Cups, tablespoons, etc. Question:

jvaughn1031
jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
in Getting Started
So I just came from weight watchers so forgive me but I'm already getting frustrated with how I can enter food. For example. Let's say I need to log in a chicken breast at 3 oz. It only gives me an option to enter a serving at 4oz. Is there a way I can adjust the portions?

Also this morning, I had a 1/4 cup of blueberries but there are only options for a cup.

One more example. Let's say I had a teaspoon of maple syrup. There are only options for a tablespoon.

Is there a way around all of this?

Replies

  • Chickee8586
    Chickee8586 Posts: 155 Member
    In the portion section for a 3 oz chicken breast measured at 4 oz in the database, put the serving as .75

    1/4 c = .25 cups

    1 tsp of syrup = .33 TBLSP

    You can make the serving size any number you want. Same as if I ate 8 oz chicken breast, I would just put 2 as the serving.

    ETA: whatever the serving size you are having divided by the database size equals the serving size you enter. 3 divided by 4 = .75
  • jvaughn1031
    jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
    Thank you. This is going to make me sound dumb but is there a Food converter somewhere? Math is not my strong suit. Once I have them in my head for a couple weeks, I'll be ok. I just want to make sure I'm not overeating or not eating enough. If there is one thing I learned from WW, portion sizes make a BIG difference.
  • jvaughn1031
    jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
    Nevermind. I think I have it. 100 (1 cup) divided by 4 is .25 for a 1/4 cup.
  • Chickee8586
    Chickee8586 Posts: 155 Member
    If you have a calculator on your phone or computer, you can do it that way. But if you are looking for say, how many teaspoons in a tablespoon type of converter, then...

    http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=food+conversion+chart+for+measurements&id=946EC18914AA71850FBFC04E232EA02655101C07&FORM=IQFRBA
  • Chickee8586
    Chickee8586 Posts: 155 Member
    Also, if you are not weighing your food, you could be eating more than you think. A 1/4 cup may be a different serving size than an ounces or grams measurement of the same food.

    I eat Bran Buds, if I went with a 1/3 cup of it, I would be eating more than the grams per serving amount. Even though the serving size on the box says both, 1/3 cup (30g), it doesn't exactly add up to both by just using a 1/3 cup serving. It's more like 35-40 grams.

    Don't get overwhelmed, it's a learning process when you start. Once you get a handle on it, it will be a lot easier to log and measure.
  • jvaughn1031
    jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
    Great, Thanks so much for your help.
  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    Nevermind. I think I have it. 100 (1 cup) divided by 4 is .25 for a 1/4 cup.

    You're doing too much math here. If you want 1/4 cup, just divide 1 by 4. Example: 1 / 4 = .25

    You always take the size you're eating and divide it by the serving size given on the label. So if you eat 3oz chicken and the serving size is 4oz, the math is 3 / 4 = .75

    If you eat 5oz chicken, it would be 5 / 4 = 1.25

    A lot of the entries allow you to change the measurement from a total number of grams or ounces to single grams or ounces. Those are always nice. Example: I use the USDA banana option because it allows me to enter the weight of my banana in grams without having to do any calculations.

    (Edited for grammar)
  • jvaughn1031
    jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
    Ah. cool...I've got it now. Super easy :)
  • tildastwistedlife
    tildastwistedlife Posts: 85 Member
    I have an app on my phone called Convert which has been very helpful.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I wouldn't use measuring cup/spoons, they tend to be way off. Get a digital food scale and weigh your foods and only use a measuring cups for liquids. Weigh everything, condiments, peanut butter, fruit, pasta, single servings, meat, etc. etc.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    This is actually one of the reasons weighing may take people less time, even apart from the increased accuracy. The good entries generally have a 100 g option, so you weigh, get 45 grams, and just plug in 0.45. No calculations required. There are some exceptions for packaged items (say something is one serving for 28 grams) but then you either do 20 g (for example) divided by 28 or just try to hit the exact number. Much less need to convert units of measurement, which is a pain. I even typically weigh my meat in grams vs. ounces these days.
  • Chunkhotep
    Chunkhotep Posts: 16 Member
    I feel your pain jvaughn. I also came from WW and it was nice how they had so many foods with multiple measuring options: Cups, TBS, g, oz, lb, etc...

    I've come across many food items here that are only in grams. Definitely have to do a lot more math, which in my opinion, may deter some from tracking all the time
  • jvaughn1031
    jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
    Yeah, but when you work full time or are out and about weighing is not always an option.
  • jvaughn1031
    jvaughn1031 Posts: 38 Member
    Chunkhotep...seriously. That is my only complaint about this site. They should have more options for entering foods.
  • ElliTree
    ElliTree Posts: 23 Member
    You aren't ever gonna be 100% right, but you do the best you can.
  • ashenriver
    ashenriver Posts: 498 Member
    If you get the correct entries, they usually have a whole list of options,

    For example carrots -raw gives you 12 size options. Dry ingredients like rice and quinoa give you 2 options (1 cup and 100g)
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    You are always going to have to estimate some stuff. I usually use cups/tbsp/tsp for restaurant estimates, since I can eyeball better that way(my lunch places mostly have calorie counts), but when I pack food for work, like today, I weigh it when I prepare it.

