finished product is 800g, then the recipe has 800 servings. When I log the food, if I ate 40g, then I log 40 "servings" of that recipe.
2. This method is less precise, but is because sometimes it is difficult to transfer food to a large enough container or a container that won't transfer heat and melt my scale. It also won't work if more than 1 person is eating it... definitely not the preferred method. But this method is to record all of the ingredients when you cook it and eat the first part. Don't record when you eat left-overs. I did this Fri. and was nearly 1,300 calories over for the day. But then I ate leftovers Sat. and Sun. and was under calories. For the week, I think I was pretty close to right on.
You can do whatever works for you, but I log with as much precision as possible. Sometimes it doesn't always look like it in my diary (such as the big day Fri.), but I definitely am logging every drop and every bite that contains calories. The only things i don't log are things without calories (mostly water)... I log diet soda for sodium data. Just keep in mind that if you start having trouble losing weight, the first thing to change will need to be tighter logging. I disagree with the "it is close enough" logic when it is feasible to have better information.
I just started using the recipe builder... thanks for the tips...0 -
This is still my favorite video on why weighing food can be important. No, it isn't for everyone, but if you are trying to figure it all out, this is a good eye opener.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
But to go back to the OP ? IMO, if it has a skin (banana and citrus) peel it before weighing, if not, just count the whole thing. You will have erred on the side of caution and will give you a little wiggle room for later. I used to always round up a bit on calorie dense foods.
And DorrenaV brought up a great point about nutritional labels on packaged food. They are not exact! I remember reading an article sometime ago that there can be as much as a 20% variance on those labels. So you think you are eating something with 200 cals, but really 240.
It all adds up and that extra couple hundred calories a day, that you don't even realize you are eating can make very big difference in whether you lose, maintain, or maybe even gain!3 -
This is still my favorite video on why weighing food can be important. No, it isn't for everyone, but if you are trying to figure it all out, this is a good eye opener.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
But to go back to the OP ? IMO, if it has a skin (banana and citrus) peel it before weighing, if not, just count the whole thing. You will have erred on the side of caution and will give you a little wiggle room for later. I used to always round up a bit on calorie dense foods.
And DorrenaV brought up a great point about nutritional labels on packaged food. They are not exact! I remember reading an article sometime ago that there can be as much as a 20% variance on those labels. So you think you are eating something with 200 cals, but really 240.
It all adds up and that extra couple hundred calories a day, that you don't even realize you are eating can make very big difference in whether you lose, maintain, or maybe even gain!
Yes...this video is a great reminder for those that may have forgotten and a great eye-opener for those that have never seen it!!!0 -
This is still my favorite video on why weighing food can be important. No, it isn't for everyone, but if you are trying to figure it all out, this is a good eye opener.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
It all adds up and that extra couple hundred calories a day, that you don't even realize you are eating can make very big difference in whether you lose, maintain, or maybe even gain!
this and another video is exactly what convinced me that i needed to START weighing my food. currently, i want to know exactly where i'm at...eventually i'll loosen the reins once i'm satisfied that i have a good grasp on it.
i agree with @DoreenaV1975 that 20 calories IS a big deal when you consider that i could be making that mistake on 5 or 6 items of food a day. pretty soon, my goal is blown and i'm one of those people doing a "why haven't i lost any weight in 3 weeks" posts!
to clarify, my original question really had more to do with mfp entries and labels. in mfp (and on my bag of apples), it says that 154 grams is 1 serving worth 80 calories. my question was, does that include the core or not? i think the question is answered that it does NOT include the core, it is the edible part only. i'm sorry i wasn't clear on that. i'm just sayin', if i don't need to count those 20-ish grams of core i'm not eating, then i'm going to use them elsewhere LOL.
bonus fact: i have a coworker that eats apple cores and orange peels, so the first remark about how "obvious" it is what parts are included is not actually so obvious to me.2
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