Food Scale -- To Buy or Not To Buy?

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Replies

  • verodzrosas
    verodzrosas Posts: 84 Member
    I'm dying to use mine! My sister in law bought it for me back home for 20 bucks!
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I never needed one. Estimates work just fine for me. If you are having trouble losing, it might be a good idea.
  • cortezpj
    cortezpj Posts: 129 Member
    My thanks to everyone for all the great advice. It really helped and I've been shopping around for a food scale. Wish me luck ! :smile:
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    I got one at Target for my wedding. Like $20ish. I didnt use it much before MFP but now I use it almost every day. I love baked chips and its easy to measure them on there. Plus meat too.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    It's very helpful. Try to buy one that has the "tare" function.
  • heatherrose9
    heatherrose9 Posts: 122 Member
    Can't imagine life without mine...

    (does that sound dramatic!? haha it's true! I freak out a little if I'm somewhere without it! True story-I brought it to a picnic with my friend. She laughed, I logged my calories:))
  • Pspetal
    Pspetal Posts: 426 Member
    Since I'm a chips lover, It is absolutely essential for me to use a food scale. If I don't weigh chips before I eat them, I end up finishing the whole packet in no time!

    I bought mine at a dollar store for $4 I think!
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    A food scale was essential to me when I was losing weight. Solid food can't accurately be measured by volume (cups, etc.) Mine cost less than $20
  • heddylyn
    heddylyn Posts: 173 Member
    YES YES YES!!! I got one as a wedding gift almost 7 years ago and I use it every single day. Once you start measuring and getting to know what a serving size actually looks like it makes it that much easier to "guesstimate" when you're away from home and can't measure what you're eating.
  • ruby_red_rose
    ruby_red_rose Posts: 321 Member
    Best investment ever. Buy it.
  • xerotolerance
    xerotolerance Posts: 58
    Definitely BUY! I got mine at Costco for very inexpensive and it's a nice one, too!
  • pixelberry
    pixelberry Posts: 167 Member
    I suck at portion sizing unless I use my scale. Found a 20% off single item coupon & used it to buy a decent one at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Portions now in check!
  • pbamerson
    pbamerson Posts: 17 Member
    Definately buy! I think I got mine at Wal-Mart for less than $10 -- have had it for several years.
  • BigMech
    BigMech Posts: 472 Member
    I use one at home all the time. Much more accurate than counting by volume. I'm going to get one to keep at the office as well, for measuring my snacks and stuff I eat there.
  • PayneAS
    PayneAS Posts: 669 Member
    Yep, definitely get one. They don't have to be that expensive.
  • mightyminerva
    mightyminerva Posts: 145 Member
    As others have said: YES!

    I bought one when I moved to the UK where recipes are mostly by weight. Since I started on MFP, I've been using the scale multiple times a day. Like others, I have trouble "guesstimating," so the scale has helped me be honest. For example, I put what I thought was a tiny amount of margarine on bread for dinner. That few grams that I weighed on the bread (after weighing the bread slice) was 5 calories but 2 grams of fat! That reality check will help me in the future when I don't have the scale handy.
  • ratherbeskiing
    ratherbeskiing Posts: 847 Member
    Definitely buy one
  • Dagoth
    Dagoth Posts: 172
    I bought one today actually, ha.
  • Ralphrabbit
    Ralphrabbit Posts: 351 Member
    Best thing you could do. Get one that you can zero with a dish on & the re-zero as you are adding food.
    May cost you that $50 or a little more as you are looking but keep going in stores & checking until you find the one you want, no matter what it costs & then keep your eyes open in the sales or look on the internet for cheaper deals. Ask for help with some money for birthday etc. It will be a real help to you in your journey & well worth the money!
  • CollisionofNova
    CollisionofNova Posts: 98
    I bought my digital one for $15 at Zellers and am in love. I think I need to name it. Her? It looks like a her, maybe.

    I really do use it for everything though, liquids excluded. I weigh my cereal in the morning, my fruit, my stir fry ingredients...it's essential.

    It's funny, you'll also find that you'll start to remember the weight of your bowls and plates. I'm at the point where I can skip zeroing out the bowl, because I know exactly how much it weighs.
  • pixiestick
    pixiestick Posts: 839 Member
    To buy is the only solution :)
  • Tristis
    Tristis Posts: 288 Member
    BUY! I totally freaked out when my battery died. I use it multiple times daily. More so than measuring cups.
  • DawnM62
    DawnM62 Posts: 60 Member
    Buy I use mine ALL the time it's really helped me to know what I'm eating I really wouldn't be without it
  • RilantheFirebug
    RilantheFirebug Posts: 207 Member
    Buy! You'd be surprised how often you underestimate the size of the food you are eating.
  • saxmaniac
    saxmaniac Posts: 1,133 Member
    YES. Get a digital one. You'd be surprised how inaccurate food volumes can be.

    I already had one for counting carbs for my son. Now, I use it mostly to double-check calorie-dense food. (I don't always measure out 10g of steak sauce.) Your eye will get good at guessing, but you need to calibrate it!
  • AmyM713
    AmyM713 Posts: 594 Member
    I would buy one, I love mine. You would be surprised how much you can over estimate by guestimating. I honestly wish I could stuff my food scale in my purse and take it with me everywhere but I could imagine the looks I would get whipping it out in Applebees to measure my food lol!
  • MoreThanMommie
    MoreThanMommie Posts: 597 Member
    It's a must. I had no idea how off I was on portions sizes. This is the one I bought. I got it when it was on sale online. I went to the store to get it, since I didn't want to wait for it in the mail, and they gave me the online price. I love it. Also if you don't have the nutritional info, it has a booklet that you can punch in the code and it will tell you the weight and calorie count of what you put on it.

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Perfect+Portions+-+Food+Scale+with+Nutritional+Calculator+-+Silver/9902407.p?id=1218192431054&skuId=9902407&st=food scale&cp=2&lp=7
  • KendraLoveless
    KendraLoveless Posts: 51
    I think a food scale is REALLY helpful! Our is a Salter, it is digital, and it it does oz/lbs and g/kg. Cost about 19.99 when we got it.

    Your eyes can trick you, but the food scale will tell you the truth. And then, after a while you'll get a much better feel for guestimating when you are out and about without your scale.

    My vote is that yes, you should buy. Good Luck!
  • Cyngen
    Cyngen Posts: 557 Member
    Get one, really helps me keep track of amounts. When I'm really really hungry 12 ounces of beef suddenly looks like 3 :) Kidding but it does keep me where I need to be in food portions.
  • muwchck
    muwchck Posts: 261 Member
    First off, congrats on the weight loss so far. A digital food scale is the best thing I've ever invested in.

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