How much does your meat weigh?!

My nutritionist says weigh before cooking. I weight all of my meats while raw. I can put a plate on my scale and push a button and it goes to zero again. then I put the meat on the plate. Its called the "tare" button.

I do the same thing. It helps keep the scale, and your food cleaner from bacteria as the scale would be hard to wash.

Heh. *trying to keep a straight face*

Ok. Now that the urge to troll has passed i can answer.

I had this feeling too.. heheh

If you buy prepacked foods (say a box of seasoned chicken from Wally World), go by the info on the label. If you are unsure whether a piece of chicken is the serving size, just weigh it out. My issue is the seasonings, I'm crazy sensitive to sodium, my fingers and toes swell up before bed and in the morning if I have too much salt. Many people aren't bothered by sodium, and if you're one who isn't, have at 'er!

I always weigh my meats cooked, but I usually have 3oz per serving (fresh chicken, I give myself an extra ounce, well, because it's chicken!!)

I was always told to weigh it after you cook it....now I don't know.

I wondered this also, because the meat shrivels up after its prepared.

ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME TROLL THIS POST?

Yes, it's very different. Yes, measuring is the second most important thing in weight loss after logging.

Meat is easy to be accurate on, because when you buy it it is labeled on the package. Then you can just divide up your portions for an accurate weight.

Google portion size guide and click on images (http://www.google.com/search?q=portion+size+guide&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=S6n6UPHpH-O_0AGOqIGADg&ved=0CEMQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=713)

You'll get visual pictures of portion sizes for when you can't weigh. You can stick it in your pocket.

Thanks Susan..No, I was just talking about some frozen chicken breast from anywhere, and really any type of food that's typically measured..is grams the standard for measuring?

Yes all macro and micro nutrients are per gram for solid foods, nutrition and dietetics are scientific disciplines. Cups are a convenience tool, they aren't used in many countries and they aren't used in pharmacies or laboratories AFAIK.

I've weighed both before, and after. I believe 4 oz of raw chicken came out to about 3 oz of cooked chicken. If you check the MFP database, I think 4 oz of grilled chicken comes out at a higher calorie count than what you get with the raw numbers.

I was always told to weigh it after you cook it....now I don't know.

I wondered this also, because the meat shrivels up after its prepared.

When using the database there are options for raw and cooked, so just make sure you are using the one for method you are using.

Also sometimes I will weigh something and picked the wrong one on how it is listed in the database. 1 oz equals 28 grams (actually 28.349) so you can convert it to meet the database listing.

Also, very good info in the comments. I didn't know you should measure before cooking. I would think after also since it could vary in size after cooking. Does anyone know WHY you should weigh before as opposed to after?

The reason I weigh raw is because "cooked" can mean different things to different people. You know, shoe leather or bloody as hell. The water content of your cooking may be different than the one listed...raw is raw.
The USDA db has raw values so I think that is more consistant in water/calorie content.