Serving size/ Measuring

lee112780
lee112780 Posts: 419 Member
edited September 21 in Food and Nutrition
I just started measuring my foods again, and WOW!! Few things I noticed:

salad dressing ( I was eating almost double what I actually tracked!)
Cereal ( way off!)
Pretty much any condiments, mayo, BBQ sauce, sugar, ect.

Maybe I should get a scale or some more measuring cups or something.

Replies

  • NineInchGirl
    NineInchGirl Posts: 169
    I always waigh and measure everything i eat. Some ppl thinks its completely crazy but i think it's great! I know that if i don't do it, my cereal portion size will get bigger..and bigger and BIGGER!! If it helps ya! DO IT!!
  • Adusenka
    Adusenka Posts: 108 Member
    Ye, it's known fact that when you start weighing your food and youre pretty sure you know how much is it so you stop measuring your food.. you will end up with twice as big sizes then you should :) . so if youre weighing your food, do it aaaaaaaall the time :)
  • bubbab666
    bubbab666 Posts: 54
    I weigh my food for about 1/2 of the year, every year. You have to do "check-ups" on yourself so to speak.
  • karenjoy
    karenjoy Posts: 1,840 Member
    I use a set of measuring spoons for my salad dressing, mayo etc and I have a bowl the I know takes exactly a serving size of dried pasts, I also am much more aware of how big a serving is and have a few tupperware pots that I know are just the right size for a serving of some other often used foods. I weigh new things and every now and again I check the ones I use regularly.
  • johnthefatman
    johnthefatman Posts: 205
    I was the same - way off on many items. I weigh and measure fairly regularly now and try to memorise the look of the correct portion. I think I will start taking snaps of my regular meals to keep for reference. And yes I have bought 2 sets of scales and measuring spoons but I'm getting obsessive :smile:
  • jeanineadele
    jeanineadele Posts: 114
    I've been wondering about my portions also. I have really adjusted my portions since I started measuring. I have glasses with a pattern on them. I measured and noted where half a cup and a cup were on the pattern so whenever I have milk or juice I don't have to get our a measuring cup.

    Peanut butter is another hard one. It i so high in calories being a little off can really give you a hit on your calories.
  • LauraAkaTigger
    LauraAkaTigger Posts: 145 Member
    My husband thinks I'm crazy when I get the scales out!! But it's the only way to keep track. I think i end up over counting some fruit and veg when I'm not at home so I'm not cheating myself!!
    But it's the only way, although it would be handier to use tbs instead of cups or oz as it's easier to calculate.
    I have no real idea how much a cup of carrots is!!!
  • Helent26
    Helent26 Posts: 35 Member
    I agree with the cup sizes also - i try to use the grammes as i've recently bought digital scales to measure food and i calculate it in grammes - i love my digital scales as it's so accurate. When i've got the money i'm going to buy digital bathroom scales too as i want my weight to be accurate also :drinker: :flowerforyou: Helen x
  • kaskanataliaanna
    kaskanataliaanna Posts: 23 Member
    My husband thinks I'm crazy when I get the scales out!! But it's the only way to keep track. I think i end up over counting some fruit and veg when I'm not at home so I'm not cheating myself!!
    But it's the only way, although it would be handier to use tbs instead of cups or oz as it's easier to calculate.
    I have no real idea how much a cup of carrots is!!!

    I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT "CUP" IS! I use grams or ounces - prefer grams tho :)
  • LauraAkaTigger
    LauraAkaTigger Posts: 145 Member
    [/quote]

    I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT "CUP" IS! I use grams or ounces - prefer grams tho :)
    [/quote]

    Lol!!! since when do we eat carrots out of cups instead of on a plate?!!
  • kaskanataliaanna
    kaskanataliaanna Posts: 23 Member

    I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT "CUP" IS! I use grams or ounces - prefer grams tho :)
    [/quote]

    Lol!!! since when do we eat carrots out of cups instead of on a plate?!!
    [/quote]

    True :D
  • jessdawn1982
    jessdawn1982 Posts: 31 Member
    I just started measuring my foods again, and WOW!! Few things I noticed:

    salad dressing ( I was eating almost double what I actually tracked!)
    Cereal ( way off!)
    Pretty much any condiments, mayo, BBQ sauce, sugar, ect.

    Maybe I should get a scale or some more measuring cups or something.

    I have plenty of measuring cups/spoons and last year I bought a digital scale. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! I tended to eyeball size on the small side and now I get to eat more so it is awesome.
  • jessdawn1982
    jessdawn1982 Posts: 31 Member
    Also I used to do Weight Watchers and if you go on their website you can order serving spoons that are in 1/2 cup and 1 cup sizes.
  • LauraAkaTigger
    LauraAkaTigger Posts: 145 Member
    Also I used to do Weight Watchers and if you go on their website you can order serving spoons that are in 1/2 cup and 1 cup sizes.

    I must check out the weightwatchers spoons!! might help!!

    prob not a good idea to take them to work though.. could get funny looks!!!
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I also use measuring spoons for oils, salad dressings, half n half for coffee, etc..

    I do not weigh fruit or veggies :)- The more the better.

    After measuring, weighing, etc. for 5+ years it gets easier and easier to eyeball portion sizes.

    The biggest thing is, put your portion on your plate and put everything else away!! When you know what you have in front of you, and know there's nothing on the the table to grab when you're done, you will eat slower and enjoy it more. :) My husband grew up eating "family style" (big Italian family) and they were overweight, in my house my mom put our plates in front of us and that was it. I really think this had a big influence on why my family were all thin/average weight growing up.
  • jessmomof3
    jessmomof3 Posts: 4,590 Member
    I weigh every thing!!! You'd be amazed at how much more you can fit into a measuring cup, those calories add up!! Also, for meats it's soooo nice to know how much 3-4 oz of chicken breast is, 1 oz of nuts, etc. There's NO cheating when you measure!
  • jha1223
    jha1223 Posts: 141 Member
    I too weigh everything. I found out just how little of the good things I would put on my plate and how much of the bad things I would naturally get too much. That has made a huge difference for me. I even count the M&M's that i have. Yes, I still indulge in candy every now and again. But, I have 12. Really. Just 12 of them. Enough to cure my sweet tooth but not enough to blow my diet.

    Since my wife and I are both eating correctly right now, we bought a second set of measuring cups and a second set of measuring spoons. And as jess said, it really makes it harder to cheat when you are looking at the measurement!
  • MzBug
    MzBug Posts: 2,173 Member
    I weigh the proteins, measure the liquids (condiments and dressing), don't measure the vegies and fruit, but I DO keep a measuring cup in my cereal box and in my oatmeal tin.
  • lee112780
    lee112780 Posts: 419 Member
    yeah, Im definatly going to buy more measuring tools. I used to measure a long time ago on weight watchers, then I stopped because I figured I knew what the portions looked like. But, slowly crept back up again! No wonder I havent lost weight, all those little things add up!
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