Type of food scale?

Here are a couple of links to the food scale that I have been using to great effect; it is a tremendous tool. It is a bit spendy, but as a tool it is well worth the cost.

http://food-scales-review.toptenreviews.com/eatsmart-digital-review.html
http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Digital-Nutrition-Scale-Professional/dp/B0013IDHTO

It doesn't matter what brand you get really, so long as it is digital and has a gram weight measure and has a decent capacity (e.g., 6-11 pounds).

Try to weigh in grams whenever you can. Most food packages give serving size in gram weight.

I bought a cheap one at Bed Bath and Beyond. When it died, I bought another cheap one at Target.

I would also recommend a scale with a "Tare" function so you can zero out before adding new foods to your plate. On the practical end, if you're going to be placing a plate on the scale, make sure the base is long enough that you can still read the display (you'd be surprised...).

I got a cheap Taylor scale at Target and really like it.

I have the EatSmart one, got it from amazon for less than $20. It has the "Tare" option to zero the weight after yo place a plate or a plastic bowl on it. It also measures in lbs, oz, grams and kgs, up to 11lbs.