"Why should I use a food scale?"
Options
Replies
-
Tacklewasher wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »What if I were to tell you that the weight of pasta does change?
Then I would look at you funny.
The only way in which the mass of an item can change is if you either add mass to it (eg water mass when you cook it) or remove mass from it.
I am looking forwards to hearing how the dry weight of pasta changes.
Manufacturers aim for a moisture content of 12% in dry pasta and the nutritional information is probably based on pasta with 12% moisture content. But it is legal to ship dry pasta with as much as 13% moisture content and I doubt a manufacturer would destroy a batch of pasta if the moisture content was 11% instead of the desired 12%. The humidity in the air is generally higher than 12%, so pasta that is exposed to air will tend to increase in moisture content over time, but in a dry climate it could decrease in moisture content.
This is getting very esoteric and does not in any way illustrate how the cup measure would be better than the dry weight measure.
Have I at any point even suggested that a cup measure is better than measuring by weight? The whole thing about the changing weight of pasta came up because Wynterbourne declared with great confidence that 81 grams of pasta is 289 calories. We don't actually know that. Yeah, it is probably somewhere between 280 and 300 calories, but we don't actually know that it is exactly 289 calories. The argument against measuring cups usually goes along the lines of "Cups gives a different amount than a scale. The scale is accurate. Therefore, cups are inaccurate, so use a scale." But if the reason people shouldn't use cups is because they are inaccurate and we can show that a food scale also gives an inaccurate calorie count, doesn't that imply that the food scale shouldn't be used either? Or turn that around. If it is okay to use a food scale even though it is inaccurate, why are people so adamant that people shouldn't use cups?
P.S.: My preferred method of measuring pasta is the two hand method. I reach into the pasta container and grab a couple of small handfuls of pasta and throw it in the pot. It is somewhere around a single serving of pasta. Why dirty up a measuring cup if you don't have to?
You know what I'd love to see posted now?
Someone with access to the proper equipment to measure and burn up 81 grams of dry pasta in a calorimeter and prove it's 289 calories.
Exactly!
Whooosh.
Exactly!
6 -
My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
14 -
For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.0 -
For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.
depends on where you leave. 0 -
crazyycatlady1 wrote: »My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
Sad!1 -
Traveler120 wrote: »crazyycatlady1 wrote: »My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
Sad!
How is this sad? Is it sad to balance a checkbook as well?14 -
Traveler120 wrote: »crazyycatlady1 wrote: »My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
Sad!
How is this sad? Is it sad to balance a checkbook as well?
You should also disable the gas gauge in your car.12 -
crazyycatlady1 wrote: »My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
I've been maintaining for appx 2 years as well and I still use my scale faithfully at home.
I don't take it out of the house but I also still log my food...is that sad as well?5 -
Traveler120 wrote: »crazyycatlady1 wrote: »My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
Sad!
Meh. I routinely go to bed at 9:30, even on the weekends. And I like it. Using a food scale doesn't even rank on the sadness scale of my life :laugh:16 -
OMG...so happy I stumbled on this thread... I don't know why I don't weigh everything - I weigh most things....and this reality check has help nip some questionable things in the bud.
I weigh things like, meats/rice/pasta/nuts/oils/potatoes/fruits...but NEVER bread, eggs or bacon.... I did today, and this is what I found..
Bread according to the package weighs 26g, but it actually weighed 32g
Bacon according to the package weighs 15g, but it actually weighed 18g
9 -
Traveler120 wrote: »crazyycatlady1 wrote: »My mother-in-law can't understand why she is overweight when "I just have a little bowl of rice and some turkey" and "I only have a light breakfast, just a croissant heated up quickly in the microwave" (like the speed makes a difference!!) yet "I'd love a scrambled egg but its too fatty" (shall we compare the fat content of one egg and a croissant?? No, better not!.
Rice in particular, even simply boiled, is much higher in calories than pasta or potatoes of the same weight.
ETA A scale is also essential in maintenance, or that 30g portion of cereal is 45g before you know it, 100g pasta is 130g and so on.....
4 year maintainer here and I still use my food scale every.single.day. I'll be bringing it with me to the old folks home someday
Sad!
Meh. I routinely go to bed at 9:30, even on the weekends. And I like it. Using a food scale doesn't even rank on the sadness scale of my life :laugh:
I would cry for you, but it would ruin my beer.3 -
-
LadyLilion wrote: »
Don't forget evaporation!
But please, don't cry for me. I'm happy in my pathetic little life. Really, I am! Thrilled. S..s..so happy...
5 -
LadyLilion wrote: »
It's beer. As such it comes from the Gods and shall not be questioned.
As a mere mortal I relinquish myself to its goodness and purity.5 -
For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.
Not in Canada.2 -
For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.
Not in Canada.
yeah - apparently Canadians want more pasta per serving. (I'm in BC)
4 -
For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.
Not in Canada.
yeah - apparently Canadians want more pasta per serving. (I'm in BC)
I *knew* there was a reasonable explanation for my attraction to Canadian men! I obviously need to marry one and emigrate there so I can eat more pasta. Don't tell my husband (actually, he already knows).6 -
STLBADGIRL wrote: »I weigh things like, meats/rice/pasta/nuts/oils/potatoes/fruits...but NEVER bread, eggs or bacon.... I did today, and this is what I found..
Bread according to the package weighs 26g, but it actually weighed 32g
Bacon according to the package weighs 15g, but it actually weighed 18g
I don't have the answer here, but some of the weight of bread could be water. If you allowed a slice to completely dry out, you could weigh it and use the calories in flour. I usually go by the package and I consistently lose weight. Although: I don't eat a lot of bread!
Bacon is a good thing to weigh. The cooked weight varies a lot! I think it adds a lot of flavor even in small quantities. If you want a really low calorie alternative, try Canadian bacon.2 -
For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.
Not in Canada.
Not in my kitchen either.3 -
stevencloser wrote: »For me - weighing pasta showed me that 84g per serving is about twice what I actually need to eat. I weigh out that amount for the two of us and then add whatever sauce.
When you first take the plunge and start weighing food - it is certainly an eye opener for some foods. I'm looking at you cheese, almonds, trail mix...........
I had a boss once who was fond of saying "If you can measure it, you can manage it." He was talking KPIs - but it fits for calorie counting and weight loss/gain.
Pasta is 56g per serving.
Not in Canada.
Not in my kitchen either.
Well mine either, lol.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.5K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 391 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 925 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions