Portable food scale help

ell_v131
ell_v131 Posts: 349 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hiya,

I've been on here for a few months with moderate success. I think I could improve my results by becoming more diligent with weighing my food. Currently I weigh everything I eat at home, cereal, nuts and seeds for snacks, ingredients when I cook... But 5 days a week I eat lunch and dinner in the staff canteen, and I eyeball my portions there. Please don't suggest I bring meals from home as that would be a huge blow to my budget (staff canteen is free).

I can get alright options in the canteen, but I decided to get a portable food scale to be able to weigh my food. I'll bee using this one http://www.josephjoseph.com/product/triscale. I must admit I will feel self conscious using the scale in front of dozens of co-workers. I already get remarks on why I don't finish my huge portion etc. I know I'm doing this for my health and it shouldn't bother me, but it does.

So I guess I'm asking for a little support and if anyone is weighing their food on the go and how do you go about it? I would like to be as inconspicuous as possible :)

Also how do you weigh fruits - if I weigh an orange, banana or a grapefruit with it's peel it's a big difference to what the pulp actually weighs... Any pointers on this?

Replies

  • ell_v131
    ell_v131 Posts: 349 Member
    anyone? :flowerforyou:
  • reddaddie
    reddaddie Posts: 121 Member
    You are doing pretty good, half way to your goal. I don't weigh my food, I just estimate the quantities and use posted calorie counts. sorry I'm not much help on your question, but I wanted to encourage you.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    If you've been weighing your food at home, you should have a good idea of portion sizes. I'd be more concerned about the possibility of the added oils, butter, etc. That's something you can't weigh in prepared food, and a big calorie addition.
  • kathystrauss1
    kathystrauss1 Posts: 142 Member
    I have the Joseph Joseph folding scale. http://www.josephjoseph.com/product/triscale I got it because it takes up less room in my kitchen but I think it would be perfect for travel too. It folds up very compactly. I got mine on Amazon
  • ell_v131
    ell_v131 Posts: 349 Member
    Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm always one to overthink everything.

    Yeah I'm getting the Joseph Joseph triscale, hoping it will help me. I am Also away from home about 1-2 weeks out of a month, so it would be easier if I could weigh room service food too: )
  • annekka
    annekka Posts: 517 Member
    I have the same problem: work providing lunch. I've considered buying a scale, but in the end I just overestimate portion size and leave a daily deficit to account for the unknown.
  • KimberlyinMN
    KimberlyinMN Posts: 302 Member
    If you do a search on Amazon for a small digital scale, they have several that are pocket-sized and under $10. I have a tiny little scale that I keep in my office desk drawer. It's probably about the size of a square mirror compact. (What's odd, though, is I know I paid 10 cents for it, but I can't remember WHERE I got this. I'm thinking perhaps some place that I used to work at found some promotional stuff and were selling the stuff -- but I can't for the life of me remember where this was.)

    Hey, and I see that uncommongoods.com has that tri-fold scale mentioned earlier for only $30 plus shipping.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    i bought a little gram scale its about the size of a small calculator I also carry 2oz cups in my purse. I guess I've not considered it being embarrassing I think of it like if I was a diabetic and had to take insulin at the table it's just what I have to do if anyone has a problem with it or makes a comment...meh, they don't understand.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I have the Joseph Joseph folding scale. http://www.josephjoseph.com/product/triscale I got it because it takes up less room in my kitchen but I think it would be perfect for travel too. It folds up very compactly. I got mine on Amazon

    now that is really cool...about how much space does it take up in a purse?
  • britteliz1
    britteliz1 Posts: 43 Member
    I'm not any help, but I wanted to thank everyone for all the recommendations in here because I've been wanting to get something small and portable for when I go out to eat!
  • kathystrauss1
    kathystrauss1 Posts: 142 Member
    I have the Joseph Joseph folding scale. http://www.josephjoseph.com/product/triscale I got it because it takes up less room in my kitchen but I think it would be perfect for travel too. It folds up very compactly. I got mine on Amazon

    now that is really cool...about how much space does it take up in a purse?
    Folded up it is 5.75"x1.75"x0.75" and weighs about 5 oz.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I would not weigh at work or in restaurants. You can go nuts aiming for an accuracy that just isn't possible or practical. If your estimations of your intake don't seem to jibe with your scale losses over a month or so, estimate lower (or higher if you're over-losing).

    Weighing your portions can be helpful but I'd use it to get an idea of what is 4 oz. of chicken, etc., not to weigh every bite.
  • ell_v131
    ell_v131 Posts: 349 Member
    Thank you all, I really appreciate your input!

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