I'm confused about avocados.

xxxTiaxxx
xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I know avocados are high in good fats but as I was trying to log my lunch in my diary the amounts of calories varied so much for a small Hass avocado. I took to Google and searched some sites and it was the same deal. Some saying 140 another one saying 250 for the same thing. How am I supposed to get it right?

And is there a such thing as eating too many avocados? I've heard of eating one a day but would 2 actually make you gain weight? I only got into them recently and is still learning about them.

Replies

  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Use a food scale and measure the actual amount of avocado you used. Then use this site to find it:
    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

    For avocado you should find:
    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2176?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=avocado

    If you used 50 grams of avocado, put "0.5" in the column that says "per 100g" and click "apply changes."

    You'll get about 84 calories.

    Food scale is important. Buy one. You can get them cheap.

    To lose weight, keep your calorie intake at your goal. And make sure to get enough protein and exercise.
  • demonlullaby
    demonlullaby Posts: 499 Member
    I'd like to see the answers to this as well!
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
    Do you use a scale? If so, when you search the food database, try entering this: "raw avocado g" that'll let you chose the amount of weight in grams of the avocado.
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    To determine the correct nutritional values, including calories, for your particular avocado, you'll need to actually weigh it. Sounds like it's time to invest in a digital kitchen scale :)

    And no, eating two a day won't necessarily cause you to gain weight - eating calories in excess of your TDEE will cause you to gain weight, it doesn't matter what the source of the calories is.
  • singer201
    singer201 Posts: 563 Member
    I find the avocado entry that has ounces, and I weigh the portion I put on my salad--usually 1-1.5 ounces.
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025


    Food scale is important. Buy one. You can get them cheap.

    yep, I was guessing before and I thought a food scale would be a stupid investment....I use mine all the time and my recipes come out better with baking. It will take the guesswork out of it.
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    Oh man... a kitchen scale lol. Looks like it's time for me to go all out. I've never used one and definitely don't have one but I think I'll be investing in it. I guess there's no general calories for one.
  • rmchapman4
    rmchapman4 Posts: 152 Member
    I love avocados! They are generally 250 calories. I don't see how you can gain weight by eating such a natural and wholesome product. I normally eat at least one a day. They are very high in fiber!
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
    Oh man... a kitchen scale lol. Looks like it's time for me to go all out. I've never used one and definitely don't have one but I think I'll be investing in it. I guess there's no general calories for one.

    The entries on MFP that list avocados by size are close, but not as accurate as weighing it yourself. Get a scale, it's a great investment.
  • twoboysnmygirl
    twoboysnmygirl Posts: 161 Member
    I can only tell you my personal experience. I was a raw vegan (just fruits, veggies, & nuts) for 5 years and guess what? I was overweight the WHOLE TIME. I could not lose weight for the life of me. No one understood how I could stay overweight eating salad three times a day and only fruits and veggies. Well, after I changed my diet and found MFP, I logged one of my salads with Avocado's mashed up for dressing (2-3 salads a day!) or tahini dressing (sesame seed paste) and I saw with my own eyes what was keeping me overweight! I think I was eating 2000 calories a day just in avocados and tahini! So yes, it might hinder your weight loss but only if you overindulge. It's just like anything else, you still have to count the calories. I would weigh them.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    Food scale is important. Buy one. You can get them cheap.

    yep, I was guessing before and I thought a food scale would be a stupid investment....I use mine all the time and my recipes come out better with baking. It will take the guesswork out of it.
    Yup, as mentioned, a food scale is probably the best cheap investment I ever made, and it's your best-friend when it comes to learning what portions are best for your diet.
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    I love avocados! They are generally 250 calories. I don't see how you can gain weight by eating such a natural and wholesome product. I normally eat at least one a day. They are very high in fiber!

    Cause I don't know for sure I'm going by about 250. I'm going to try eating the one a day. I just have to find enough stuff to mix it into. I can't eat it alone. lol
  • Mom4Liz
    Mom4Liz Posts: 55
    I bought a digital kitchen scale for $10 so it's possible to get one without investing a lot. It was at a surplus store. I use it a lot. If I bake I prefer recipes that give you the ingredients in grams. Way more precise.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    I love avocados! They are generally 250 calories. I don't see how you can gain weight by eating such a natural and wholesome product. I normally eat at least one a day. They are very high in fiber!
    ... you only gain weight from eating avocado if you're eating (overall) more than you expend in calories... The avocado itself can't be blamed for anyone's weight gain ... excess calories are the culprit.
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    I can only tell you my personal experience. I was a raw vegan (just fruits, veggies, & nuts) for 5 years and guess what? I was overweight the WHOLE TIME. I could not lose weight for the life of me. No one understood how I could stay overweight eating salad three times a day and only fruits and veggies. Well, after I changed my diet and found MFP, I logged one of my salads with Avocado's mashed up for dressing (2-3 salads a day!) or tahini dressing (sesame seed paste) and I saw with my own eyes what was keeping me overweight! I think I was eating 2000 calories a day just in avocados and tahini! So yes, it might hinder your weight loss but only if you overindulge. It's just like anything else, you still have to count the calories. I would weigh them.

    How many were you eating a day?
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    I bought a digital kitchen scale for $10 so it's possible to get one without investing a lot. It was at a surplus store. I use it a lot. If I bake I prefer recipes that give you the ingredients in grams. Way more precise.

