why do you use a scale to weigh food?

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  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,082 Member
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    I use a scale, measuring cups and spoons depending on the food.

    Yes, I agree.
    Weighing food by scales doesnt seem at all difficult to me. I serve up my dinner with plate on the scales and then put meat on, reset scales, put potato on, reset, put carrot on, reset etc - very easy to get weight of everything that way.

    But I also use cups for liquids and spoons for things like sauces or gravy.

    and I dont weigh everything - if I eat a piece of toast I just log it in as one slice or a banana I just log it in as small banana 58 cal's - all my bananas obviously arent exactly same size but I think it evens out.

    If Im out somewhere I find it difficult to estimate sizes - cant take my scales to a restaruant LOL - but accuracy would suffer.
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566
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    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.

    THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • veganashley
    veganashley Posts: 70 Member
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    I used to eat a bowl full of cereal believing that was a "serving" then I got some scales and weighed the proper 30g serving and found it was 1/3 of what I was eating, I was shocked.

    This made take a very close look at what I considered a "portion" and I was wildly innacurate in estimating how much I was eating and that is how I got fat.
    Cereal is the worst for this! A single serving of cereal is such a tiny amount!
  • hendinerik
    hendinerik Posts: 287 Member
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    I get why people use one - I use estimates and occasionally a measuring cup - I know that the estimates can be off but use this whole process for general health -- that has gone pretty well for me, but more power to anyone who does it.
  • runningwiththepups
    runningwiththepups Posts: 64
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    I use mine because it's more accurate, and it's easier than dirting a million measuring cups to figure out my portion sizes. I got a digital one that I can tare out after each item is added. It saves me a ton of time!
  • bmskid
    bmskid Posts: 153 Member
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    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.

    She's right. I was the worst at peanut butter (before). In my opinion, if it fit on the spoon, it was a tablespoon. In reality, i was probably eating 4 tablespoons, twice the serving size...the difference of eating 190 calories or 380 calories is a lot when you're restricting. I use my scale for everything now, but I'm getting better and better at understanding portions and one day I'll be able to do it on my own. For now, I have to re-learn what a portion is. :)
  • alexbusnello
    alexbusnello Posts: 1,010 Member
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    so it's correct
  • misskerouac
    misskerouac Posts: 2,242 Member
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    Because our minds are tricky.

    And knowing the weight of even healthy things can be a big difference.

    The Peanut butter is a PRIME example
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
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    because I don't "see" a normal portion size. I need something to help me know what's really a portion.

    ^^ This. I was shocked when I first began logging and using my scale how much difference there was in what I thought the portion size was and how much it really was. I'm much better now that I've spent a lot of time using my scale. I am in "maintenance" mode and I no longer log/weigh food on weekends, but I still do every weekday. Maybe some day I'll reduce to maybe 3 days a week, or eventually not at all if I don't gain weight after stopping. However, I can't imagine that I won't need some constant reminder, though.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
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    How else will you measure how much you're eating? Especially when you eat fresh, wholesome things that don't come out of packages with serving sizes conveniently marked on them?
  • Synapze
    Synapze Posts: 499
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    I use a scale. When i began i weighed everything.

    Now i've learned to predict most things as i know the portion sizes (roughly) but try to over estimate a little just to make sure.

    Its the one tool thats truly helped me fight this battle, and i can see myself using it in the long term as whats a few seconds to weigh something.

    Id rather use my scale than jump on some 'Shake' thats not really going to help me deal with real foods in the long run.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,449 Member
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    The scale is one of the best items in my tool kit. I measure most things. For example, a serving of an orange is aroug 180g. Most of the oranges I get weigh in at 200-300g. If I called it a small orange, I'd be severely underestimating it.

    I am also terrible about portioning our meat. What I think is 3 ounces is ways 4.x.

    As for a longer term plan, I tend to like the plate method: 50% of your plate with veggies, 25% with protein and 25% with grains..... this seems to be a good way to stay balanced.
  • jnp96
    jnp96 Posts: 163
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    To keep calories accurate. It isn't that tough once you get used to it.
  • rm7161
    rm7161 Posts: 505
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    because I don't "see" a normal portion size. I need something to help me know what's really a portion.

    this.

    And the loss of 52 pounds later, it's been working.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
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    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.

    +1
    Insightful
  • WFBspantran
    WFBspantran Posts: 59 Member
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    I generally only use a scale when I am cutting weight, usually for summer. I, like many others can eyeball things rather well but to know that I am right on with my macros I always use a scale. When I first started getting into fitness and started my weight loss journey I used the scale to be accurate so I would not over eat. Food scales are a must and they are a great and inexpensive tool for your kitchen and overall health.
  • becky6m
    becky6m Posts: 108 Member
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    Example, today I made a chicken salad. I buy the Tyson chicken in the frozen section, In the past I guessed the 3oz, today I weighed it (just bought my scale a couple days ago) I was putting 9oz on my plate. Two pieces is 3oz. Difference of two hundred calories. That's big. So for me, I weigh everything now. I know exactly what I have consumed and what I have burned through my hrm. This is just me.
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
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    Doing so initially helps you learn what constitutes a serving size. Eventually you become able to eyeball it within grams. For example, you may think it's a half cup of Ben & Jerry's (which is one serving, about 230 calories): turns out it's almost double (meaning 345 or more). Makes a HUGE difference when logging calories, especially if you stop to do the actual math.
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
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    Example, today I made a chicken salad. I buy the Tyson chicken in the frozen section, In the past I guessed the 3oz, today I weighed it (just bought my scale a couple days ago) I was putting 9oz on my plate. Two pieces is 3oz. Difference of two hundred calories. That's big. So for me, I weigh everything now. I know exactly what I have consumed and what I have burned through my hrm. This is just me.

    And look at that ticker! You go girl!
  • fusion777
    fusion777 Posts: 197
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    because I don't "see" a normal portion size. I need something to help me know what's really a portion.

    ^^^^^^ This.

    My measured portion is always so different than the food labels is. Guess who's is bigger?!

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