NYTimes finds Discrepencies in Posted Calorie Counts

swishandflick
swishandflick Posts: 42
in Food and Nutrition
The NYTimes posted a video yesterday where they had food scientists test out the posted calorie counts versus the counts in reality.

Here's the link to the article/video.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/opinion/calorie-detective.html?_r=0

Thoughts on this? It certainly makes me bummed out.

Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,265 Member
    There's a 20% allowable error by law to begin with. Not surprised that some foods are higher.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    There's a 20% allowable error by law to begin with. Not surprised that some foods are higher.

    Exactly. If it is that concerning, eat mostly home cooked food that doesn't come from a box with an ingredient list. It's about the only way you can tightly control what you ingest.
  • honeyandmilk
    honeyandmilk Posts: 160 Member
    I feel that, as long as you keep track and have a basic idea of how much and what you eat, the actual number isn't that important. Some extra calories here and there won't make a huge difference. I've always believed in quality of calories over quantity, though.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    It doesn't matter. If you're getting the results you want great, if not adjust.
  • swishandflick
    swishandflick Posts: 42
    I woke up a pound heavier this morning after exercizing more and eating less. Yay, working out and being healthy! I should just go and eat a donut :/ (not a good start to my day).
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I woke up a pound heavier this morning after exercizing more and eating less. Yay, working out and being healthy! I should just go and eat a donut :/ (not a good start to my day).

    There are weight fluctuations in your body every day. If you can't handle that psychologically, and not everyone can, then only weigh yourself once every couple of weeks. It by no means infers that you have done something wrong. Educate yourself on how the body works and I guarantee you won't get so down on yourself.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    No surprise. All the numbers we work with (calorie counts, calorie burns, BMR, TDEE) are averages around which each individual varies.
  • ckmama
    ckmama Posts: 1,668 Member
    if you ever look at a Calorie King Count book they have a whole page dedicated to the inaccuracies of calorie counts...from the weight of a product being incorrect to just bad counts.

    it has been in every edition of the book for years. Glad to see they are making the public more aware. Thanks for sharing.
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    There's a 20% allowable error by law to begin with. Not surprised that some foods are higher.

    smart person with an adorable dog.

    thanks NYTimes...for uncovering a law.
  • GrandmaJody
    GrandmaJody Posts: 140 Member
    It doesn't matter. If you're getting the results you want great, if not adjust.
    [/quote

    ^this^ Remember not to sweat the small stuff....
  • liesevanlingen
    liesevanlingen Posts: 508 Member
    This is why I try to end the day with a calorie deficit of around 200 calories. It gives me some leeway in case something isn't very accurate.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    No surprise. All the numbers we work with (calorie counts, calorie burns, BMR, TDEE) are averages around which each individual varies.

    This.

    Even something that seems to standard as plain old chicken breast will vary from piece to piece and even bite to bite in it's actual fat/protein ratio and thus, caloric count. There is no way for the average person to gauge every individual piece of everything that they put in their mouth with 100% accuracy. Averages are the best we can really go with.
  • swishandflick
    swishandflick Posts: 42
    There are weight fluctuations in your body every day. If you can't handle that psychologically, and not everyone can, then only weigh yourself once every couple of weeks. It by no means infers that you have done something wrong. Educate yourself on how the body works and I guarantee you won't get so down on yourself.

    I know there are some fluctuations for water retention etc., it's just so frustrating to be working out for about three weeks now with no results (before I started logging/using this site in serious I still worked out 3x a week).
    This is why I try to end the day with a calorie deficit of around 200 calories. It gives me some leeway in case something isn't very accurate.

    Good point. There is so much conflicting info out there though...a lot of posts on this site are always pushing people to eat more calories, so even with the innacuracies built in, I'm hesitant to cut my calories even more. :/

    I would love to have the time and money to prepare each and every meal but life gets in the way.
  • honeyandmilk
    honeyandmilk Posts: 160 Member
    I woke up a pound heavier this morning after exercizing more and eating less. Yay, working out and being healthy! I should just go and eat a donut :/ (not a good start to my day).

    Your weight will fluctuate upwards to 5lbs in one day; it's constantly changing due to water weight, sodium intake, etc. Basically, don't take a number on a scale to mean anything but...a number on a scale. Your weight will likely be different every day and scales are usually pretty inaccurate anyway. Your measurements will likely change even if you're not losing weight, so measure yourself as well. Gaining a pound isn't grounds for being discouraged and slipping into unhealthy behaviors.

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