why is weight in grams?

ferky1
ferky1 Posts: 11 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I would like to add a recipe to MFP. However, everything is in grams or kilorgrams and for those in the United States it would be easier to add ingredients that we use like pound, tbsp, cups. Am I able to adjust the measurements in MFP
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Replies

  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    Many food items on the website are listed in those alternative ways (other than grams).

    However, grams is actually waaaaaay more accurate than cups, tbsp, etc. Why not invest in a food scale? You'd be surprised how much you are really eating.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Get a food scale and use grams. For uploading a recipe, you can use tsps for spices and such, I have in the past. Serious bakers go by weight, not volume, to offset the impact of sifting/settling/packing/etc.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.
  • DeliriumCanBeFun
    DeliriumCanBeFun Posts: 313 Member
    Metric measurements are great when you get used to them because that system actually makes logical sense. And I think every packaged ingredient I've ever used here in the US is labeled in grams as well as ounces. I don't think there is anywhere on MFP to do the conversions, but some items give different options for how to log it. Just remember that 1 oz=28g. If you don't want to do the math, there are conversion sites online. I generally use that at work when I weigh my apple in ounces on the postage meter after i cut it up. And also remember that cups and tablespoons are not accurate for measuring anything but liquids.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,708 Member
    I would like to add a recipe to MFP. However, everything is in grams or kilorgrams and for those in the United States it would be easier to add ingredients that we use like pound, tbsp, cups. Am I able to adjust the measurements in MFP

    You are absolutely right, it would be easier for you. It also might help to realize that MFP is an international site. There are more than 7 billion people on this planet and ALL except for 320 million ( the population of the US) use grams and kilos.
    When I check MFP I think that everything is in ounces and cups and I have to for ever adjust measurements .
    For me it would be easier ( and more accurate ) if everything were in grams.....:o).
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.

    +1
  • lemur_lady
    lemur_lady Posts: 350 Member
    I have the opposite problem. When anything is expressed in cups my brain goes into meltdown. I just have no idea how anything is measured that way.
  • ThriceBlessed
    ThriceBlessed Posts: 499 Member
    If you are entering a recipe that has cups, you can always measure a cup, put it on a gram scale, and use the grams from then on. Or you can search the calories per cup elsewhere (lots of sites on the web), and add the food to the database using the cup measurement.
  • TravelDog14
    TravelDog14 Posts: 317 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.

    This^^
  • The_Sandra
    The_Sandra Posts: 56 Member
    Metric measurements are great when you get used to them because that system actually makes logical sense. And I think every packaged ingredient I've ever used here in the US is labeled in grams as well as ounces. I don't think there is anywhere on MFP to do the conversions, but some items give different options for how to log it. Just remember that 1 oz=28g. If you don't want to do the math, there are conversion sites online. I generally use that at work when I weigh my apple in ounces on the postage meter after i cut it up. And also remember that cups and tablespoons are not accurate for measuring anything but liquids.

    Postage meter hack FTW!

    I can't believe I've never thought of that. You are my hero today :)
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.
    yup.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    I used to think of measurements mostly by volume (ie:cups, tblsp, etc) and ounces but now I am used to grams and irritated when I the first things in the data base show up in ounces :ohwell:
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.

    This^^

    This again ^^^^^^
  • Kanuenue
    Kanuenue Posts: 253 Member
    Cups are a volume measurement, it's not appropriate for everything. I like grams better because everything can be weighed in grams- dry goods, liquids (1 g is about 1 ml), whole fruit, whatever. Love my food scale.

