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suggestions on how to remember to measure first

amunet07
amunet07 Posts: 1,245 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Please share your secrets on measuring food...

how you remind yourself/get out of the habit of not measuring
how you measure in restaurants
how you measure at friends house
does anyone have portion control helpers or pack measuring cups/spoons?

Thanks :)

Replies

  • amunet07
    amunet07 Posts: 1,245 Member
    ^bump^ really could use this info PLEASE :)
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    I measure most things at home; my scale sits right beside my chopping board and my measuring cups and spoons are out on the counter top too. I have a LOT of counter space so I can shove them to the back and the counter doesn't look crowded, but they're still visible.

    I don't carry measuring spoons etc with me to a friend's house or the restaurant. I just guess at the right serving size and try to underestimate. I must have a pretty decent eye - the other day I got some chili and wanted it to be about 8 oz and it ended up being right smack dab on 8 oz!!

    When I first got serious about my weight loss journey I bought a lot of single serving foods just to get to know what a single serving looks like, and when I look at food labels I make sure to pay attention to serving size as well as calories, etc.
  • amunet07
    amunet07 Posts: 1,245 Member
    I measure most things at home; my scale sits right beside my chopping board and my measuring cups and spoons are out on the counter top too. I have a LOT of counter space so I can shove them to the back and the counter doesn't look crowded, but they're still visible.

    I don't carry measuring spoons etc with me to a friend's house or the restaurant. I just guess at the right serving size and try to underestimate. I must have a pretty decent eye - the other day I got some chili and wanted it to be about 8 oz and it ended up being right smack dab on 8 oz!!

    When I first got serious about my weight loss journey I bought a lot of single serving foods just to get to know what a single serving looks like, and when I look at food labels I make sure to pay attention to serving size as well as calories, etc.

    Thank you! :)
  • Jennaissance
    Jennaissance Posts: 212
    A kitchen scale is a must. As you get used to seeing the size of things on it at home, you'll do better about logging at restaurants and stuff other people made, but avoid that stuff in the beginning.

    I also bring things when I go to a restaurant sometimes (yes totally goofy but I'll bring my own dressing and ask for my salad with none). It's totally fine to ask for vegetables steamed or to ask if they cooked it in butter or oil, too.

    In the end, if you go out or to a friends house I say forget it about it if you've been under your calories all the time because you are just making up for it.

    At the store, I saw a product called a dieter's scale that you could actually fit in your purse. I don't have one, so I won't vouch for it.

    And with snacks, always count out the serving and put it in a bowl... don't eat from the bag.
  • amunet07
    amunet07 Posts: 1,245 Member
    Good ideas...thanks!
  • BamsieEkhaya
    BamsieEkhaya Posts: 657 Member
    out and about i try to estimate, i prefer to overestimate rather than underestimate, plus normally with other people who know i'm dieting etc so we all just kind of judge, at home started with a scale weighing literally everything, then wanted to make it easier so i use tbsp/tsp different cups/mugs (specific ones) so i now know how much they weigh...ie for alpen muesli i use the grey cup and i know how much that can hold...cos its been weighed previously !
  • ksemien
    ksemien Posts: 133 Member
    It will get easier, but definitely have a kitchen scale. Mine sits right by my stove and microwave. Also when I buy tupperware I make sure it has the measurements on th bottom so it's easier to store/freeze and grab and go. Lots of measuring cups, also. It becomes second nature and you really will get good at it and will be able to eyeball the things that you use most often. Good Luck!
  • hopsywopsy
    hopsywopsy Posts: 47
    I have my scales out permanently at home, which is great as it does both weights and fluid measurements. I used them all the time at first, but now guesstimate quite a lot (by cup size), and as long as the weight is coming off I am happy it is working.
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
    I keep a kitchen scale on the counter or in the cabinet where I prep food.

    Take a weekend afternoon and cook individual sized servings of rice, spaghetti, penne pasta, a hamburger and a chicken pattie. (or two days) measure sauce and put it on your pasta. put all of these on a plate so you can see approx. what a serving size looks like when you go to a restaurant.

    A good rule of thumb is to eat half the carbs on your plate, or half your baked potato with both sour cream and butter on the side.

    **weight potatoes at the store so you can see what a 1 sized serving of a baked potato looks like. Some places give you good portions, on potatoes, some don't. Mashed potatoes are VERY iffy.. so. I try and stray from them at restaurants. I like mine anyway, as I make them with red potatoes.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    ...
    At the store, I saw a product called a dieter's scale that you could actually fit in your purse. I don't have one, so I won't vouch for it.
    ...

    I saw one like that too. It was only $7 and just a standard scale. The only difference was you can't measure anything more than 3 pounds, and you would have to work with whole ounces only, no grams and eyeballing partial ounces.
  • abigailmariecs
    abigailmariecs Posts: 192 Member
    I have a lot of tupperware.....

    That being said the first thing I do after grocery shopping is washing, cutting and measuring my fruits and veggies. I also do this with snack type things and use baggies or tupperware. This helps a great deal with portion control for me since I have to take out a new container to have more, I really stop to think about it before I just keep going. I am also a fan of pre-cooking meals. When I go to freeze for later I write date, what it is, reheat temp and serving size on the container (Masking Tape is great!).

    When going out to eat you can ask what their serving sizes are. When you order pasta please note they are giving you a cooked weight so 8 oz cooked pasta = 1 cup = 2 oz dry pasta. The standard serving size for pasta is 2 oz but quite a few restaurants will serve larger portions so be aware. Most restaurants (I am not talking about buffet, or panda express or the really high dollar restaurants) have everything pre measured by prep cooks who get it ready for your line cook so they should have measurements on everything except some garnish sauces, salad dressings and the amount of oil the line cook puts on the grill.

    As for friends, either take the day off or instead invite them over to your house until you get a feel for what the serving size of things should look like, this way you can control the portions for yourself and introduce them to your new healthy eating which might, or might not change what they are serving when they invite you over.
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