PSA If You Eat Pre-Packaged Food

somethingsoright

I knew food companies could legally be off on calorie counts by up to 20%, but never really took it seriously. Recently I decided to start weighing stuff like protein bars, frozen patties, and deli meat instead of going by slices or pieces.

For instance, I just had a Vega protein bar. Package says one bar is 190 calories. But the reality is, it was not 45g, it was 55g. That's a whopping 42 calorie difference. Imagine how much that adds up, especially if eating other foods with improper labels like that.

So if you are stalled, it's totally worthwhile to weigh everything.

Duck_Puddle

Just to clarify the 20%...the nutrition info per serving can be off by 20%. Meaning the actual calorie count for 45g can be anywhere from 152-228.

A manufacturer can’t include less than the total (net) printed package weight. Occasionally-the package will weigh heavy (but not often since that means the company is throwing away profit).

Individual items within a package may be off from the serving size (eg not every slice of bread will weigh exactly the same thing-some will be less, some more).

It is a good idea to weigh all your food-including packaged foods. But the 20% applies to the nutrition info and it can go either way.

snickerscharlie

Very few pre-packaged food will be bang-on for their weight-per-serving. When there's a difference, it will weigh above what is stated on the label. Reason being is that it's okay for food companies to give consumers a bit more than what they are actually paying for, whereas giving them even a slight bit less is a big no-no.

Weighing what you eat *is always* the best way to ensure accuracy.

takemetosingapore2019

I haven’t found calorie counts on packaged food to be off enough that it has any effect on me and my goals. It hasn’t affected my loss or maintenance at all. I rarely weigh my food.

Tankiscool

Meh it's negligible. I don't weigh protein bars if I have one, but that's about only thing I eat thats is prepackaged. I do weigh everything else though so if you are the type of person who eats alot of prepackaged food than I guess it could add up.

kami3006

Tankiscool wrote: »

Meh it's negligible. I don't weigh protein bars if I have one, but that's about only thing I eat thats is prepackaged. I do weigh everything else though so if you are the type of person who eats alot of prepackaged food than I guess it could add up.

Or for those with small deficits or who have a relatively small calorie allowance to begin with.

Noreenmarie1234

WOW, thanks for sharing. I sometimes eat 2-5 bars a day so this would really add up for me. I never usually weigh my bars, but now I am curious how many more calories I am actually eating.

robthephotog

Way i see it the 100-200 cals extra you might eat could be negligable if youre even semi active during the day and not over eating other meals.

RAinWA

robthephotog wrote: »

Way i see it the 100-200 cals extra you might eat could be negligable if youre even semi active during the day and not over eating other meals.

Unless your deficit is only 250 calories, in which case you could wipe out all or most of your deficit that way.

Gisel2015

takemetosingapore2019 wrote: »

I haven’t found calorie counts on packaged food to be off enough that it has any effect on me and my goals. It hasn’t affected my loss or maintenance at all. I rarely weigh my food.

Exactly!