why do you use a scale to weigh food?

tndejong

this is not to attack anyone who does this. i am just curious as to why you use a scale to measure your meals. when i joined on here, i wanted to see how i eat and where to improve. but it seems a little too much to measure out my meals using a scale. i want to improve my eating and eventually learn how to live without using this site. i wouldn't want to be elderly and still rely on scales and calorie counting. what items do you use your scale for? how has this helped?

veganashley

It helps because it's accurate. I weigh everything. I'm pretty good at eyeballing/guessing how much something weighs now, but that only came from lots of experience using a scale.

sweetzoejane

I don't use my scale for everything, just the things that are higher in calories and easy to go over on without measuring. For example, many people find that even if they scoop out a tablespoon of peanut butter it's actually two tablespoons. The same with things like meat. You can eyeball 3 oz or a cup, but it's often off by quite a bit, or at least enough to count. Accuracy and consistency is important when tracking calories in and calories burned during exercise. I used to think a food scale would be a bad idea, and might make me too obsessive over my food, but after getting one, it's been probably the best tool I have to help me with my weight loss and getting healthier.

You don't have to use a scale forever, but it will help you understand portion sizes and you'll be better able to eyeball those things in the future if you pay attention to how much you are measuring.

KirstenTheFamilyCoach

because I don't "see" a normal portion size. I need something to help me know what's really a portion.

julesxo

It is for accuracy. I imagine once you get used to it you will be able to tell by looking how much a portion is

rumplesnat

:bigsmile: Because my idea of a deck of cards (3oz portion of meat) is a LOT bigger than reality.

ladyraven68

how would you know how many calories were in your rice/pasta/cereal etc, if you didn't know how much of it you were eating?

MoreBean13

Do an experiment for me. Tare a spoon, then measure what you think to be an accurate portion of peanut butter, then weigh it and report back. You will understand after this experiment.

TheNEWMonicaB

because I don't "see" a normal portion size. I need something to help me know what's really a portion.

^This! I always overestimate when I eyeball it. And the scale is much easier than dirtying a bunch of measuring cups and spoons, not to mention more accurate.

Showmm

I don't expect to need a scale in twenty years, but even if I do, so what? It takes about 1 second to measure something and certainly no more time than putting it into a measuring cup does. Usually if I'm measuring something like breakfast cereal I measure it right in the bowl I eat out of, so it's actually less work as it's one less thing to wash up!

johned63

I would encourage you to watch this to see why some people use a food scale. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

GNeiswender

I agree with you. I don't want to be elderly and have to count calories and weigh food, etc.

However, I do use a scale for many foods and I find it very helpful to keep my portions correct. I use my scale for meats, nuts, even my raw baby carrots - it sounds silly but if I don't my serving is not a true serving size and for now it helps get that prospective in line so that some day when I learn a true serving size and lose what I want to lose hopefully I won't need one either but for now I find a food scale my friend.

stephdeeable

My idea of a serving is to eat until I feel physically ill, so the scale helps.

veganashley

Also, when you start weighing things, you'll find that the portion sizes listed on labels are sometimes wrong.

For instance, I have a protein powder that lists 1 level scoop as 22 grams. 1 scoop actually weighs closer to 28 grams. The scoop came with the container! It's about a 30 calorie difference, which is fairly significant to me.

sweetzoejane

Also, when you start weighing things, you'll find that the portion sizes listed on labels are sometimes wrong.

For instance, I have a protein powder that lists 1 level scoop as 22 grams. 1 scoop actually weighs closer to 28 grams. The scoop came with the container! It's about a 30 calorie difference, which is fairly significant to me.

It's the measuring device that is wrong, not the label. If one serving equals 22g, you should be measuring out 22g, not assuming that one serving actually equals 28g.

Soosannah

Weighing your food can give you a more accurate calorie count. I weigh meats, cheese, pasta and sometimes fruits and veggies. Also if I do a quickie freezer meal like I did tonight I will weigh the portions. We had lasagna and serving size was 1 cup or 197g. I chose to weigh mine because I have a tendency to get overzealous with my cups on something like that.

I do always weigh my meats and cheese because those servings are normally ounces. I know I have seen some post on here where people do weigh everything that they eat.