    I agree that the good entries typically have all sorts of options.
  • nikkibarrett13
    nikkibarrett13 Posts: 7
    I just joined myfitnesspal yesterday, and maybe it's just me, but I find it easier to just add up the calories I'm eating and use the quick calorie entry option for each meal. It helps to keep me accountable as far as sticking to the actual serving size, too. Then in the daily notes I keep a record of what is was that I actually ate for reference. I know this won't be helpful for people trying to track all their specific nutrients, but seems easier for those who have their macronutrients pretty well down for meal/snack times. Best wishes to all!
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    Folks, if you haven't seen this, take 3 1/2 minutes and watch it. There is a reason to use and/or get a scale

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    good luck everybody
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    I just joined myfitnesspal yesterday, and maybe it's just me, but I find it easier to just add up the calories I'm eating and use the quick calorie entry option for each meal. It helps to keep me accountable as far as sticking to the actual serving size, too. Then in the daily notes I keep a record of what is was that I actually ate for reference. I know this won't be helpful for people trying to track all their specific nutrients, but seems easier for those who have their macronutrients pretty well down for meal/snack times. Best wishes to all!

    Yes that works as far as calorie counting goes. But by using the quick add feature, you won't be able to see if your hitting your macros. For example, if I log Greek yogurt using quick add it puts in just 140 calories. But if I use the database, or barcode scanner, then I'll be able to see how much protein I'm getting from that yogurt and see how many carbs it was, and see there's no fat in it, and so on.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    So I just came from weight watchers so forgive me but I'm already getting frustrated with how I can enter food. For example. Let's say I need to log in a chicken breast at 3 oz. It only gives me an option to enter a serving at 4oz. Is there a way I can adjust the portions?

    Also this morning, I had a 1/4 cup of blueberries but there are only options for a cup.

    One more example. Let's say I had a teaspoon of maple syrup. There are only options for a tablespoon.

    Is there a way around all of this?

    Yes. Stop measuring ANYTHING that is solid, and weigh it. Only measure liquids. Measuring solids is very inaccurate.
  • RBXChas
    RBXChas Posts: 2,708 Member
    Folks, if you haven't seen this, take 3 1/2 minutes and watch it. There is a reason to use and/or get a scale

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    good luck everybody

    ^This! I just got a scale last weekend am already shocked at how much I was inadvertently overeating. That was before watching this video, too.

    It's tough when you're not at home, but you should pre-portion as much as you can without losing your mind :) If not, a volume measurement is better than eyeballing it, as is a hand comparison. The food scale is awesome, but I can appreciate that it's not feasible most of the time for some people.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    and read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    If you are US born and bred and not used to converting ounces to grams (or even have trouble converting between fluid ounces, cups, tablespoons, etc) Here is my "go to" http://www.onlineconversion.com/ .
  • nikkibarrett13
    nikkibarrett13 Posts: 7
    Howdy! Nope, it definitely won't work for those who have a hard time keeping track of their macros, like I mentioned at the end of that there comment. I'm a nurse and a nutritional therapist, though, so I've got that stuff almost annoyingly down pat. As I jump start this whole getting-back-into-good-shape-after-a-particularly-stressful-year thing, I just need to be held accountable on 1. Eating all 3 meals; 2. Making the most nutrient-dense choices for those meals; 3. Being acutely aware of serving sizes instead of eating until I'm full. Entering in my meals as calories only gives me a number to keep an eye on as is goes down an gives me all the incentive that I need.

    This definitely won't work for everyone, and won't give you the breakdown of all your nutrients if you aren't keeping a mental note of those things. I think my situation is different also because I've had celiac disease since I was a kid, so am strictly gluten-free. Since I try not to eat much processed food at all, my food choices are pretty straight forward in terms of being pretty easy to keep track of the ratio of protein/fat/carbs. That won't be the case if you opt to eat prepackaged stuff, for sure. But I thought I would throw it out there in case there's someone similar to me who knows what they should be eating and just needs to be on parole temporarily until they get back into good habits =D
  • pleasurelittletreasure
    pleasurelittletreasure Posts: 236 Member
    I love my digital scale. For instance, cheese. I had no idea how much 2 oz of cheese looked like. I have measured it out at home on my scale enough times now that I know what 2 oz looks like whether I have sliced it thin, thick or cubed it. Now that I know what it looks like, I can guess pretty accurately when I am away from home. So even with working and being busy, it is definitely worth taking the time with it at home.
  • Crissie3255
    Crissie3255 Posts: 16 Member
    morning
    yes, in the first box it usually says .....1...........
    so if the serving is 1 cup and you had half that then you jut change the first box to read ........... 0.5 ..........
    usually there is a way around it. remember don't get too anxious.....it wont help.........usually a search thru the list will give you an amount that you can work with......GOOD LUCK:flowerforyou:

Categories