One Good Reason to Weigh Your Food...

CMNVA
CMNVA Posts: 733 Member
edited November 15 in Food and Nutrition
Sometimes you get more!!! <3

I mainly have noticed this with canned soup. It happens every time. So today I am having soup for lunch that is 110 calories per cup (or 245 grams). Turns out 245 grams is quite a bit more than 1 cup.

Of course, I do hate when it works in reverse but, so far, I've found more things working in my favor!

Replies

  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    Love that! :)
  • CassondraKennedy
    CassondraKennedy Posts: 229 Member
    I'm new to all this, and just ordered a scale. My brain automatically thought that if a serving is 245 grams, then more grams in one cup equals more calories? Do you normally estimate based on the cup or based on the weight?

    My thoughts are that, if it's a chunky soup, more chunks in a cup could be heavier and equate to more calories. Am I totally off base?
  • CMNVA
    CMNVA Posts: 733 Member
    CassondraKennedy wrote: »
    I'm new to all this, and just ordered a scale. My brain automatically thought that if a serving is 245 grams, then more grams in one cup equals more calories? Do you normally estimate based on the cup or based on the weight?

    My thoughts are that, if it's a chunky soup, more chunks in a cup could be heavier and equate to more calories. Am I totally off base?

    The manufacturer states that it is 110 calories per 245 grams so I believe they go on grams and the "cup" is put there for convenience for people who don't have a scale.

    Now, as to the chunky soup question, yeah, that's a bit of a problem. I do think that if you measure out 245 grams but you pull out all the chicken and noodles and leave broth behind, you're not doing so well.

    In this particular case though, the 245 grams was very close to the whole can of soup.
  • CassondraKennedy
    CassondraKennedy Posts: 229 Member
    Okay, so it's more correct to go by grams? That makes sense! Thanks :)
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    CassondraKennedy wrote: »
    I'm new to all this, and just ordered a scale. My brain automatically thought that if a serving is 245 grams, then more grams in one cup equals more calories? Do you normally estimate based on the cup or based on the weight?

    My thoughts are that, if it's a chunky soup, more chunks in a cup could be heavier and equate to more calories. Am I totally off base?

    Your example is exactly why a cup isn't a great unit of measurement for accuracy. If you're using a scale don't worry about the cup - if the serving says 245 grams is 100 calories for example then 245 grams is 100 calories no matter if it fills a cup or two cups or whatever. That's why cups are so inaccurate.
  • serindipte
    serindipte Posts: 1,557 Member
    Using the soup example, I usually eat the entire can, but the grams work out to being less than is stated because some clings to the inside of the can. I toss those calories in the trash. :smile:
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Yep, it's nice when it works out that way :)

    In regards to another comment, the nutrition information is correct for the weight measurement (grams). Then the manufacturer estimates a volume size that they think comes closest to the weighed serving (1 cup, 20 chips, etc). Sometimes that estimate is right on, other times it is way off.

    I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a package of something that says "3 pieces per serving" but when I weigh it out I just barely get 2 pieces. Or a package says a serving is 1/2 cup, and there are 3 servings per package, but when I weigh it out, 1 serving is almost the whole thing!
  • RosyTea
    RosyTea Posts: 49 Member
    Hah, love this! <3
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    I'm in the UK and have never understood the cup thing (how can you have a cup of celery?) Grams are far more accurate
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    CassondraKennedy wrote: »
    Okay, so it's more correct to go by grams? That makes sense! Thanks :)

    Much more precice, yes! Some people say just get a cheap scale, I suggest the opposite. Buy a damn good one because I got so frustrated with my cheap scale not standing up to my needs that I often was in tears. Ridiculous I know but when you're counting on a piece of tech for your health it should be as easy to use and as helpful as possible. Something with a high capacity so you can weigh entire recipes, is key. My old one didn't go over 2kg so it couldn't weigh out my batches of soup as an example.

    I paid something like $50 for a scale that has a 6kg capacity, 6 minutes of active time (so it doesn't turn off between ingredients- WORST), and the display can pull out for large bowls. Invest! It's worth it.
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