Portion sizes

LoveMy3Boys
LoveMy3Boys Posts: 562 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I buy these Foster Farms chicken breasts at Costco. It comes 2 breasts to a package. I usually just have one breast and hubs has the other and then our boys split one (they are 4 and not even 2).

Now, in MFP there is a spot for chicken breast, specifically foster farms... it says 4 ounces is the serving. Is one breast generally a serving size?

I'd love some advice. What if I am doubling my calories and I don't even realize it?

Replies

  • StrongGwen
    StrongGwen Posts: 378 Member
    chicken breasts can vary in size so much that you've just gotta go by the weight. If you don't have a scale that measures oz and/or grams, the best you can do for now is look at the package for the weight that you paid for, and if the 2 are about the same size, divide that in half. A 3-oz portion of lean skinless chicken breast has about 100 calories. I had no idea how much I was over-estimating portions until I got a scale and started weighing everything. Now I can sorta tell on many things but I still weigh almost everything.
  • Gwenski
    Gwenski Posts: 348 Member
    If it helps any 4oz is about the same size as a standard deck of cards, or, for most women, about the size of just the palm of your hand (but depends on thickness)
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    If it helps any 4oz is about the same size as a standard deck of cards, or, for most women, about the size of just the palm of your hand (but depends on thickness)

    This is what I have heard as well. Does the label say how many servings per container? Chances are, it's only one breast, or less than a breast.
  • LoveMy3Boys
    LoveMy3Boys Posts: 562 Member
    I have noticed that the meat packages don't really have all that info on them... serving size and all that. They have ounces on the package but there is juice in there too... so IDK.

    I do have a scale though. I will have to see. Do I weigh before or after I cook the chicken?
  • LoveMy3Boys
    LoveMy3Boys Posts: 562 Member
    Oh my goodness lol I am pretty sure that those chicken breasts are bigger than that! I am underestimating.
    If it helps any 4oz is about the same size as a standard deck of cards, or, for most women, about the size of just the palm of your hand (but depends on thickness)
  • Southpaw3612
    Southpaw3612 Posts: 86
    Never heard the deck of cards trick. Thats a simple way to look at portion size if you dont use a scale. I will definitely use this information.
  • ariant23
    ariant23 Posts: 161 Member
    We get the same ones at costco, I usually try to buy the freshest package with the smallest price (== smallest breasts), but they are still usually around 7 oz. each. My costco currently has this $20 square, flat food scale for sale, it does grams and oz. I bought it but took it back a few days later because it wigged on me, but maybe i got a lemon. The one I have (that doesn't do grams) I bought at Target (chefmate brand), was $15 or so. You just need a "tare" button and you should be ok. make sure it's digital. Oh, and when you work with "dirty" things like raw meat, I suggest loosely wrapping it in plastic wrap to keep it from getting gross.
  • ariant23
    ariant23 Posts: 161 Member
    weigh before. The food will lose water weight (moisture) as it cooks. The calorie content never changes, but if you over cook, the mass continues to decrease....
  • LoveMy3Boys
    LoveMy3Boys Posts: 562 Member
    My husband usually picks the package.. Raw meat gives me the heebie-geebies lol ick. I have a small digital scale. I tried using it once and I think I got a number that shocked me so I thought I was using it wrong. I'll have to try again. I will use wax paper when I use it :)

    Thanks!
    We get the same ones at costco, I usually try to buy the freshest package with the smallest price (== smallest breasts), but they are still usually around 7 oz. each. My costco currently has this $20 square, flat food scale for sale, it does grams and oz. I bought it but took it back a few days later because it wigged on me, but maybe i got a lemon. The one I have (that doesn't do grams) I bought at Target (chefmate brand), was $15 or so. You just need a "tare" button and you should be ok. make sure it's digital. Oh, and when you work with "dirty" things like raw meat, I suggest loosely wrapping it in plastic wrap to keep it from getting gross.
  • LoveMy3Boys
    LoveMy3Boys Posts: 562 Member
    I thought so. I was thinking, pasta we would weight before because it is the true weight even though it expands in the cooking process. Meat seems to shrink and lighten.

    :)
    weigh before. The food will lose water weight (moisture) as it cooks. The calorie content never changes, but if you over cook, the mass continues to decrease....
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    Get a scale. Best $29 bucks I ever spent.
  • For_the_Last_Time
    For_the_Last_Time Posts: 136 Member
    I will usually just weigh after the food is cooked there are entries for cooked or raw on chicken etc. I will put the plate on the scale tare it then weigh the meat by putting it on the plate.
  • TONYAGOOCH
    TONYAGOOCH Posts: 470 Member
    This comes straight out of my Weight Watcher Pocket Guide I got when I was doing WW. If you don't have access to a measuring cup or scale, this is a good way to "eye" your portion sizes.

    1 cup - approximately the size of your fist
    1 oz of meat or cheese - approximately the size of your thumb from tip to base
    1 Tbsp - approximately the size of your thumb from tip to the first joint
    1 tsp - approximately the size of your fingertip from tip to the first joint
    1 - 2 oz of nuts or pretzels - approximately the size of your cupped hand
    3 oz of meat, fish or poultry - approximately the size of your plam (minus fingers)


    Hope this helps
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
    I like those approximations. Of course, I have big hands, which means my cup will be bigger but with no extra calories.

    Big hands also means I have . . . big gloves.
  • TONYAGOOCH
    TONYAGOOCH Posts: 470 Member
    lol...ya they are def approximations but will really help when your in a bind.

    Not even gonna go there about your gloves. lmao!
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