Anyone else go crazy when it comes to serving sizes?

ninjacakegirl

I created this and Tweeted it to different food companies, but I mean, really! Why can't it be by the cup size or ounce?! I found a couple of companies that do serving sizes by the cup size or volume, and I usually just use those instead of the brand I'm actually using, but it shouldn't be this tricky. What do you think?

bpetrosky

Volume is inaccurate. Food companies label based on the local legal requirements, and usually provide a weight along with the volumetric serving size. Using the weight is the more accurate method.

The usual recommendation is to use a food scale, because the 100 grams of broccoli is going to be pretty much the same regardless of how finely it's been broken down.

malibu927

Weigh it, go by the number of ounces (grams would be better, though).

Confuzzled4ever

Weight. Just about all food labels include weights on a serving size. Just get a scale. Mine was only 10 bucks. Well worth it.

ninjacakegirl

I do have a scale (just purchased a brand new one, in fact - due to be here in a week-ish) and have been weighing pretty vigilantly, but I mean, if I didn't have a scale, and I looked at these packages and saw "4 pieces," that would be confusing and a little frustrating.

Alatariel75

Serving sizes in cups for solid foods are just as useless as they serving sizes you're pointing out...

Machka9

I weigh my food in grams.

kimny72

The grams is the only trustworthy serving size. They work out the nutrition label based on the gram value, and then guesstimate a volume measurement. So your basically asking them to guess differently.

I don't think it really can be standardized. I mean you can use tablespoons for PB or ketchup, but you can't do that for cereal. You can use half a cup for cereal but that wouldn't work for PB. I think 28 almonds is probably more accurate than say a third of a cup, but 75 cheerios would be problematic.

I have never seen broccoli labeled with a number of pieces per serving though, and I agree that seems silly due to size variation. Honestly if I saw that I would question all the labeling of that product and buy another brand in the future.

ccruz985

My food scale is life. I weigh all of my meats and veggies.

livingleanlivingclean

No, I weigh it.

VeronicaA76

I weigh/measure my protiens and carbs. For raw/lightly steamed veggies sans oils/butter... I eat as much as I want, and I love raw spinach. For the simple reason, no one has ever gotten fat off of raw spinach leaves or broccoli or cucumbers. So as long as I have a few cups a day of greens, I'm good. I did the math once, you'd have to eat nearly 300 gallons of raw spinach to gain a pound, I think you'd lose more than a pound simply trying to eat 300 gallons of it.