How do I count a spoonful?

KatyCrum6969

When I get hungry and it's not even near meal time, I usually have a spoonful of something. (Pudding, peanut better, sometimes a handful of chocolate chips.) This usually satisfies my cravings for a few hours, but I do realize that these calories can add up. Obviously I only usually do this maybe twice a day (usually once a day though) but I'm just wondering, how should I count these? Now obviously a spoonful of pudding can only be, at most, 20 calories, but it's probably way less. I know I'm eating about 15 calories for the chocolate chips, and I guess what I'm getting at is the big question: To count or not to count? And if I should, how should I figure out what the calories are?

TravelDog14

Yes, count these spoonfuls.

Me? I would measure them on my scale.

Or when I have a tablespoon of peanut butter, I just eat it from the measuring tablespoon so I know exactly how much I had.

deb3129

I log every bite, even if it is just a spoon full. Otherwise, I think it is too easy to just have a spoon full here and one there, thinking that it is just a few calories, so it doesn't matter. But those calories do add up, especially with high calorie things like peanut butter. I would just eat them from a tablespoon so you know, or weigh them.

Bossit

You should count it, so that your snacking doesn't get out of hand (especially for peanut butter). If the measurements don't offer cal per tbsp, I would say 15grams for a tablespoon, or perhaps more if its rounded

sannsk

I put spoonfuls (and everything else) on a kitchen scale. I carry it around in my purse, it's ridiculous, but hey :-D It works for me...

KatyCrum6969

Yes, count these spoonfuls.

Me? I would measure them on my scale.

Or when I have a tablespoon of peanut butter, I just eat it from the measuring tablespoon so I know exactly how much I had.

This is a good idea! I'll remember the tablespoon thing. I have a kitchen scale, but it's in metric and I was never taught how to use it. (It's my mom's old one. She gave it to me for this exact reason, thinking that someone younger would be able to convert it. >LOL<

FredDoyle

I weigh everything because different things have different volumes hence different weight per volume.
Clear as mud?
Just turn on the scale with the spoon/bowl/plate already on it, or zero it, then fill it up and put it back.
Voila.
The whole world uses metric except the US. Time you guys caught up! (Flame suit on)

raeleek

I don't have a food scale. Unfortunate kitchen accident killed it BUT when I have a spoonful of anything I use the small tableware spoon not the big guy and I also make sure its fairly level. I count that as a tablespoon calorie wise. Not 100% accurate but hasn't hinder my weight loss at all.

mfp_1

A modern digital food scale will weigh in grams and ounces. Some people say buying a food scale is the best $20 they've spent on dieting.