Need help! Arguing with husband on pasta

jenbar
jenbar Posts: 1,038 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
Can you tell me how you add your pasta? If I have a little over a cup of cooked pasta with sauce, I'll enter 4 servings of 2oz. pasta. But he said, that that is the dry calculation and it's impossible, that if I cooked a pound of pasta, and it's 16oz, that I at half of it. Which is right, b/c I didn't... he had a big bowl, and my 2 sons had 2 helpings each, and I had my 8oz. He said you can't go by that b/c the pasta is cooked now and full of water (because I took left over and weighed it to show him)
HELP!!!!
I almost choked when I saw I ate almost 1000 calories in pasta for dinner!

Replies

  • summersmi
    summersmi Posts: 50 Member
    Your husband may be right here. If you check on the label most pasta's give both the cooked and uncooked serving sizes. If not it is most likely the uncooked portion you are reading.
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    2oz dry
    1 cup cooked.

    DH wins!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    2oz dry
    1 cup cooked.

    DH wins!

    Oh and pasta is my favorite. I was surprised when I cooked 2 oz of zita and it measured exactly 1 cup. I thought no way that would be enough........but if was!
  • mbrody1947
    mbrody1947 Posts: 14 Member
    One cup of cooked pasta is between 200 and 240 calories. The calories and number of servings is usually on the box but you would be safe I think to book 210 calories for a scant cup of pasta. By scant I mean not cramming the pasta into the cup (LOL). There is a serving guide for different pasta's like spaghetti whcih might help too.
  • guidosgal
    guidosgal Posts: 581 Member
    As much as it pain me to say it for once a husband is right :bigsmile: (hee hee)
  • mictur
    mictur Posts: 175 Member
    When you log in your pasta find it calories for cooked pasta not the dry. Many of the database has dry amounts not cooked. I was having this problem for spaghetti and found that cooked was less than the dry. Same with couscous. I can eat a cup of spaghetti 8 oz. and still be within my range.:flowerforyou:
    Whole wheat spaghetti 174
  • BarbRigg
    BarbRigg Posts: 12 Member
    Do you measure it on a scale or by a measuring cup?
  • panther87
    panther87 Posts: 78 Member
    They are all right, 2 oz dry will yield 1 cup cooked. sorry sweetie the hubby is right this time.
  • jessw86
    jessw86 Posts: 29
    Maybe one day weigh out your 2 or 8 oz dry pasta then cook only that pasta in a small sauce pan and then measure it again by weighing it or putting it into a measuring cup. That way you can compare how much dry correlates to how much cooked and then you can use that as a reference from then on. But I agree with him, the noodles will absorb the water and also swell so I don't think you can go by the same nutritional info for dry and cooked. Good luck!
  • ccgisme
    ccgisme Posts: 239 Member
    Your hubby is right. Tell him to write it on the calendar, because it's his one time for the year... :wink: At least that's how it works in my house!

    If you have a kitchen scale, you can always weigh the entire portion of cooked pasta, divide that by the number of servings and then you'll have sense of the actual weight of the pasta per serving. Our kitchen scale has a permanent place on our kitchen island now!
  • PureAndHealthy
    PureAndHealthy Posts: 539
    So the bad news is your husband is right.... the GOOD news is that you DIDN'T have 1000 calories in one measly little cup of sauce and pasta! :flowerforyou:
  • lt_mrcook
    lt_mrcook Posts: 389 Member
    Chaulk one up for the Hubby. Pasta is dry measured.
  • Sheri226
    Sheri226 Posts: 22
    Pasta was always my weak point. I used to sit down with a big bowl of spaghetti with just butter on until I realized how many calories I was eating. It is true, 2 oz. dry is a serving. I weigh mine out so that I don't cook extra - I know left overs would be too tempting. I also tried making spaghetti squash and doctoring it up. Was surprised that was only around 42 calories per serving vs. the 210 for real spaghetti and more surprised when I was actually full after I ate it. When I served our dinner I looked at my husband and said I was going to need to find something else to eat afterwards. But by the time I was done eating I discovered I was wrong and he told me I could cook it again any time.
  • aml0484
    aml0484 Posts: 425
    The pasta I had tonight said 2 oz dry for 215 calories. I would read the nutrition facts and see if it says cooked or dry. It may list both.
  • penny38_1999
    penny38_1999 Posts: 25 Member
    2 oz of pasta equals one cup of cooked pasta
  • mama22girlz
    mama22girlz Posts: 291
    One cup of cooked pasta is between 200 and 240 calories. The calories and number of servings is usually on the box but you would be safe I think to book 210 calories for a scant cup of pasta. By scant I mean not cramming the pasta into the cup (LOL). There is a serving guide for different pasta's like spaghetti whcih might help too.

    well you hubby maybe right but that doesn't mean you ate 1000 cal of pasta. Like the previous poster said If you had about a cup then its about 200-240 calories Plus sauce of course
  • jenbar
    jenbar Posts: 1,038 Member
    thank you all!
    I knew he was right :grumble: , but I just needed to check for myself! :laugh:
    Well, then I only ate 210 ..... whew!:drinker:
  • kicklikeaGIRL
    kicklikeaGIRL Posts: 867 Member
    2oz dry
    1 cup cooked.

    DH wins!

