How do you measure food? or should you?

alondrasilva10
alondrasilva10 Posts: 63
in Health and Weight Loss
Kinda new to this so forgive me if this is a stupid question.

Do you have to measure your food by weighing it or actually measure in measuring cups and such?

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    The most accurate way to determine your serving sizes is to use a food scale for solids and measuring cups for liquids.

    If you're getting the results you want with measuring cups for your solids or eyeballing portions sizes then great! But for those who have a hard time losing weight a food scale is often the best place to start.

    More info:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1290491-how-and-why-to-use-a-digital-food-scale
  • Janette3x4
    Janette3x4 Posts: 135
    I bought a scale 3 days ago. Prior to that, I was using measuring cups and spoons. The only thing I have found that I was overestimating was the fruit. I even tried the one tablespoon of peanut butter test and it weighed the exact grams that it should as the jar states! I never packed down my table spoons or cups though, and use dry measuring cups for dry foods and a glass pyrex measuring cup for liquids.. I always let a teensy bit of room at the top. But, yes, measure or weight your food. A handful is not a good measurement. Good luck on your journey!
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    weighing is the most accurate and super easy once you get the hang of it
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I weigh all solids and measure liquids unless I am out at someone else's house (and even then sometimes if it's family) or at a resturant.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    I weigh all solids and measure liquids unless I am out at someone else's house (and even then sometimes if it's family) or at a resturant.

    Yup, I'm in this boat as well. If you aren't weighing, you're just guessing.

    Rigger
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    I prefer to weigh on a digital food scale since I can "Tare" the plate or sauce pan with or without food already in it, and it shows me the weight of the new food being measured. Cut out the middle man, that is the measuring cups. Liquids should still be measured in cups or spoons but I don't use these much
  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    Weigh the solids and measure the liquids.
  • alondrasilva10
    alondrasilva10 Posts: 63
    Thank you all! I bought measuring cups during lunch but will not look into the best food scale.
  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    Weight. I weigh a lot of the same food at once though. So my package of blueberries is divided into 200 calorie portions. That way later I don't have to bring out the scale. I waste a lot of baggies or end up washing a lot of plastic wear
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I use measuring cups and spoons for things that are easy to fit into them (cottage cheese, nuts, etc.) and use a scale for things that don't neatly fit (meat, etc.)
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    scale > all
  • ravenmiss
    ravenmiss Posts: 384 Member
    Thin liquids I will measure, absolutely everything else gets weighed otherwise I'd be some kind of expert at packing things into cups tightly and sabotaging my own weightloss efforts ;)
  • lasombrs
    lasombrs Posts: 30
    depends on the type of food. Meats i weight on a scale. (my postage scale i use for shipping its super accurate. i zero it out with a plate on it and then put meats veggies whatever on it to weight. it does lbs/oz and kg/grams) For condiments etc i use my measuring cups and spoons. I really do measure and weight out every single item. Its surprising to learn what a portion size really is.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Measuring cups for liquids, and a food scale for solids.

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