    Some items in the data base are listed with multiple measurements. I like to use the data from MFP whenever possible because they usually list both oz, grams, and cups as well as generic sizing. Try searching for more specific items like "apples raw" instead of "apple", look for entries without an asterisk(*). An asterisk means another user entered it and the quantity options are chosen by that individual.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Because America is not the super-power it once was and we will soon be overrun by the metric system.
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  • calibriintx
    calibriintx Posts: 1,741 Member
    I would like to add a recipe to MFP. However, everything is in grams or kilograms and for those in the United States it would be easier to add ingredients that we use like pound, tbsp, cups. Am I able to adjust the measurements in MFP

    You're talking about two different things. Grams are a measurement of weight. Tablespoons and cups are a measure of volume. I think 8 oz of shredded cheese is supposed to be about 2 cups but if you gave 5 people a block of cheese and had them shred enough for 2 cups, I highly doubt they would all weigh the same. Some people might pack the cheese in there and some might just barely fill it to 2 cups. We have no idea how densely the cheese in the cup should be packed to achieve 2 cups unless we weigh it and get 8 oz, or 226 grams and change.

    I'm in the US and it drives me nuts when I see dry measured ingredients listed as 1/2 cup, etc. It's not as big a deal (to me) with spices but otherwise, give me the weight, please.
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    The US is only 1 of 2 countries in the world not using the metric system. Grams ... and the whole metric system is just so much smarter, and way more precise.
  • lemur_lady
    lemur_lady Posts: 350 Member
    I have to opposite problem. When anything is expressed in cups my brain goes into meltdown. I just have no idea how anything is measured that way.

    It isnt. It's ridiculous, even to me, an American born and raised. I don't understand cups. A cup of broccoli? Are you kidding? Am I supposed to liquefy it or something?

    I have been born and raised in the UK so when I first encountered the idea of cups I was like 'huh?'. I didnt realise you guys have a set size for what a cup is. I just thought you grab a random cup out the cupboard and fill them with ingredients.

    I did relent and bought myself some measuring cups so I can make some recipes I find online that use cups but I dont like using them. It just feels wrong lol
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.
    yup.
    yepyep
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I would like to add a recipe to MFP. However, everything is in grams or kilorgrams and for those in the United States it would be easier to add ingredients that we use like pound, tbsp, cups. Am I able to adjust the measurements in MFP

    most food packages also have grams listed. Besides that, the US is one of the only countries not using the metric system as a standard unit of measure...so that pretty much puts us on the outside looking in when it comes to international applications like this one.

    just get a food scale...grams are far more accurate than measuring cups and spoons for solids. Most decent food scales will have grams and ounces as options.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it!
  • AbsolutelyAnnie
    AbsolutelyAnnie Posts: 2,695 Member
    My digital food scale will do either grams or ounces.

    When I load food into my MFP diary or recipe builder I have found foods listed in grams and ounces and volume. You just have to scroll through a bit sometimes to find the unit of measurement you feel most comfortable using.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=imperial+to+metric+conversion+chart#
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  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    I am American, and it drives me nuts when things aren't in grams. I like to be as precise as possible when weighing food, sometimes cups, tablespoons, etc. just don't cut it.

    dis.


    also, your scale should have a mode button.
  • subsonicbassist
    subsonicbassist Posts: 117 Member
    I would like to add a recipe to MFP. However, everything is in grams or kilorgrams and for those in the United States it would be easier to add ingredients that we use like pound, tbsp, cups. Am I able to adjust the measurements in MFP
    If we Americans were able to understand how many grams are in a serving size of most foods, I bet obesity would be less of a problem. A cup of milk actually fits in a small drinking glass, a cereal bowl holds over 3 servings of most cereals and milk, even fruits liks apples are occasionally more than 1 serving when they are not even that large... weighing in grams is the most accurate and consistent way to weigh ingredients because of the precision and standard used. Off topic, but don't you hate when you are working on a car/motorcyle and you have metric and SAE sockets in use??? Sorry, that makes me upset lol... must be time to eat!
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    This is the most Murrican post I have seen in a while.

    MURRICA!

    CryingEagle11.jpg
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    American here.

    Grams make the maths so much easier! Count me among those annoyed when items aren't listed in grams.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I'm Amercian. I have a digital scale. I'm keeping the grams. Like someone else mentioned there's too many things where measuring cups/spoons just don't work - like veggies and fruit. Or meat.

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