I am with you though, I don't want to be 80 and still weighing my food.

Crankstr

because I want to log accurately.

MerlinWilliams

Scales keep you honest, and let you track your macros with greater accuracy.

Why wouldn't anyone want to do that? Even for me; I'm really only concerned with net carbs, but I've got a better shot at really knowing what they are with a scale.

brynnsmom

I got one to make sure my portion sizes were correct - and what I found is that many times they were way underestimated. What I thought was a serving size typically was really two. I mainly use it for weighing meat and cheese but sometimes veggies too (the higher calorie ones like potatoes, etc). I like having the confidence that my food diary is more accurate. Weighing my food doesn't feel tedious to me, although I know my husband thinks it's crazy.

You are right though, adopting healthy eating habits is the way to go, with or without MFP.

jessicawrites

From a cooking (specifically baking) standpoint it also makes sense because different techniques for measuring can affect how much of something is used. If you scoop the measuring cup into the flour container, you may end up with a different amount of flour than if you spoon flour from the container into the cup, or sift it. Weight stays the same, so it makes the recipe more reliable.

mbajrami

I have noticed with certain things (crackers/chips/etc) that sometimes it will say 1 serving is "15 chips or 28g", then when I weigh it out, 28 grams is actually only 9 or 10 chips...that ends up being 1 1/2 servings when I only counted it as 1! I just like to be as accurate as possible.

EatClean_WashUrNuts

You use a scale? DAMN, I knew I could trust the store.

veganashley

Also, when you start weighing things, you'll find that the portion sizes listed on labels are sometimes wrong.

For instance, I have a protein powder that lists 1 level scoop as 22 grams. 1 scoop actually weighs closer to 28 grams. The scoop came with the container! It's about a 30 calorie difference, which is fairly significant to me.

It's the measuring device that is wrong, not the label. If one serving equals 22g, you should be measuring out 22g, not assuming that one serving actually equals 28g.

Of course. My point is that the scoop included with the container measures a larger portion than advertised. I know that 22 grams is the correct serving. And that's why I weigh it, rather than relying on the scoop! Because the scoop is wrong, evne though "1 scoop" is supposed to be a serving, according to the label.

jenilla1

Is there something wrong with old people using scales? It's just a more accurate way to measure things. My grandma used a scale for baking and cooking. You go ahead and guesstimate. I my scale.

Deipneus

I have a blind spot. I am incapable of estimating well. I don't weigh every single time, and I don't use a digital scale, but without some standard to go by, I am way off. Would you be comfortable buying gas from a place where a guy estimates how many gallons went into your car?

d_Mode

Because I'm diabetic...and it helps control my carb intake as well as caloric intake.

Mads1997

I usually weigh my cereal but was getting a little slack and just eyeballing it to where I thought it filled the bowl to. I haven't weighed it for some weeks. This morning I pour out the amount and out of curiosity I thought I would weigh it to see how my eyeballing was going...............not good at all. What was suppose to be 45 grams was actually 78 grams. This makes quite a difference to calorie intake over a week or so. Back to weighing for me.

rn000

So you get an accurate reading of your calories, which is important to know so you are not over/under eating.

DannyG7685

I don't use a scale to weigh myself, I don't care about how much I weigh, I go by body fat %. I could be 185 lbs at 5'5" but if I'm at single digit body fat % (My goal, still got 5% to go) I'm happy. The scale on my food is VERY important to get an accurate reading so that I can maintain body fat %

JenniTheVeggie

I use a scale, measuring cups and spoons depending on the food. Just today I used the scale to weigh an avocado. They are all different sizes and I want an accurate number for my food log. Cheese is another good example of a food I always weigh.

supergirljen

I have noticed with certain things (crackers/chips/etc) that sometimes it will say 1 serving is "15 chips or 28g", then when I weigh it out, 28 grams is actually only 9 or 10 chips...that ends up being 1 1/2 servings when I only counted it as 1! I just like to be as accurate as possible.

So THAT is why I get so many fewer servings out of a bag of chips!! (I just thought my husband was sneaking them!) Well I guess I will be measuring the chips now.