What to do during dinner at friends/family's house--is it rude to bring my food scale?

Kaitou
Kaitou Posts: 50 Member
edited December 2 in Health and Weight Loss
Like the title says, do you think it would be rude to bring a food scale with me to weigh my food when I go over to a friend or family member's house for dinner?

They're making pot roast, and I'm not sure how useful it would be to weigh the food anyway--I won't know exactly how they've prepared it or what amounts of stuff they added.

What's your routine for eating over at other people's houses? Do you just write it off entirely as "no way to tell", make your best estimate, or bring your food scale with you and ask them questions about proportions and ratio of the ingredients?
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Replies

  • Annahbananas
    Annahbananas Posts: 284 Member
    edited June 2016
    A quarter inch thick slice about four inches long for me is about one ounce ...I can usually slice right down to an exact ounce. I know this because many times I'll buy a pot roast, cook it, and slice it up for lunch...it'll last 5 days. Roasts are usually around 70 calories an ounce. I'd say just grab a couple slices and veggies. I think you'll be ok without the scale :)
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I use the My Plate method in this sort of situation.
  • mrslmdm
    mrslmdm Posts: 5 Member
    edited June 2016
    YES terribly rude, you should be able to tell portion sizes, if you don't know them, look them up, there are plenty of examples on the internet that can get you through once in a while. https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEVijz_11XQB0AbMMnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Portion+Sizes+By+Sight&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002
  • SamGoingHam
    SamGoingHam Posts: 34 Member
    Lmao, I can just picture their reaction while you're weighing their food. Sounds like something I would do. #NOSHAME
    Anywho, I would recommend you just do your best to eyeball it and search for an extreme recipe of what you're eating on MFP. Better to be alittle under than over. IMO.
    Perhaps google size amounts of pot roast to give you a better eyeball accuracy.
  • SugarySweetheart
    SugarySweetheart Posts: 154 Member
    edited June 2016
    The problem with people here is that they assume you should KNOW portion size.... Ahem!... That's the reason why we're here!!! Not controlling the proper portion size we over ate and are now trying to LOSE weight. Buddy, do whatever you need to do to lose the weight. I'd feel comfortable at a family member's/close friend's home. If it's someone I don't know very well, I'd eat a small portion and IF hungry later, I'd eat something else at home. Bon Appetite!!! B)
  • Annahbananas
    Annahbananas Posts: 284 Member
    Preach eeet :)
  • daniip_la
    daniip_la Posts: 678 Member
    I don't get all the people saying it would be rude, when most of us use one ourselves. You know your family/friends better than we do, are they the type of people that would consider it rude?

    I, for one, wouldn't mind in the least if a friend (or even just an acquaintance) needed to weigh their food before eating. I don't think of it as any different than someone needing specially prepared food for an allergy or a medical condition.
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,190 Member
    In my opinion bringing a scale to somebody house (relative, friend or foe), is totally out of place and border line insulting. I use a scale at home myself, but I would never take one with me if I am invited to somebody's house for dinner or lunch, or what ever, and I wouldn't appreciate a guest weighing their food at my table either (unless it is for a very important medical reason, of course).

    OP do you take the scale to a restaurant too? What is the purpose of taking a scale if as you said, don't know how the meal was prepared? You are going to estimate the whole count any way.

    If you are concerned about your calories, just increase your deficiency a couple days prior to the event or increase your activities and don't eat back your exercise calories. Then you will have more calories available and less worries when you go to your friend's house or out to dinner at a restaurant.


  • RAinWA
    RAinWA Posts: 1,980 Member
    I have to weigh my husband's food whether we are at home or not. My friends and family are totally fine with me doing so in their homes and even make sure I know ingredients and rough amounts to help out. Nobody thinks it's weird.

    I think it may depend too on your relationship with your host - are you comfortable asking to use your scale or borrow theirs?
  • AlyssaPetsDogs
    AlyssaPetsDogs Posts: 421 Member
    I think it is a little tacky to do it at someone else's house. My family already teases me for doing it at home. They stopped teasing me so much once they saw the pounds dropping off :)

    When I am out to eat or at a friend's house, I just do my best estimate and I usually log a little more than what I estimate just to be safe. Or I'll just eat a little less than my allowance that day. There are lots of ways to get around it.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    BruinsGal_91 wrote: »
    If a guest in my home whipped out a food scale and started weighing the food I had spent hours preparing, you can bet your bottom dollar they would never be invited back.

    Yeah...I wouldn't. With family...maybe. But at someone else's home? No way. And I'm one who weighs everything I possibly can. I think it's easy enough to just eat light beforehand, and save the bulk of your calories for the event. Make your best guess with calories/portions. Have a small piece of whatever dessert there is, and then call it good. It's one day so whether you end up slightly over (or under) isn't going to hurt anything.

    I'm sorry but toting a scale and analyzing a meal someone prepared for you is just wrong....
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,186 Member
    I wouldn't take the scale with me. I would just make my best guess. I might ask for a recipe but other than that I would just guess.
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    I love to cook and entertain, and I would not mind if someone brought one to my home -- not worth getting upset about, from my perspective. I try to do whatever I can to make my guests feel at home, so they can use their scale (or mine) if they'd like.

    That being said, it sounds as if quite a few people would find it offensive. So, you'd be taking a risk of offending your host. Probably not worth it when you could just eyeball it for one meal.

  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    I wouldn't do it personally, and unless you know exactly what is in the food and how it was cooked, you are going to be estimating anyway.
    I think that estimating food when you are out and about is an important skill to learn along the way, look at this as a chance to practice.
  • hollyrayburn
    hollyrayburn Posts: 905 Member
    I have taken a scale to CLOSE family get togethers, family members that are aware and supportive of my newfound lifestyle. I know how certain things are prepared, so it's easy for me to weigh it out, create a recipe of their home cooked meal, and log appropriately. No one was insulted.

    A barbecue or potkuck where everyone brings their own stuff though? Nah. I eat sensible while enjoying myself. I guess the best I can, and avoid things overly dense in calories or things I know I can easily overindulge in. Example: I might have some slaw on a hot dog at a cookout, but I'll opt for melon for dessert while everyone else is having the banana pudding. (If I can fit the pudding in my day, though, I'm having it!!!) Most people aren't gonna notice if you pass over the mac and cheese, or don't eat a roll, or take less ice cream than normal.

    Just enjoy yourself. :)
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