    I had no idea that a scale would make baking measurements more precise. I bake almost every weekend. I think the scale would be good for more then one reason.
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    :heart: avocados! A food scale is the way I go. Avocados vary in size so much and I want a accurate measurement. :smile:
  • bettyann55
    bettyann55 Posts: 87 Member
    I love avocados! They are generally 250 calories. I don't see how you can gain weight by eating such a natural and wholesome product. I normally eat at least one a day. They are very high in fiber!
    Avocsdos need to be weighed as 250 calories is not right for all avocados. And yes you can gain weigh if you over eat anything even if it is naturel. Stick to your daily calories intake and you will have no problem, however with that being said natural and homesome is bad if you exceed you intake of calories.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I am not sure about cals but i want some avacado
  • MadameMC
    MadameMC Posts: 63 Member
    I bought a digital kitchen scale for $10 so it's possible to get one without investing a lot. It was at a surplus store. I use it a lot. If I bake I prefer recipes that give you the ingredients in grams. Way more precise.

    I got mine for $10 on Amazon.com - it's a really nice one. It's black with a tempered glass platform, it holds up to 11lbs, auto-shuts off after 3 minutes, and can weigh in a bunch of different measurements. It only took me so long to get one because I thought they'd be expensive - boy was I wrong!
  • ShannonS2714
    ShannonS2714 Posts: 135 Member
    Use a food scale and measure the actual amount of avocado you used. Then use this site to find it:
    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

    For avocado you should find:
    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2176?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=avocado

    If you used 50 grams of avocado, put "0.5" in the column that says "per 100g" and click "apply changes."

    You'll get about 84 calories.

    Food scale is important. Buy one. You can get them cheap.

    To lose weight, keep your calorie intake at your goal. And make sure to get enough protein and exercise.

    Thank you for that site!!
  • twoboysnmygirl
    twoboysnmygirl Posts: 161 Member
    I can only tell you my personal experience. I was a raw vegan (just fruits, veggies, & nuts) for 5 years and guess what? I was overweight the WHOLE TIME. I could not lose weight for the life of me. No one understood how I could stay overweight eating salad three times a day and only fruits and veggies. Well, after I changed my diet and found MFP, I logged one of my salads with Avocado's mashed up for dressing (2-3 salads a day!) or tahini dressing (sesame seed paste) and I saw with my own eyes what was keeping me overweight! I think I was eating 2000 calories a day just in avocados and tahini! So yes, it might hinder your weight loss but only if you overindulge. It's just like anything else, you still have to count the calories. I would weigh them.

    How many were you eating a day?

    2 or 3 a day...LOL...it was the only fatty thing I was eating, so I mashed one up for every salad. I think 1 a day is FINE, just wanted to point out that you still have to count the calories in them. :)
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    I bought a digital kitchen scale for $10 so it's possible to get one without investing a lot. It was at a surplus store. I use it a lot. If I bake I prefer recipes that give you the ingredients in grams. Way more precise.

    I had no idea that a scale would make baking measurements more precise. I bake almost every weekend. I think the scale would be good for more then one reason.

    You are going to be amazed at how much you're underestimating what's going in your baked goods. I was...flour, oats, sugar...all underestimated by probably 15-30%. Those calories can add up fast!
  • Amazon_Who
    Amazon_Who Posts: 1,092 Member
    Use a food scale and measure the actual amount of avocado you used. Then use this site to find it:
    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

    For avocado you should find:
    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2176?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=avocado

    If you used 50 grams of avocado, put "0.5" in the column that says "per 100g" and click "apply changes."

    You'll get about 84 calories.

    Food scale is important. Buy one. You can get them cheap.

    To lose weight, keep your calorie intake at your goal. And make sure to get enough protein and exercise.
    ^^This^^ wins.

    Cereal is a real eye opener too.
  • littlebudgie
    littlebudgie Posts: 279 Member
    I bought a digital kitchen scale for $10 so it's possible to get one without investing a lot. It was at a surplus store. I use it a lot. If I bake I prefer recipes that give you the ingredients in grams. Way more precise.

    I had no idea that a scale would make baking measurements more precise. I bake almost every weekend. I think the scale would be good for more then one reason.

    My sister has formal training as a pastry chef and she always uses a scale for her baking. It's so much more accurate than using cup measures - regardless of how packed or loose your flour is, you'll always be sure how much you've got, as opposed to when you're using a cup. And frankly, changing the scale of a recipe that's in grams is so much easier than trying to remember how many tbsp go into a cup.
  • mbajrami
    mbajrami Posts: 636 Member
    I weigh and go by the gram.
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    Thanks everyone for the advice. I did what was suggested and bought a kitchen scale last night. You guys were right. So much easier. I have no idea how I went without one.
    Thanks again.
  • bethlaf
    bethlaf Posts: 954 Member
    its a delicious fruit,

    but its sizes are so varied, last week i bought some they are the size of a big apple, this week they were on sale, but they were the little ones
    i scooped a couple out the other day , 1 of the big ones was (visually) about the same amount as 2 and 1/2 of the little ones ...
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    its a delicious fruit,

    but its sizes are so varied, last week i bought some they are the size of a big apple, this week they were on sale, but they were the little ones
    i scooped a couple out the other day , 1 of the big ones was (visually) about the same amount as 2 and 1/2 of the little ones ...

    I know what you mean. But as everyone is saying a scale is a handy thing to have. I'm still a little freaked out by the calorie content of one though. But they say it's good fat so... I guess I shouldn't be too scared of them.
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    its a delicious fruit,

    but its sizes are so varied, last week i bought some they are the size of a big apple, this week they were on sale, but they were the little ones
    i scooped a couple out the other day , 1 of the big ones was (visually) about the same amount as 2 and 1/2 of the little ones ...

    I know what you mean. But as everyone is saying a scale is a handy thing to have. I'm still a little freaked out by the calorie content of one though. But they say it's good fat so... I guess I shouldn't be too scared of them.
    http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1843/2

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