Weighing vs Measuring - Condiments?

EatingAndKnitting

I'm using my scale now to tighten my tracking (when it comes to mayo I was overestimating how much I was using, which is better than underestimating!) but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to weigh or measure thick condiments like mayo, ketchup, honey, and mustard. I know I'm supposed to weigh solids and measure liquids, but am confused about in betweens.

I use Dukes brand mayo because it's the only brand that doesn't add sugar (nothing against sugar, but I don't like sweet in my mayo). I went to track it the other day and the database entry had tablespoons/teaspoons or fluid ounces. No grams. Should I make my own database entry for grams?

TR0berts

For most condiments, it probably doesn't matter too much, since 1) they're low/no-Calorie; and 2) you're not using very much. In most cases, I'd probably go with whatever's easier.

Mayo? If on a sandwich? You're probably using just a little, so either would probably be fine, again. If using it as part of a larger recipe, so that you're using quite a bit (this goes for anything - not just mayo)? I'd probably suggest weighing out how much you put in, just because your margin of error has gotten considerably bigger.

I'm sure others would recommend specifically one way or the other, but I don't think it'll matter too much in most cases.

janejellyroll

I typically weigh mayo and thicker condiments because I found that my tablespoon wasn't a reliable measure (I found this by taking out a tablespoon and then weighing it and seeing that it contained more than it "should" given the calorie count I would expect for a tablespoon). Honestly, if it's a low calorie condiment like yellow mustard I'll sometimes skip the weighing now that I'm maintaining. But I always weigh the more calorie-dense stuff.

Chef_Barbell

Mayo is pretty calorie dense (100 cals per TBSP), I weigh it.

vikinglander

I would agree that weighing is more accurate. I have gotten to the point that I can use a regular spoon to scoop out mayo, duck fat, ghee, etc., and just know by sight that it's a tablespoon, but I still spot check myself by measuring spoon and scale, frequently...don't want to get too cocky.

Queenmunchy

Duke's does have gram measurements. 14g is 100 calories. You may want to edit one of the accurate tablespoon entries to put in 14g. That's what I'd probably do.

crzycatlady1

TR0berts wrote: »

For most condiments, it probably doesn't matter too much, since 1) they're low/no-Calorie; and 2) you're not using very much. In most cases, I'd probably go with whatever's easier.

Mayo? If on a sandwich? You're probably using just a little, so either would probably be fine, again. If using it as part of a larger recipe, so that you're using quite a bit (this goes for anything - not just mayo)? I'd probably suggest weighing out how much you put in, just because your margin of error has gotten considerably bigger.

I'm sure others would recommend specifically one way or the other, but I don't think it'll matter too much in most cases.

Ha, you haven't seen me condiment

Many condiments are calorie dense for the amount you get in one serving-mayo, regular dressings (especially ranch ones), bbq sauces and then things like Arbys honey mustard sauce, which comes in at 140 calories per serving, and I used to douse my sandwich AND fries in it-like literally 4 of those paper cups full (ah, those were the good old days lol).

OP-since I use condiments on pretty much everything I've found lower calorie substitutes and then just use measuring spoons. Not as accurate as using a scale, but things like low calorie Italian dressing that has 15 calories per serving, or hot sauce which is pretty much zero calories, isn't going to do too much damage as long as I'm not just dumping the whole bottle on

zyxst

Queenmunchy wrote: »

Duke's does have gram measurements. 14g is 100 calories. You may want to edit one of the accurate tablespoon entries to put in 14g. That's what I'd probably do.

You can do the above - change/add the gram weight to a current entry for your mayo.

I admit to being lazy and use correct food entries (they match the label) but not adding gram weight. I know for my PB, 1 T = 15 grams. If the entry only has T or mL, I do math for however many grams I used (rarely less than 15 grams because PB). Although thinking about it, doing math is more work than just fixing the entry.

EatingAndKnitting

Yes, Dukes on the label lists grams, but the Dukes entry in MFP doesn't (at least the entry I was using, there may be more than one, I haven't looked). Sorry for that confusion.

Excellent, thanks y'all! I'll weigh the thicker stuff and make my own entries in MFP for weight if I can't find them.

crzycatlady1

jesslla wrote: »

Yes, Dukes on the label lists grams, but the Dukes entry in MFP doesn't (at least the entry I was using, there may be more than one, I haven't looked). Sorry for that confusion.

Excellent, thanks y'all! I'll weigh the thicker stuff and make my own entries in MFP for weight if I can't find them.

And if you're like me you probably tend to stick with the same favorites, so after you've created the entries for them it's easy peasy to log them

EatingAndKnitting

crzycatlady1 wrote: »

jesslla wrote: »

Yes, Dukes on the label lists grams, but the Dukes entry in MFP doesn't (at least the entry I was using, there may be more than one, I haven't looked). Sorry for that confusion.

Excellent, thanks y'all! I'll weigh the thicker stuff and make my own entries in MFP for weight if I can't find them.

And if you're like me you probably tend to stick with the same favorites, so after you've created the entries for them it's easy peasy to log them

Yeah, I tend to be pretty brand (mostly store brand) loyal. I love your name. Cats are my favorite animals ever.

cwolfman13

jesslla wrote: »

Yes, Dukes on the label lists grams, but the Dukes entry in MFP doesn't (at least the entry I was using, there may be more than one, I haven't looked). Sorry for that confusion.

Excellent, thanks y'all! I'll weigh the thicker stuff and make my own entries in MFP for weight if I can't find them.

Look for an entry in the database for Dukes that does have grams...there are generally multiple entries for things in the data base.

crzycatlady1

jesslla wrote: »

crzycatlady1 wrote: »

jesslla wrote: »

Yes, Dukes on the label lists grams, but the Dukes entry in MFP doesn't (at least the entry I was using, there may be more than one, I haven't looked). Sorry for that confusion.

Excellent, thanks y'all! I'll weigh the thicker stuff and make my own entries in MFP for weight if I can't find them.

And if you're like me you probably tend to stick with the same favorites, so after you've created the entries for them it's easy peasy to log them

Yeah, I tend to be pretty brand (mostly store brand) loyal. I love your name. Cats are my favorite animals ever.

Thanks, we have 2 and they tolerate us as long as they're fed and have access to laps lol

EatingAndKnitting

cwolfman13 wrote: »

jesslla wrote: »

Yes, Dukes on the label lists grams, but the Dukes entry in MFP doesn't (at least the entry I was using, there may be more than one, I haven't looked). Sorry for that confusion.

Excellent, thanks y'all! I'll weigh the thicker stuff and make my own entries in MFP for weight if I can't find them.

Look for an entry in the database for Dukes that does have grams...there are generally multiple entries for things in the data base.

Yeah, I found one.

Francl27

I only really bother weighing regular mayo. The other stuff I use I just eyeball as it's maybe 1 calorie for 1g.