So I bought a food scale....
sadiebrawl
Posts: 863 Member
Because of all you FINE people :O)
I've been using it this week, and learning I was definitely underestimating meat, but a lot of other things seem so odd to me. I weighed my avocado today and it was 1 ounce and 45 calories. I was counting it as 165 or so. There were quite a few foods that I was counting WAY higher. Next up liquids.
But wondering if you know of any threads like "food scales for dummies" or something. I've always shied away from using one based on fear. Not using it correctly, or getting overwhelmed or stressed from adding it to my routine.
Thanks for any help or feedback!
I've been using it this week, and learning I was definitely underestimating meat, but a lot of other things seem so odd to me. I weighed my avocado today and it was 1 ounce and 45 calories. I was counting it as 165 or so. There were quite a few foods that I was counting WAY higher. Next up liquids.
But wondering if you know of any threads like "food scales for dummies" or something. I've always shied away from using one based on fear. Not using it correctly, or getting overwhelmed or stressed from adding it to my routine.
Thanks for any help or feedback!
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Replies
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Some of these are more about choosing entries than using a scale, but hopefully you find some ideas here.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1290491/how-and-why-to-use-a-digital-food-scale
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide0 -
Thanks much, will check them out. No idea why scales give me such anxiety.0
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You learn a lot from using a scale. Something's are more calories than you thought, some are less.
Pay attention your portions as you go. Get good at putting an amount on a plate and knowing that it's the right amount.
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May I ask what food scale you bought? I am interested in buying one, preferably one that is not too expensive! Don't know much about them.0
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Thrilled to see this as I plan to purchase one tomorrow... I'm concerned about the ease of use too and a good reliable/useful brand. Thanx for any and all info!0
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Great! Also for a little more accuracy weigh/measure in grams. Good luck!0
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Wait until you weigh stuff like cereal and peanut butter etc It is quite the depressing experience
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I've tried several scales and like the OXO the best. When you first turn it on, it does a quick 3, 2, 1 countdown, but after that it tares quickly. It had a pull-out display so you can see the display with a plate on the scale. It's small. It's not cheap, though.
The other good one is the postal scale, but you can't see the display with a plate on it and it's best to keep it covered with plastic wrap since it wasn't designed as a food scale, lol.
The others I tried weren't entirely accurate or took too long to tare or whatever.0 -
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Salter is inexpensive and mine works well.0
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strong_curves wrote: »Great! Also for a little more accuracy weigh/measure in grams. Good luck!
I was going to say the same. The only thing I measure in oz is meat, and even then sometimes I'll use grams.0 -
Awesome job, it's the best tool for weight loss.0
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arditarose wrote: »strong_curves wrote: »Great! Also for a little more accuracy weigh/measure in grams. Good luck!
I was going to say the same. The only thing I measure in oz is meat, and even then sometimes I'll use grams.
+2 for weighing in grams.christinev297 wrote: »Wait until you weigh stuff like cereal and peanut butter etc It is quite the depressing experience
Yep. I just weigh out 2 servings of cereal know and skip the heartache.0 -
I'm allowed 75g of carbs if I swap out a slice of bread - that's about 3 tablespoons, it doesn't look like a lot but you get used to it.0
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Congrats! Oh my, I weighed out grapes today. The cup measurement said that a cup was 50 or so calories. Nope! Thank goodness for scales!0
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Not to high jack but...let's say I weigh something in grams....grams is not always an option for when I'm tracking. I'm eating 12 grams of green beans...but green beans are only listed in cups...how do I make this track able. Most items I scan the bar code fyi0
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Glampinupdoll wrote: »Not to high jack but...let's say I weigh something in grams....grams is not always an option for when I'm tracking. I'm eating 12 grams of green beans...but green beans are only listed in cups...how do I make this track able. Most items I scan the bar code fyi
Go find the USDA food listing, find out what the nutritional values for green beans are per 100g/oz/etc and make your own food entry. It's what I do when I can only find cups and spoons measurements.
