Estimating the Weight of Meat

debdptg

When I eat out (like today at lunch) I am having a lot of trouble estimating the weight of the food that I eat - especially the meat. Is there a visual way to estimate what 3 oz of beef or 3 oz of chicken looks like? For home, I have a scale, for packaged stuff, I can read the label, but when I eat out I am really frustrated by having to make a wild guess (is it 1 oz or 10 oz? - how the heck am I supposed to know!).

Visual cues, especially pics, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

heretic911

I agree it's tough when you go out. My visual aide is about the size of your palm, no bigger than a playing card is a portion:) Good luck, I just joined and so far people are so supportive on MFP.

melaniecheeks

I think 3-4 oz would be about the size of your palm.

An 8oz steak is rather massive, about the size of a side plate.

psb13

i remember reading somewhere that a serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards

debdptg

I like the 'deck of cards' or 'palm of hand' suggestion for portion size, but how much does that weigh? I need the weight to log it in...

jhardenbergh

I've heard that 4 oz is like a deck of cards, but I eat out alot and if the weight isn't on the menu, I usually ask and the server will either know or find out for me.

99clmsntgr

The old adage from Weight Watchers was 3-4 ounces was approximately the size of a cassette tape. Since most of the youngin's out there don't know what a cassette tape is, they have since gone to comparing it to a deck of cards.

purplecait1212

I generally estimate higher just to be safe - better to take in fewer calories than you think you did versus more! So when it is the size of my palm, I say 4.5 - 5 oz depending on thickness, and I feel like that usually ends up about right!

Good Luck!

Strive2BLean

The best visual is that 3 oz. of meat/chicken is equal in size to a standard deck of cards.

Strive2BLean

Deck of cards equals 3 oz in weight for meat or chicken

ATT949

Estimation will do in a pinch but I might suggest that you ask the server to check with the chef.