    Oh and pasta is my favorite. I was surprised when I cooked 2 oz of zita and it measured exactly 1 cup. I thought no way that would be enough........but if was!

    arewethereyet--- Does all pasta measure to 1 cup? Penne, thin spaghetti, linguine, zita?? I've been lucky so far because I usually only make 2 servings (one for me and one for DH) so I just cut the amount in half. I've never actually measured. I guess I had assumed that since pasta comes in different sizes that it would measure differently?
  • kicklikeaGIRL
    kicklikeaGIRL Posts: 867 Member
    Not to change the subject, but since we've got a bunch of pasta lovers in here... what brands of pasta do ya'll use???
    I love myself the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat (thin spaghetti, linguine, penne, zita, you name it) its only 180 calories for 2 oz dry....oh my favorite!

    Edited to say: Sorry, I don't wanna be a hijacker on the thread- I just wanted to ask pasta people :)
  • sparklebritches
    sparklebritches Posts: 46
    Not to change the subject, but since we've got a bunch of pasta lovers in here... what brands of pasta do ya'll use???
    I love myself the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat (thin spaghetti, linguine, penne, zita, you name it) its only 180 calories for 2 oz dry....oh my favorite!

    Edited to say: Sorry, I don't wanna be a hijacker on the thread- I just wanted to ask pasta people :)

    We use the WW pastas, including the one you named, for most things but red sauces or occasional homemade mac and cheese. I just don't care for it anymore after sneaking in some of the Smart Taste fiber pasta. I use WW for oil based sauce/veggie dishes.
  • megamom
    megamom Posts: 920 Member
    Not to change the subject, but since we've got a bunch of pasta lovers in here... what brands of pasta do ya'll use???
    I love myself the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat (thin spaghetti, linguine, penne, zita, you name it) its only 180 calories for 2 oz dry....oh my favorite!

    Edited to say: Sorry, I don't wanna be a hijacker on the thread- I just wanted to ask pasta people :)

    That is what we use also, love it.
  • TropicalKitty
    TropicalKitty Posts: 2,298 Member
    There seems to be a lot going on here with what people consider servings.

    Here is a link to WebMD's info about serving sizes (1/2c cooked pasta = 1 serving)
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/control-portion-size

    Or a version from the USDA
    http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2000/2000DGBrochureHowMuch.pdf

    And here is the nutrition info for the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest (also my personal fav)
    http://ronzonihealthyharvest.newworldpasta.com/pasta_nutrition.cfm



    So, in summary, 2oz of DRY pasta = 2 serving COOKED pasta. If you cooked only 2oz of pasta you should get the 1cup cooked pasta like others have said, which is 180cals (if the Ronzoni). However, it's considered 2 servings of pasta.
  • PureAndHealthy
    PureAndHealthy Posts: 539
    There seems to be a lot going on here with what people consider servings.

    Here is a link to WebMD's info about serving sizes (1/2c cooked pasta = 1 serving)
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/control-portion-size

    Or a version from the USDA
    http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2000/2000DGBrochureHowMuch.pdf

    And here is the nutrition info for the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest (also my personal fav)
    http://ronzonihealthyharvest.newworldpasta.com/pasta_nutrition.cfm



    So, in summary, 2oz of DRY pasta = 2 serving COOKED pasta. If you cooked only 2oz of pasta you should get the 1cup cooked pasta like others have said, which is 180cals (if the Ronzoni). However, it's considered 2 servings of pasta.

    As far as counting as a serving of grains, yes. 1 cup is 2 servings of grains/starches, if you're trying to stick to the food pyramid. But a cup of pasta when eaten as an entree is a normal serving size.
  • porkchopz
    porkchopz Posts: 77 Member
    I made spaghetti last night. I put my plate on my kitchen scale, and put cooked pasta on the plate. It measured as 2 oz. So this should be about 210 calories, right?
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    2oz dry
    1 cup cooked.

    DH wins!

    Oh and pasta is my favorite. I was surprised when I cooked 2 oz of zita and it measured exactly 1 cup. I thought no way that would be enough........but if was!

    arewethereyet--- Does all pasta measure to 1 cup? Penne, thin spaghetti, linguine, zita?? I've been lucky so far because I usually only make 2 servings (one for me and one for DH) so I just cut the amount in half. I've never actually measured. I guess I had assumed that since pasta comes in different sizes that it would measure differently?

    I have tested Penne, spaghetti, angel hair, rigatoni.......did 2 oz DRY then measured after and it is all 1 cup cooked. The rigatoni was big so I had to smush it down :laugh: but it WAS 1 cup!

    See I love to run experiments!!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    I made spaghetti last night. I put my plate on my kitchen scale, and put cooked pasta on the plate. It measured as 2 oz. So this should be about 210 calories, right?

    It is 2 oz dry. So if you want to be sure, put your plate on then add 2 oz raw/dry spaghetti.
    once it is cooked, it will measure 1 cup cooked.

    After it cooks the dry spag has water in it so it is heavier.....I do not remember but 1 cup was like 6 oz or so.

    I lost 36 pounds eating pasta 3x week........I love that stuff!!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    Not to change the subject, but since we've got a bunch of pasta lovers in here... what brands of pasta do ya'll use???
    I love myself the Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat (thin spaghetti, linguine, penne, zita, you name it) its only 180 calories for 2 oz dry....oh my favorite!

    Edited to say: Sorry, I don't wanna be a hijacker on the thread- I just wanted to ask pasta people :)

    LOL....you iz not hijacker :laugh:

    I love the Ronzoni Smart pastas. I can only eat the angel hair whole wheat brands or fresh from Whole Foods.......

    My next adventure will be to MAKE my own pasta............drools..........
  • TammyGearl
    TammyGearl Posts: 8 Member
    Dry pasta is 2 ounces. Cooked pasta will turn into 1 cup
  • pcotter54
    pcotter54 Posts: 707 Member
    Rossi Pasta, from Marietta, Ohio
This discussion has been closed.

Categories