? about measuring food

Hi everyone,
How do you measure frozen vegetables? Do you measure it before or after you cook it? I'm trying to cut back my portion size.
Thanks
Kathleen

Hi Kathleen,
I measure my veggies after they are cooked.

I'm not as exact and measure while it's still frozen usually. Mostly because I'm taking it to work to eat it with my lunch...In the case of frozen shrimp I figure I lose a half ounce or so...

Ideally, by weight and then based on the nutrition database.  For example nutrition data has the following:

Carrots, raw 1 cup chopped (128g) = 52 calories
Carrots, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt  1 cup slices (146g) = 54 calories.

Look at your bag of veggies, it will say something like:

Serving Size      2/3 cup (81g)

So, measure the 81 grams, its most accurate.

Thanks everyone,
I don't have a scale so I think I will measure pre cooked (maybe I'll eat a little less-haha). I plan on investing in a descent food scale and i'm working to get back on track. Hubby and I are trying to get pregnant so I would love to lose a little more weight before we are blessed.

You really have to get a scale!  I can't trust myself...I am serious...I have to weigh stuff now and then just to prove to myself how I let an ounce or two sneak back on my plate... Some things I have a hard time judging the weight too...

Plus there are times I convince myself I "need" more food...and I really don't...It's just head hunger...and if I put ONE suggested serving on my plate, it's unusual for me to go back for seconds unless I really am still hungry and I'm NOT!  LOL  But if I put more on my plate without measuring, I just eat it, unless I truly am full and I do NOT like to get "fullness" or any tightness at all.  It's hard...The scale tells my brain that I am having a RIGHT sized meal ...and THAT alone helps me fight the head hunger...FOR REAL!

They are not expensive...Get one!

Anita,
Have you ever tried the 5 day pouch test? I was thinking about trying it to help me get back on track.
Thanks,
Kathleen

Yes I did actually and it was AWESOME!  I was a little out of control last (07-08) autumn thru winter...(I survived this winter (08-09) at home)...Last winter I went to see my mom for a month and gained 10 pounds...It was insane what I was eating...(everything and anything!)

I don't do well out of my controlled environment! My mom is a bad bad BAD WLS support!  Dare I say TOXIC when it comes to eating!  She just wants to feed me and she's just a little teeny tiny thing!  I didn't get that side of the family genes!  But it's my fault; and I can't really blame mom... I only resisted her so long and gave in!  LOL By the time I got home I was already losing weight but just could not shake the last 3-4 lbs! It was driving me insane...and I was still addicted to eating some candy which I traded for NSA junk food and protein bars...
UGH! !  WLS candy! (I am SOOOO DONE with them...No more in my house!!) ...and I had really awful cravings and hunger pangs...SO YES!  The 5DPT took care of all of that! I think by day 2, I realized how off track I was and how awful sugar was making me feel, because I had such an awesome peaceful feeling in my pouch!  No grumpy, gassy, foul...icky feelings at all!  And NO more hunger and cravings...So that REALLY helped me...After that though I had to still learn to cut back some calories and FINALLY lost all 10 lbs!  Took me some 4 months to lose every ounce!  But I did it!  I weaned myself off protein bars completely too...I won't buy them by the box ever again!  They trigger my urge for chocolate and candy...and they are a problem for me!


I was journaling my meals in the accountability thread just to learn what foods have what calories and what I was eating exactly.....I am still shocked at what I learned just by doing that! I did fine for 4 years without much effort besides just eating healthy + exercise....But I learned that I was eating a lot of fat and hidden sugar/carbs ...wasted calories. 

Journaling is truly what helped me lose the weight and maintain it...Journaling your food forces you to weigh and measure servings and be aware of what you are eating...and that has enabled me maintain that loss and continue a great habit! I don't journal except on occasion since...but you can bet if I gain any weight that is the first thing I am doing daily! That was an awesome help along with the 5 DPT... So do try it if you feel out of control...But you still have to cut calories if you want to lose and that takes a bit more than 5 days but it makes it easier too....Good luck!

Thanks Anita,
I plan to go get a scale today. I have been keeping tabs with my food intake on dailyplate.com. I try to get my protein and vegtables in first. I know I need to drink more water, plain and simple (#1 problem!) and cut back from the coffee. I also need to incorporate exercise back in my life. The 5 DPT will help me get back on track and I WILL start it tomorrow morning. I will also make use of the accountability thread.
I know what I need to do I just need to do it! haha
I'm looking forward to my fresh start!
Thanks everyone!
Kathleen