Counting calories vs food scale

theron12

If I go by the amount of calories printed on the bag or package of things I buy, is this pretty accurate? Or is using a food scale more accurate?

malibu927

Using a food scale ensures that you're eating the amount you believe you are. Packages can legally be off up to 20%.

InkAndApples

Use the package value to get calories per 100g (or whatever) but then use a scale to see exactly how much you're eating.

cmtigger

Unless it's a single serving package, use both.

Maxematics

cmtigger wrote: »

Unless it's a single serving package, use both.

That's still not that accurate. I've had protein bars that said they were 200 calories per serving but, when weighed, were closer to 240. It all adds up.

YvetteK2015

Food scale. For example, the bread I eat says 1 slice is 32g. However, when I make a sandwich and weigh out 2 pieces, it's almost always 70 grams, making each piece 35, not 32 grams. It may seem small, but a small bit here, and a small bit there over the course of a week can add up to A LOT. So no matter what it is, weigh it!

theron12

This all makes sense now! Thanks guys!

Momepro

I also started "cheating" by not discounting leftovers. So if I measure 70 grams of crram cheese, but end up not using it all, I still count the entire amount as if I had eaten it. I figure it's better to overcount than undercount.

paperpudding

I've always just accepted the bar code scanning myself - but then, have never been a stickler for accuracy.

As long as I lose ( now maintain ) weight as expected, then that's good enough for me.

livingleanlivingclean

grmrsan wrote: »

I also started "cheating" by not discounting leftovers. So if I measure 70 grams of crram cheese, but end up not using it all, I still count the entire amount as if I had eaten it. I figure it's better to overcount than undercount.

If you do that, you can eat it "for free" later

TimothyFish

A food scale will tell you how much something weighs, not how many calories it has. The weight listed on a package isn't always accurate. As for how many calories something has, you kind of have to trust the package, but the margin for error is pretty big.

sophie7591

I don't have a scale yet so I just eat a few less calories every day. Works for me and consistently losing. I'll probably get a scale sooner or later but I'm in no rush.

stanmann571

paperpudding wrote: »

I've always just accepted the bar code scanning myself - but then, have never been a stickler for accuracy.

As long as I lose ( now maintain ) weight as expected, then that's good enough for me.

I do it the same way, for the same reason, but I have a substantial amount of slack in my allowed calories.

If I was in a situation where I was only running a 200 calorie a day deficit vs 1000 calorie a day.. .5 lb a week vs 2 lb a week then I'd have to worry about the precision more.

paperpudding

I did that for my entire journey stanmann - and I was always set at only 1/2 lb per week.

lmew91

I weigh out the amount of grams listed on the package per serving.

For example:
1 tbsp= 16g= 100 cal (just making this up.)

I would weigh out 16g, versus using a tablespoon to measure it. So, sometimes my food log may show "1 tbsp" but really I weighed it.