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rachelbouc wrote: »Congrats! Oh my, I weighed out grapes today. The cup measurement said that a cup was 50 or so calories. Nope! Thank goodness for scales!
rice was one of my OMG moments, 1/4 cup dry weighed 60grams and the serving size was 45grams dry so I was overeating by 40 extra calories on just that one thing. thankful for my scale to keep me right.0 -
And when you really cant find it...go to the USDA site..look it up and make your own entree here in the database...at least then you also are 100% sure you have the right entree 0
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Thank you all for the info! If i actually use tablespoons for my PB is that not 32 grams like the jar says? I didn't think I would need to weigh it...0
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Cheese was a huge eye opener for me! I was probably eating 3x the serving size. I can now usually do exactly one serving slices now (still weigh to be sure though- feels good to be right)0
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sadiebrawl wrote: »Thank you all for the info! If i actually use tablespoons for my PB is that not 32 grams like the jar says? I didn't think I would need to weigh it...
Well, I know in my case, my stomach is bigger than my eyes so it would be one big heapin' tablespoon! I think it's safer to weigh the more calorie dense food just in case.
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christinev297 wrote: »Wait until you weigh stuff like cereal and peanut butter etc It is quite the depressing experience
Truth. And 1 oz. of mixed nuts is pitiful.0 -
sadiebrawl wrote: »Thank you all for the info! If i actually use tablespoons for my PB is that not 32 grams like the jar says? I didn't think I would need to weigh it...
If you're using measuring spoons, there's a lot of room for error, especially for something as calorie dense as PB. Which I love. LOL0 -
sadiebrawl wrote: »Thank you all for the info! If i actually use tablespoons for my PB is that not 32 grams like the jar says? I didn't think I would need to weigh it...
When i take a tablespoon of peanut butter and weigh it to check i have always more...a lot more rofl almost half sometimes.
So i do those kinda things different. I take a knife, put the jar on the scale and take out my ingredient like butter or peanut butter or jam. The scale gives a negative number so -32 is my real table spoon of PB.
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Are calories always measured by weight though? Your avocado example makes me wonder...I haven't tried a food scale yet, but I am curious.0
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I've tried several scales and like the OXO the best. When you first turn it on, it does a quick 3, 2, 1 countdown, but after that it tares quickly. It had a pull-out display so you can see the display with a plate on the scale. It's small. It's not cheap, though.
The other good one is the postal scale, but you can't see the display with a plate on it and it's best to keep it covered with plastic wrap since it wasn't designed as a food scale, lol.
The others I tried weren't entirely accurate or took too long to tare or whatever.
I put the OXO on my Christmas wish list last year after seeing that it was America's Test Kitchen's top pick for a digital food scale.
Digital Scales
Good habits, such as weighing baking ingredients, can make you a better cook. We've found a good kitchen scale to be an essential kitchen item.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - WINNER
OXO Food Scale
Exceptionally intuitive. The super-clear display offers an optional backlight, four easy-to-read buttons, and, unique to OXO, can be pulled out from the large, removable (i.e. washable) platform when weighing bulky items.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WJMTNA/?tag=atkequippilot-20
This one has an 11 pound capacity; OXO makes one with a 5 # capacity that is cheaper.0 -
TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »sadiebrawl wrote: »Thank you all for the info! If i actually use tablespoons for my PB is that not 32 grams like the jar says? I didn't think I would need to weigh it...
When i take a tablespoon of peanut butter and weigh it to check i have always more...a lot more rofl almost half sometimes.
So i do those kinda things different. I take a knife, put the jar on the scale and take out my ingredient like butter or peanut butter or jam. The scale gives a negative number so -32 is my real table spoon of PB.
I've been doing that with a small jar of cookie butter. And a spoon. And my mouth.
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OMG i love cookie butter. I have to have my DH hide it and just let it out when I want a little. Pathetic I know....0
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use grams whenever possible. it will be more accurate.
ironically, im really good at eyeballing a tbsp of peanut butter. mmmm peanut butter LOLOLOLOL (but i weigh it anyways just for more complete accuracy)0
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